Ohio State’s dominated in all three phases of the game against Wilmington College (JV), en route to a 47-13 win over the Quakers on the road Sunday night. The 47 points are the most the Buckeyes have ever scored against an NCAA opponent, surpassing the 46 points scored in a 39-point win over Ohio Northern (JV) in 2023.
For the third time in four games, the Buckeye offense started the game with an opening drive touchdown from running back Milan Jackson. On just the second play from scrimmage, Jackson broke two tackles and scampered up the Ohio State sideline for a 69-yard touchdown run to give the visitors a quick 7-0 advantage.
The Buckeyes would double their advantage when quarterback Corbyn Aleshire connected with tight end Tommy Delaney on a 20-yard strike over the middle, giving Ohio State a 14-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Ohio State’s lead swelled again after Wilmington mishandled a snap on a punt attempt, setting the Buckeyes up with first-and-goal from the Quaker five-yard line. Ohio State needed just two plays to score again as running back Ethan Young plunged in from a yard out to give OSU a 21-0 lead.
The Quakers would not go away, however. Wilmington was able to mount a scoring drive to cut the lead to 21-7 before intercepting Aleshire on the first play of the ensuing Ohio State drive. The Quakers would score again, but linebacker Evan Riggs blocked the extra point attempt to keep the Buckeye lead at 21-13. It would be as close as Wilmington would get for the rest of the game.
Ohio State would add five points to their total before halftime thanks to a safety following a botched punt attempt from Wilmington’s special teams, and a 43-yard field goal from kicker Raj Venkatesh as time expired in the first half. The kick from Venkatesh set a new Ohio State Club Football program record for longest made field goal, surpassing the previous record of 41 yards set by both Lorenzo King (2017) and David Rive (2022).
Up 26-13, Ohio State’s defense pinned their ears back. The Buckeyes collected two of their three interceptions in the second half, and posted six sacks for the game. Thanks in part to mishandled snaps from the Quaker offense, Ohio State held Wilmington to negative four yards rushing and just 136 yards of total offense on the night. Safeties Vann Riordan and Reagan Little posted second half interceptions while cornerback Stosh Niezgoda hauled one in just before halftime.
The Buckeye offense would score three more times in the second half, with Aleshire posting a highlight reel 10-yard scoring run in addition to another touchdown pass to Delaney, this time from 24-yards out. Jackson also added a second touchdown run, giving him seven rushing touchdowns in four games this season.
In all, the Buckeyes averaged just more than eight yards per carry, as Jackson finished the night with 122 yards on nine carries. Young toted the ball eight times for 46 yards and a score as Ohio State rushed for 185 yards as a team.
Thanks in part to rainy weather throughout the game, Ohio State’s passing offense was less efficient, as the Buckeyes posted a season-low 92 yards through the air. However, Delaney was a bright spot, hauling in five passes for 54 yards and the pair of scores. With three total touchdowns accounted for on Sunday, Aleshire now has 10 total scores through four games (seven passing, three rushing).
Defensively, freshman linebacker Dane Barcalow led the Buckeyes in tackles, tallying nine total stops and 1.5 sacks. Riggs pitched in four tackles and a sack to go with his blocked extra point and defensive end Matt Humphries also contributed 1.5 sacks.
Ohio State has now won 16-straight games dating back to the end of the 2024 season, tying the program record for consecutive wins. The Buckeyes last won 16-straight dating back to a stretch between the 2021 and 2022 seasons. The NCFA record for consecutive wins is held by Oakland University, which won a whopping 21-straight games from 2015-17.
The Buckeyes are set for an off-week before returning to action on Oct. 24 at home against Wright State University. Kickoff against the Raiders is set for 5 p.m., which will be Ohio State’s first home night game since 2019, a 37-8 win over Miami (OH).
