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The game was played on turf as the Ohio State University doesn’t allow teams to play on its grass fields until the beginning of April.
Even so, OSU started its tune-up for the Midwest Championships with Mickey Franco (3), Matt Altieri, and Andrew Little all getting on the board.
“We’ve had an odd turnover in our off-season with a lot of guys turning over in the spring,” Ohio State head coach Tom Rooney told ARN. “We’re still struggling with our fundamental stuff at contact and that still needs work.”
Elsewhere, Rutgers hosted Delaware Friday night in New Jersey and managed to hang on for a close 31-26 win.
Rutgers drew first blood in the 21st minute when flyhalf Johannes Cronje scored in the corner after a feed from Lock Mike Acciani. Delaware responded eight minutes later with a converted try to take 7-5 lead.
Two minutes later, CJ Deausen picked off a Delaware pass to score and a subsequent Cronje conversion put Rutgers back in the lead at 12-7. Delaware answered again with a converted try of their own after a 40-meter line break in the 39th minute to edge back in front 14-12 at the half.
Rutgers struck first in the second half when Deausen scored on a pick and go from a ruck 10 meters out. Five minutes later, Rutgers scored again with another pick and go, this time by #8 Frank Voris, and with Cronje’s conversions it was 26-14.
Lock Joe Malanka added another try for Rutgers off the second phase of a five meter penalty play to extend the scoreline to 31-14.
Delaware rallied in the 77th minute with a converted try on a quick tap to trail 31-21, and went in again with an unconverted try from the backs in the final seconds of the game to end up falling just short.
