OSU Football: Wells hurdles first Big Ten foe

Ohio State led Minnesota 13-3 and had just gained possession following a Minnesota fumble with 2:36 remaining in the first half.

On second down from Minnesota's 35-yard line junior running back Chris "Beanie" Wells ran up the middle of the field and when he saw Minnesota safety Kyle Theret in his way, he did the only thing he could - he hurdled over Theret.

"I've seen [Georgia running back] Knoshon Moreno's jump and I saw a guy coming and that's what I did," Wells said. "I had on lineman cleats and I know I couldn't make a move so the only thing I could do was jump in the air."

The crowd of 105,175 erupted as Wells performed the highlight-reel move, gaining 21 yards on the play before he was finally tackled.

Senior wide receiver Brian Robiskie, who had eight catches for 90 yards and two touchdowns, did not see the play because he was blocking down field and was confused when he went to the sideline.

"I heard the crowd cheer and usually when they cheer he's breaking down the sideline going for a score," Robiskie said. "I turned around, he was tackled. So I'm thinking 'What did he do for everybody to cheer.' I heard he hurdled over somebody, I gotta see it on film."

Wells' return to the field against Minnesota was the first time he has played since injuring his foot against Youngstown State Aug. 30.

"All week I was telling guys I felt like a caged animal," Wells said. "I wanted to be out there the past three games, especially that big one we played, but it couldn't happen."

Wearing lineman cleats with a protective plaster covering for his injured foot and a cutout for his toe, Wells said he felt like he was running in combat boots.

Despite the additional weight he had to carry because of his different cleats, Wells finished the game with 14 carries for 106 yards, the 11th 100-yard game of his career.

Overall, Wells was happy to get back on the field, but was disappointed in himself for fumbling the ball early in the first quarter, giving Minnesota the ball at the OSU 24-yard line. "That fumble was very costly," Wells said. "That's something we stress - no critical turnovers.

"I was fighting for extra yards and it shouldn't have happened." Wells' adds another major running weapon to complement the ability of dual-threat freshman quarterback Terrelle Pryor, who had 97 yards rushing and two touchdowns on eight carries.

"To have both of those guys back there is a scary thing for defenses," Robiskie said. "Both guys with both running ability, it does make it hard on defenses to try to figure out who they want to stop, who to key in on."

In his first career start, Pryor went eight-for-13 passing for 70 yards and one touchdown, an eight-yard pass to Robiskie at the end of the first half.

"It felt really comfortable," Pryor said about starting. "Coming into the game, we really wanted to take it down the field on the first drive were really happy to do that. I want to keep it going and I know I have to keep proving myself."

Pryor was taken out of the game with 6:41 remaining in the third quarter, replaced by sixth-year senior Todd Boeckman. Boeckman was booed following his only passing play during last week's game against Troy, but was cheered as he went five-for-nine passing for 65 yards and one touchdown, a 31-yard pass to Robiskie to start the fourth quarter.

"Always nice to get back out there," Boeckman said. "I felt good about myself today. I thought it was a pretty good performance overall and I'm happy with it."

Pryor returned to the field with 8:24 remaining in the fourth quarter to get a few more passes.

"I wanted to send him back in there and throw some balls because I just didn't feel as if we progressed in the pass game up to that point," Tressel said. "He got to throw a couple more and he obviously needs as much experience as he can get."

Photo illustration by Kenny Greer

James Crepea can be reached at crepea.1@osu.edu.