Top-ranked Ohio State thumps No. 13 Iowa

9/30/2006

IOWA CITY, Iowa The toughest part of Ohio State s schedule is behind the Buckeyes.

And Troy Smith and Co. handled it with ease.

Smith threw for 186 yards and four touchdowns and No. 1 Ohio State picked up its second road win over a ranked opponent by manhandling No. 13 Iowa 38-17 Saturday night.

The Buckeyes (5-0, 2-0 Big Ten) faced three ranked teams in September Texas, Penn State and the Hawkeyes and beat them all by at least 17 points. Ohio State, which extended the nation s longest winning streak to 12 games, won t face another team currently ranked until their season finale against Michigan Nov. 18.

Iowa (4-1, 1-1) fell to 0-10-1 against No. 1 teams.

Ohio State broke open a 21-10 game with long scoring drives on its first two possessions of the second half. Anthony Gonzalez gave the Buckeyes an 18-point lead by weaving through traffic for a spectacular 30-yard TD grab, and Aaron Pettrey capped a 14-play drive with a 36-yard field goal that gave Ohio State a 31-10 lead.

The Hawkeyes pulled within 31-17 in the fourth quarter on a 4-yard TD pass from Drew Tate on fourth down. But Ohio State forced a fumble and two interception on Iowa s next three possessions. Smith put Iowa s comeback hopes to rest with a 12-yard touchdown pass to Brian Robiskie.

Antonio Pittman and Chris Wells combined for 55 yards rushing on a 12-play, 89-yard scoring drive late in the second quarter. Smith capped it with a 6-yard strike to seldom-used senior Roy Hall.

Iowa got as close as 14-10 on a 15-yard touchdown run by Albert Young.

The Buckeyes moved ahead 14-3 by capitalizing on an interception by Brandon Mitchell, who returned it to the Iowa 30. Pittman followed a 23-yard rush with a 4-yard TD run.

Ohio State scored on the game s opening possession, marching 53 yards in just 2:24. Smith, who finished 16-of-25 passing, found Gonzalez for a 12-yard TD pass to give the Buckeyes a 7-0 lead.

Drew Tate finished 19-of-41 for 249 yards and three interceptions for Iowa. Ohio State turned both of Tate s picks into touchdowns.

Pittman rushed for 117 yards and a touchdown.

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