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After Joel Stave found Abbrederis for a 64 yard pass, the Badgers were threatening to score, Melvin Gordon was apparently injured and were faced with a 3rd and 11. Stave tried to find Abbrederis, but was unsuccessful, and Kyle French would try to provide a 32-yard field goal, but missed wide left and came away with no points, giving the ball back to the Buckeyes.
Leading 14-7, the Buckeyes took the field in the second quarter and Braxton Miller was almost instantly brought down by his facemask. Jordan Hall would then get his first carry of the game, which went for a couple of yards, followed by another Miller pass to Devin Smith for a first down. Miller then tried taking a shot down field with Evan Spencer, but overthrew his man. On 2nd and 10, Hyde would get the call pushing for about five yards to bring up third down. Miller would keep the ball himself, but come up short. On 4th and 2, head coach Urban Meyer tried to get the defense to jump offside, but the Badgers defensive line wouldn't budge. The Buckeyes would then punt it away and pin Wisconsin inside their own 10-yard line.
Wisconsin tried a play-action screen to James White on the first play of the drive, but Ohio State wasn't fooled, tackling them for a two-yard loss. The next play, Melvin Gordon would take the handoff for a big first down run. White would come in for relief and gain 4 yards himself. On 2nd and 6, Michael Bennett got to Stave to knock the ball out of his hands. The Badgers would recover and on 3rd and 11, Stave would find Abbrederis for a first down, only for a holding call to bring it back to 3rd and 21. From there, Stave couldn't find anybody open and would run for 10 yards before being brought down and forced to punt.
After a close call, Philly Brown got bailed out by the Badgers lining up in an illegal formation (which otherwise would have ended up in a Badgers score) and was able to take the next punt across the 50 into Wisconsin territory. Braxton Miller started the drive off with a 5 yard run, and then threw a quick hitch route to Philly Brown for a first down. Miller would be sacked after trying to scramble out of the pocket on the next play, but would find Brown again on a tough throw to bring up a 3rd and 3. A failed play-action resulted in 4th down, and Drew Basil would knock in a 45-yard field goal to add to the Buckeyes' lead, 17-7.
With 4:27 left in the first half, Wisconsin would start their next possession at their own 24-yard line. Stave would find Sam Arneson for a first down, and then Abbrederis would provide another first down catch two plays later. Jared Abbrederis continued to have his way with the Buckeye secondary as he made a circus catch on a 33-yard reception, putting the Badgers at Ohio State's door. On 3rd and 11, Stave would again find Sam Arneson as the they connected for a touchdown. After the PAT, the Buckeyes led 17-14.
Jordan Hall would bring the kickoff to the 29-yard line, where Ohio State would take over with 1:29 remaining in the half. Braxton Miller was able to run for a first down and tried to find Philly Brown, but the pass was dropped. On 3rd and 6, Miller showed off his nifty footwork for another Buckeye first down with 39 seconds remaining. Another incomplete pass and a false start penalty against Ohio State would put the Buckeyes at 2nd and 15 near midfield. Miller was chased around out of the pocket, but wouldn't be able to get the first down. Coach Meyer would call a timeout on third down, with 16 seconds left in the first half. After lobbing up a near-interception, Drew Basil would remain on the sideline as Braxton Miller found Philly Brown on the final play of the first half for a 49-yard touchdown pass to give Ohio State a 24-14 lead heading into halftime.
Key Stats:
Braxton Miller: 11/17, 162 yards and 3 touchdowns and 7 carries, 39 yards
Carlos Hyde: 7 carries, 57 yards and 1 reception, 4 yards
Dontre Wilson: 1 rush, 6 yards and 1 reception, 21 yards
Philly Brown: 5 receptions, 70 yards, 1 touchdown
Evan Spencer: 1 reception, 25 yards, 1 touchdown
Devin Smith: 2 receptions, 33 yards, 1 touchdown