Ohio State piles on Rutgers with fake punt that nearly causes benches clearing brawl

The Ohio State Buckeyes ran a fake punt against Rutgers while up 39 points, and the benches nearly cleared on a hit out of bounds after the play.

The Ohio State Buckeyes faced off against another Big 10 foe this season, this time eing the Rutgers Scarlet Knights. While Rutgers’ defense ranked among the best in the nation through the first few weeks of the season, they have not played an offense as dominant as Ohio State’s.

In the fourth quarter, the Buckeyes were up 49-10 over the Scarlet Knights, and appeared to be punting the ball away on fourth-and-two. Instead, Ohio State punter Jesse Mirco ran it for a 22-yard gain and a first down. Well after Mirco ran out of bounds, he was hit by wide receiver Aron Cruickshank.

The benches nearly cleared, and head coaches Ryan Day and Greg Schiano exchanged words on the sidelines.

Ohio State and Rutgers nearly brawl after fake punt

Cruickshank was called for a late hit and was subsequently ejected from the game.

As for the score, it stayed at 49-10 all the way until the game clock struck triple zeroes.

Rutgers did take an early 7-0 lead, but that disappeared less than two minutes later, and the rout was on.

Running back Miyan Williams accounted for the majority of Ohio State’s points, as he ran for 189 yards and five touchdowns on 21 carries.

After the game, Day told the media that he did not call for the fake punt. Rather he said that Mirco saw an opportunity and ran for the first down. That, and he said that his interaction with Schiano was just the two defending their players.

It was a play that everyone was talking about, and it nearly became a benches-clearing brawl.

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