COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — C.J. Stroud threw three touchdown passes to Marvin Harrison Jr., TreVeyon Henderson ran for another two scores and No. 3 Ohio State raced past Arkansas State 45-12 on Saturday.
Harrison had a career-best seven catches for 184 yards. Coupled with his three-touchdown performance as a first-year player in the Rose Bowl last season, Harrison became only the second Ohio State receiver to have a pair of three-touchdown games in his career. Joey Galloway had multiple touchdown games in 1993 and ’94.
Stroud, a Heisman Trophy favorite, had 207 passing yards and a pair of 42-yard touchdowns to Harrison in the first half. He finished 16 for 24 for 351 yards and four touchdowns as the Buckeyes (2-0) rolled up 538 yards.
Henderson busted through for an 8-yard scoring run in the first quarter and a 23-yard romp to open the second half. He finished with 10 carries for 87 yards.
Kicker Dominic Zvada was responsible for all of Arkansas State’s scoring, but Ohio State miscues set up the first two field goals.
Penalties helped put the Red Wolves in range for a 30-yard Dominic Zvada boot in the first quarter. Blown coverage and a missed tackle on a long James Blackman pass to Champ Flemings got them in range for another.
Blackman was 20 for 34 for 188 yards. Flemings caught 10 passes for 105.
THE TAKEWAY
Arkansas State: The Red Wolves looked for a short time like they might keep up, but once Ohio State cleaned up its mistakes the rout was on. The Arkansas State offense couldn’t get any traction against ever-changing Ohio State defensive looks.
“When you play a team like Ohio State, every mistake is magnified,” Arkansas State coach Butch Jones said.
Ohio State: After taking a while to get going, the Buckeyes rolled over the out-manned Sunbelt Conference squad. Stroud, who was still trying to shake off the preseason rust in last week’s 21-10 win over Notre Dame, showed that he’s regained his touch.
“We’re playing with toughness, we’re playing with an edge, we’re taking care of the football and all those are positive things,” Ohio State coach Ryan Day said. “But the negative things get us off schedule, and we don’t quite execute at a high level, and then it throws you off.”
HURTING WIDEOUTS
Starting receivers Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Julian Fleming were listed as game-time decisions, but neither ended up in uniform. Smith-Njigba suffered a leg injury early in last week’s win over Notre Dame. Fleming has been dealing with an unspecified injury.
YOU CAN’T DO THAT
The Buckeyes were penalized nine times for 85 yards, after drawing seven flags costing 75 yards last week against Notre Dame. Cornerback Denzel Ward drew two pass-interference flags in the same series in the first half.
“That’s unacceptable,” Day said. “We’ve got to get that cleaned up.”
POLL IMPLICATIONS
A flashy offensive showing in the rout of a heavy underdog should keep the Buckeyes where they are.
UP NEXT
Arkansas State: At Memphis next Saturday night.
Ohio State: Hosts Toledo next Saturday.
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