Ohio State clinches Great Lakes East, home-field advantage for conference playoffs with 49-20 win over Toledo

The Ohio State Club Football program clinched a perfect regular season, the Great Lakes East title and home-field advantage for the conference playoffs on Sunday night in a win over division rival Toledo, 49-20.

The Buckeyes used a dominant rushing attack and timely passing to post 363 yards of offense, including 204 on the ground. Running back Ethan Young posted career highs in carries and yards, finishing with 17 carries for 106 yards and a fourth quarter touchdown run that put the game on ice.

Ohio State started the game strong, opening a 21-0 lead at the end of the first quarter. Quarterback Corbyn Aleshire connected with wide receiver Ricardo Washington on a highlight-reel touchdown pass to open the scoring, a 43-yard strike to get the Buckeyes on the board. The lead doubled on the next series after Aleshire found Desean Bonte on a quick slant. Bonte made one man miss and sprinted 58-yards for a touchdown to give the visitors a 14-0 lead. A one-yard plunge from Aleshire on the ensuing possession gave Ohio State a three-score lead at the end of the first frame.

The second quarter however, belonged to the Rockets. Toledo put together a scoring drive that was capped by a touchdown pass from quarterback Darnell Thomas to Blake Kamelesky to bring the home team to within 21-7. Ohio State threw two interceptions in the quarter, one of which led to another Thomas touchdown pass just before the half. The Buckeyes however, blocked the extra point attempt, sending Ohio State to the locker room with a 21-13 advantage.

Ohio State opened the second half with a 12-play, 60-yard scoring drive that was capped by a three-yard touchdown pass from Aleshire to tight end Aidan Donovan. Undeterred, the Rockets answered with seven points of their own on an eight-yard touchdown run.

Leading by eight in the fourth quarter, the Buckeyes put their foot on the gas. Ohio State scored 21 unanswered points as Aleshire connected with Washington on a 14-yard pass into the end zone to make it 35-20. On Ohio State’s next possession, Aleshire shrugged off a defender and scampered 24-yards for a touchdown to push the lead to 42-20. Finally, Young posted his longest rush of the season, a 31-yard dash to the corner of the end zone to conclude the scoring.

On defense, the Buckeyes were tasked with going up against a heavy passing attack. Despite giving up a pair of touchdown passes and not forcing a turnover, the Ohio State defense was routinely swarming to the football. The Buckeyes accounted for a whopping nine sacks, three of which came from senior Elijah Lowden. The secondary posted 11 pass deflections, led by senior safety Reagan Little who had four. Freshman linebacker Evan Riggs led the team in tackles again with 11 total stops, including nine solo. He also blocked a Rocket extra point attempt just before the half and partially blocked a Toledo punt as well.

Offensively, Ohio State rushed for 236 yards but only had a net gain of 204 thanks to a bad snap in the third quarter that resulted in a team loss of 30 yards. A facemask call on Toledo on the very next play gave the Buckeyes an automatic first down and revitalized an otherwise doomed offensive series.

Running back Milan Jackson rushed 12 times for 78 yards to help keep pace with Young, while Aleshire carried seven times for 52 yards and a pair of scores, and finished 10-of-25 passing for 159 yards and four touchdowns to two interceptions. The Buckeye signal caller has now accounted for 28 total touchdowns in seven contests, with 21 coming through the air and seven on the ground. Washington hauled in four passes for 69 yards and two scores. That performance gives him 30 receptions for 547 yards and seven touchdowns on the season, making him the NCFA leader in receptions and receiving yards and second in the league in touchdown receptions.

With the win, the Buckeyes have clinched home-field advantage in the Great Lakes Conference playoffs and will play host to Oakland University on Sunday, Nov. 15 at Noon in Columbus at Lincoln Tower Park. Should Ohio State defeat the Grizzlies, the Buckeyes would then host the winner of Toledo vs. Michigan State on Sunday, Nov. 22 at Noon, again at Lincoln Tower Park.