Ohio State defense bailing out hobbled offense for 3-0 Cotton Bowl lead over Missouri: Halftime scribbles
ARLINGTON, Texas — Ohio State football’s plan to come out of the Cotton Bowl with some quarterback clarity hit a snag before the end of the first quarter.
First-time starter Devin Brown, who endured a right ankle injury for the second half of the season, left the game against Missouri with a left ankle injury. True freshman Lincoln Kienholz replaced him, but with the offense pinned in its own territory, the Buckeyes became fairly one-dimensional.
The defense, however, summoned the same form it displayed most of the season to thwart the Tigers’ weapons en route to a 3-0 halftime lead.
Missouri leading rusher Cody Schrader totaled 41 yards on his 10 carries. Star slot receiver Luther Burden was held without a reception until the final seconds of the half.
Cody Simon, starting in place of injured starter Tommy Eichenberg, and Steele Chambers combined for 11 first-half tackles as OSU’s linebacker combo. J.T. Tuimoloau, Jack Sawyer and Ty Hamilton led a defensive front which has contained quarterback Brady Allen — with help from a nice open-field tackle by cornerback Denzel Burke early on.
The game got chippy late in the half. After Missouri called a timeout, tight end Cade Stover appeared to exchange words with some Tiger defenders and had to be pulled away. Over in the sideline huddle, he raised his voice while seemingly imploring the offensive front to stave off Missouri’s pressure.
On the game’s next play, Missouri’s Johnny Walker Jr. was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct, helping flip the field for OSU’s eventual punt.
With Brown riding an exercise bike while Keinholz hands off to TreVeyon Henderson against a stacked box, OSU’s defense will need to keep dominating.
• Stover said earlier this week he might play a reduced number of snaps. He also hinted freshman Jelani Thurman might take on a bigger role. So it wasn’t a complete shock that OSU came out in 12 personnel with Thurman and Gee Scott Jr. as the tight ends. Stover came in on third down.
• That was hardly the only personnel tweak early. Ohio State had used defensive end Caden Curry as a fullback earlier this season. Tonight it turned to freshman defensive tackle Kayden McDonald for that role with Tegra Tshabola as the sixth lineman on a jump package. TreVeyon Henderson broke off a 12-yard gain on the play.
