Running back Dallan Hayden of Ohio State spent five games preparing for a chance that never materialized.
He was prepared for his opportunity on Saturday.
In his first game of the season, Hayden helped an injury-plagued bunch of running backs by rushing for 76 yards and a touchdown to help No. 3 Ohio State beat Purdue 41-7 on a day when Kyle McCord threw three touchdown passes.
“It’s like the coaches always say, competitive spirit, you know. When your number is called, you’ve got make a play,” Hayden said. “ I think we have the best running back room in the country, so I feel like when one goes down, it’s just next man up.”
That was undoubtedly the case when the Buckeyes (6-0, 3-0 Big Ten) defeated Purdue for the first time in ten years to maintain their perfect record ahead of their matchup with No. 6 Penn State the following week.
Ryan Day, the coach, also got off to a quick start. McCord & Co. began the second half with two more touchdowns to make it 34-0 after scoring touchdowns on three of their first four drives to take a 20-0 advantage into halftime.
TreVeyon Henderson and Miyan Williams were both forced to sit out due to injury, and Chip Trayanum left the game in the first quarter after receiving a huge hit and stumbling as he crossed the field.
In his first game of the year, Hayden replied with 11 attempts for 6.9 yards, splitting carries with receiver Xavier Johnson and backup quarterback Devin Brown, reviving the Buckeyes’ previously sluggish ground game.
“When you get down Tre and Miyan and then Chip, that’s not where you want to be,” Day said. “We got down in there and I thought Dallan started running pretty well. To run the way we did without three of our guys is a good sign.”
The Boilermak“They’re No. 3 in the country for a reason,” Purdue coach Ryan Walters said after a second straight loss. “And they’re sitting where we want to go as a program.”ers (2-5, 1-3) found the game to be as depressing as the chilly, windy, and rainy weather that caused many Purdue supporters to leave early.
They were unable to consistently stop McCord, Hayden, Marvin Harrison Jr., the tight end, or McCord. Harrison scored the game’s opening touchdown after catching six receptions for 105 yards, while Stover scored twice, once in each half, on four catches for 53 yards.
McCord matched his single-game career high for touchdown throws on 16 of 28 attempts for 276 yards.
“They’re No. 3 in the country for a reason,” Purdue coach Ryan Walters said after a second straight loss. “And they’re sitting where we want to go as a program.”
Hudson Card, the Purdue quarterback, completed 13 of 32 passes for 126 yards and one touchdown. For the Boilermakers, Devin Mockobee ran 18 times for 110 yards.