Correspondent photo / Robert Hayes Youngstown State quarterback Mitch Davidson dives into the end zone during the first quarter of the Penguins' 35-7 loss at Ohio State. Davidson's score was YSU's first touchdown in three games against the Buckeyes.

COLUMBUS — After Ohio State landed the game’s first punch, Youngstown State was able to counter with one of its own. From there, however, the lights went out.

After each team opened with a touchdown drive to begin the game, FBS No. 5 Ohio State scored 28 unanswered points en route to a 35-7 victory over the visiting FCS No. 25 Penguins in front of 102,897 fans Saturday at Ohio Stadium in Columbus.

“First thing we said was no moral victories,” YSU coach Doug Phillips said. “We didn’t come to stay close. We put a plan to win, we tried to execute. There were some mistakes there in that first half … We didn’t come here just to get moral victories. We came here to compete and try to win a football game. I told our kids it wasn’t a lack of effort or physicality.”

The Buckeyes (2-0) showcased their NFL-caliber receivers early and often. On their fourth play from scrimmage, Kyle McCord hit Marvin Harrison Jr. deep for a 71-yard touchdown that put OSU up 7-0 and set in motion a tremendous day for the talented receiver.

Harrison finished with seven receptions for 160 yards and two touchdowns, his second coming later in the first quarter on a 39-yard catch that put the Buckeyes up 14-7.

YSU (1-1) seemed unfazed after that opening Buckeye touchdown, however. Keyed by a 36-yard pass from Mitch Davidson to Max Tomczak, the Penguins pieced together an 11-play, 75-yard drive that ate 5:52 off the clock. It was capped by a 1-yard Davidson run, as he pulled the ball from his tailback and kept it on a read before diving into the end zone. It was YSU’s first touchdown in three games against the Buckeyes.

“That was our game plan — to possess the football,” Davidson said. “I feel like as an offense, we did that on certain drives. That first drive was a long drive. We went down, we executed well every play, I feel, and came out with seven points. As an offense we have to continue to do that.”

YSU also pieced together a drive that ate more than half the third quarter, but came away empty handed after Ohio State intercepted a Beau Brungard pass in the end zone. The Penguins also had a couple other chances with drives to around midfield, but couldn’t finish those to produce points, often because of penalties or negative plays.

“We needed to go down and score, needed to chip away and get it to 28-14 to give ourselves a chance,” Phillips said. “We had a few drives that stalled.”

He added, “We took a lot of time off the clock, but then we went backwards when we got to midfield, and those are things we have to correct. We can’t take negative plays when we get close to midfield and getting into field position to get some points.

Ohio State had surged ahead to a 28-7 lead entering halftime. TreVeyon Henderson pushed it to 21-7 with a 13-yard touchdown before Emeka Egbuka added a 28-yard score on a quick screen to cap the first half’s scoring.

Henderson ran for 56 yards and two scores on five carries to lead Ohio State’s 123-yard day. Egbuka caught five passes for 94 yards and that touchdown.

Henderson added his second score, a 30-yard run, with 1:40 left in the third quarter to finish the scoring.

Tyshon King had another strong showing for YSU, running for 66 yards on 12 carries. Dra Rushton made his first appearance of the season and ran for 22 yards on nine carries.

Davidson completed 12 of 18 passes for 98 yards. Tomczak led the receiving corps with 53 yards on three receptions, while Bryce Oliver added six catches for 37 yards.

As a whole, Ohio State outgained the Penguins 482-234, which included 359 yards through the air. McCord went 14-for-20 for 258 yards and three touchdowns. OSU averaged 17.1 yards per reception.

Youngstown State hosts Robert Morris in Week 3.

“We have to learn from this and get better,” Phillips said. “I thought we were a lot better this week than a week ago, and now we have to take that next step.”

jwhetzel@tribtoday.com