COLUMBUS, Ohio – Sophomore Dequan Finn threw for 153 yards and two touchdowns while adding 70 yards and another score on the ground but it wasn't enough as Toledo (2-1) fell to No. 3 Ohio State, 77-21, in Columbus on Saturday.
Finn made big plays all night as he attempted to help his team keep pace with the high-scoring Buckeyes. The Detroit native threw for a 50-yard touchdown in the first quarter to redshirt freshman Thomas Zsiros to tie the score at 7-7. He later ran for a 23-yard score to cut the Buckeye margin to 28-14 early in the second quarter. Finn threw another 40-yard touchdown in the third quarter to trim the Buckeye lead to 49-21 with 10:23 to play in the third quarter.
"I thought DQ was really good tonight," said Candle. "He made some tough plays, he made some plays with his legs. He made a big improvement from week two to week three."
Finn's heroics were matched and then some by a dynamic Ohio State offense. The Buckeyes scored on seven straight possessions before being forced to punt midway through the third quarter.
Finn completed 10-of-19 passes, with DeMeer Blankumsee leading the way with three receptions. Sophomore Peny Boone led Toledo's running game with 41 yards on eight carries.
Toledo's defense was led by Dyontae Johnson (10 tackles) and Maxen Hook (nine tackles).
First Quarter
Ohio State opened the game with a methodical eight-play, 82-yard drive that was finished off by a seven-yard rushing touchdown by TreVeyon Henderson. Toledo struck right back when Dequan Finn scrambled and then heaved a 50-yard touchdown bomb to Thomas Zsiros. The Buckeyes regained the lead, 14-7, on an eight-yard TD reception by Marvin Harrison who managed to get one foot inbounds at the edge of the end zone. Ohio State tacked on another score moments later when Emeka Egbuka dove and hit the pylon on third-and-goal run from the three-yard line. The Buckeyes made it 28-7 on another touchdown pass from CJ Stroud to Julian Fleming from five yards out.
Second Quarter
Toledo cut the margin to 28-14 on a 23-yard run by Finn who stepped through the pass rush, sprinted to the right sideline and then dove into the corner of the end zone. OSU countered with a seven-yard TD pass from Stroud to Harrison to make it 35-14. Stoud threw his fourth TD of the half moments later, this time an 11-yarder to Julian Fleming with 47 seconds left in the quarter.
Third Quarter
Ohio State took advantage of an interception on Toledo's opening drive to pad the lead to 49-14 Dallan Hayden ran for 45 yards to the UT three-yard line. Mitch Rossi bulled across the goal line on third-and-one for the score. Finn countered with a spectacular play, scrambling to his left and throwing against his body under pressure 40 yards down field to Jerjuan Newton for the touchdown to cut the margin to 49-21. OSU took advantage of a short field on its eighth touchdown of the evening, a seven-yard throw from Stroud to Egbuka that capped a four-play, 39-yard drive.
Fourth Quarter
The Buckeyes added three more scores in the fourth quarter. Hayden's 1-yard plunge into the end zone capped an 11-play, 68-yard drive early in the quarter, then OSU added a pair of long touchdowns to wrap up the scoring in Saturday's contest. Kyle McCord found Jayden Ballard for a 72-yard score at the 11:45 mark and TC Caffey found paydirt from 49-yards out with 7:08 to play to bring about the final score of 77-21.
Up Next
The Rockets play at San Diego State on Sept. 24 (12:30 PT/FS1).
