SportsDirect Inc. staff
Sep 8, 2012
Ohio State 31, UCF 16: Braxton Miller rushed for 141 yards and a career-high three touchdowns as Ohio State knocked off UCF 31-16 at Ohio Stadium.
Despite rushing for only 64 yards in the second half, Ohio State (2-0) built a 31-10 lead and used an opportunistic defense to thwart the Knights (1-1).
Miller, who rushed for an Ohio State quarterback-record 161 yards in the opener last week, gained 107 in the first half and broke a 10-10 tie with a 6-yard scoring run 15 seconds before halftime. The Buckeyes took the opening kickoff in the third quarter and drove 76 yards in 12 plays, capped by Miller's 12-yard touchdown pass to Jake Stoneburner that put them in control, 24-10.
Ohio State intercepted Blake Bortles three times to hold off the Knights, who were looking for the biggest win in the program's history. Bortles finished 25 of 41 for 249 yards and two touchdowns. Miller was 18 of 24 for 155 yards with an interception for the Buckeyes.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Miller now has a Ohio State quarterback-record five career 100-yard rushing games, breaking a tie with Cornelius Green. ... Ohio State, which punted on its first four possessions in the season opener last week vs. Miami (Ohio), only punted once against UCF. That came with 8:50 left in the fourth quarter. ... Buckeyes starting running back Carlos Hyde, filling in for the injured Jordan Hall, left with a shoulder injury in the second quarter.