Two plays help OSU separate from Wildcats
Early in the second quarter, Northwestern defensive tackle John Gill burst into the backfield and appeared to stop Ohio State's Beanie Wells for a loss.
Only Wells didn't stop. He kept churning, shed Gill, and sprinted 55 yards for a touchdown that broke the game's only tie.
Late in the third quarter, NU outside linebacker Quentin Davie roared in and had his arms around quarterback Terrelle Pryor's waist. A sack was inevitable.
Only Pryor shucked Davie, stayed alive near the sideline, and threaded the needle to tight end Rory Nicol for a 6-yard score that broke NU's back.
On a day full of plays that explained why No. 11 Ohio State stands at least a notch above No. 24 Northwestern, those two plays served as the most dramatic snapshots in the Buckeyes' 45-10 Big Ten triumph at sold-out and frigid Ryan Field.
"You've got to tackle," said Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald. "I mean, ABCs of football. When we've got people in position there to make a play, you've got to wrap up, run your feet and finish the play."
Pryor, the freshman prodigy, shredded the Wildcats every which way one can.
Against a Northwestern defense stacked to stop Wells inside - but also equipped with a linebacker spying on Pryor - the Bucks' quarterback used his feet and arm to riddle the hosts.
"It will be interesting to watch the film," said Ohio State coach Jim Tressel. "Northwestern was bringing a million guys in the box to make us beat them throwing."
Ohio State's last drive of the first half, which began at its own 10 while holding a 17-7 lead, summed up why Pryor was the nation's No. 1 recruit.
• On third-and-8, Pryor stayed alive in the pocket, rolled to his left, and lobbed a perfect pass to Dane Sanzenbacher for 14 yards.
• On third-and-13, Pryor scrambled for 15 yards.
• On third-and-17, Pryor scrambled for 21 yards, then got a bonus 15 when linebacker Prince Kwateng hit him out of bounds.
• From Northwestern's 15, Pryor stayed in the pocket, took his time, and nailed Brian Robiskie in the back corner of the end zone for a 24-7 lead with 1:26 left in the half.
Pryor finished 9 of 14 for 197 yards and 3 touchdowns, which graded out as a 253.2 efficiency rating.
Wells added 140 yards and 2 scores on 28 carries as Ohio State (8-2, 5-1) remained a legitimate contender for yet another BCS bowl berth.
"(Tressel) says when it gets colder, we play harder," Pryor said. "November decides where you go, point blank, period."
Northwestern (7-3, 3-3) didn't go far after a single-minded opening drive.
Junior Mike Kafka, getting his second start at quarterback, had 10 carries on the 13-play march, including his 1-yard spin that made it 7-7 with 4:43 to go in the first.
But after that, Kafka's yards and NU's points were much harder to come by. He finished with 29 carries for 83 yards, though he went over the 100-yard mark before giving back 35 yards on 3 late sacks.
Kafka also tossed an interception and lost a fumble in the final seven minutes when the game was long gone.
"It's whatever," Kafka said. "It's over now. We'll be going for next week at Michigan."