EAST LANSING, Mich. — Terrelle Pryor showed some of his potential during a spectacular start Saturday that gave No. 12 Ohio State at least a share of first place in the Big Ten.
Pryor ran for a score and threw for another in the first half, helping the Buckeyes build a four-touchdown lead on the way to a 45-7 win Saturday over No. 20 Michigan State.
The freshman quarterback finished 7-of-11 for 116 yards and a TD and had 72 yards rushing on 12 carries, including an 18-yard for a score early in the game. Pryor showed poise and touch when he threw before sitting on the big lead with handoffs. When he ran, Pryor displayed speed and power by running past defenders and stiff-arming some to the ground.
Ohio State’s Chris “Beanie” Wells had season highs with 31 carries, 140 yards rushing and two touchdowns.
The Buckeyes (7-1, 4-0 Big Ten) entered the game tied with Penn State and the Spartans (6-2, 3-1) atop the conference.
Ohio State led 28-0 midway through the second quarter and made a big play to end Michigan State’s comeback hopes early in the fourth.
After allowing backup quarterback Kirk Cousins to drive the Spartans down the field for a TD to open the second half, Malcolm Jenkins’ sack forced Cousins to fumble and defensive end Thaddeus Gibson scooped up the football and returned it 69 yards for a touchdown.
The Buckeyes kicked a field goal and returned another fumble for a TD to finish the rout of Michigan State, which hadn’t lost a game by more than seven points in coach Mark Dantonio’s first 20 games as head coach.
Spartans running back Javon Ringer was held to season lows with 67 yards rushing and 16 attempts a day after the school launched a Web site to tout him as a Heisman Trophy candidate.
The Spartans were off to their best start since 2003, but seemed to show they’re not ready to be a contender in a conference dominated recently by the Buckeyes.
Ohio State is shooting for its fourth straight Big Ten title and perhaps a third straight appearance in the BCS national championship game, winning five straight since getting blown out at USC.
Pryor helped the Buckeyes score 21 points in the first quarter against a team that hadn’t allowed a point in its first four home games this season and was giving up less than 17 points a game overall.
He was 5-for-5 for 86 yards in the first quarter and ran for 62 yards on four carries, including a 32-yard gain.
Michigan State quarterback Brian Hoyer didn’t start the second half against because of an injured right hand, but returned in the fourth quarter.
Hoyer finished 5-of-13 for 27 yards and an interception. Cousins was 17-of-24 for 161 yards with a TD, interception and fumble.
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