Jeremiah Smith supported his statements. Cody Simon experienced a remarkable day in his career. Will Howard and TreVeyon Henderson contributed to a powerful offensive attack. Jack Sawyer and J.T. Tuimoloau plagued Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel, while safeties Caleb Downs and Lathan Ransom repeatedly punished Duck ball carriers. The Ohio State football squad featured numerous heroes in their dominant victory over top-seeded Oregon in the Rose Bowl. Here’s a glimpse at several Buckeyes whom I consider to be overlooked heroes in that victory.
Donovan Jackson – Although he has received much acclaim for his performance, I still view him as an unsung hero because I believe the significance of his contributions should not be overlooked. In the lead-up to the game, there was much discussion about how the Ducks’ exceptional defensive line would occupy the OSU backfield throughout the day.
Jackson devoured anyone who stood opposite him. His pass protection was flawless, and he excelled in the run game too. During Henderson’s 66-yard touchdown run, Jackson moved all the way from his left tackle position to deliver an important block on an Oregon linebacker.
Tyleik Williams – As teammates Sawyer and Tuimoloau were excelling on the edges, Tyleik Williams appeared to be dominating the center of the line of scrimmage. Whether he was breaking through and disrupting a play or simply standing his ground and transforming the center of the Ducks’ offensive line into chaos, the Manassas Mauler (originating from Manassas, Virginia) demonstrated he was a challenge all day.
Tight Ends – Although they recorded only one catch, the group of Gee Scott, Jr., Will Kacmarek, and Christian Bennett might have delivered their strongest blocking performance of the season as a team. They played a crucial role in three of the OSU touchdowns. On Smith’s reception and dash to start the scoring, Scott delivered a crucial block on the perimeter to free the freshman star.
As Jackson secured his key block on the inside, Bennett entirely eliminated an Oregon cornerback from the action on Henderson’s record-breaking long touchdown in the second quarter. Both Bennet and Kacmarek contributed to Henderson’s final third-quarter score that confirmed the victory. Bennett engaged and contained the linebacker, while Kacmarek had moved in motion and dealt with any Oregon defender who got past. Well done by all three.
Jackson, Williams, and a group of three tight ends. All contributed significantly to what the Buckeyes accomplished against the Oregon Ducks.
Leave a Reply