Senior linebacker Bobby Carpenter has adopted a saying that’s been repeated over the years at Ohio State, especially when the stakes begin to climb.
“Great players play great in big games,” he said.
Carpenter and the other stalwarts on the OSU defense are putting their reputations on the line in a tussle this weekend at Minnesota that will pit the nation’s No. 1 rushing offense against the unit most proficient at stopping the run.
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The Gophers (5-2, 2-2 Big Ten) gashed Wisconsin for 411 yards on the ground before taking last week off, and they’re averaging 299.1 a game. Junior Laurence Maroney, a 5-foot-11-inch, 205-pound burner, is racking up 161.9 yards per game, first in the Big Ten and third nationally.
Ohio State (5-2, 3-1) is allowing a scant 62.7 rushing yards per game. And while no one has gained more than 76 individually against them, Carpenter said he believes Maroney will provide the Buckeyes with their stiffest challenge yet.
“He’s definitely the total package as a running back,” said Carpenter, who leads the Big Ten with eight sacks. “He’s a big guy that’s fast and physical. He can beat you a lot of different ways, and that’s what makes him so successful.
“I think we can stop him, but it’s not going to be easy. Their offensive line is good. If we can’t stop Laurence Maroney, we’re not going to win this game.”
The Buckeyes are tied with Northwestern for third in the Big Ten.