 "Photo: Derrick Tuskan, Photo Editor")
COLUMBUS, Ohio - For 11 seconds, San Diego State football looked like a well-oiled offensive race car.
That's how long it took sophomore wide receiver Brett Swain to catch a swing pass and run 80 yards for a touchdown on SDSU's first play at No. 9 Ohio State Sept. 17.
As for the next 59 minutes, 11 seconds - beginning with a missed extra point by sophomore kicker Garrett Palmer - the Aztecs' offense was like a slow, broken vehicle that couldn't run.
SDSU (0-3) mustered only 99 yards after Swain's touchdown and 31 yards in the second half.
The Buckeyes (2-1) tallied 21 first downs while the Aztecs managed just three.
"It was an electrifying start, but without any follow-up," head coach Tom Craft said. "(Ohio State) has as good a defense as I've ever seen."
The Buckeyes suffocated the SDSU offense, absolutely shutting down redshirt sophomore running back Lynell Hamilton.
"Their defense was fast to the ball, and once I thought I had a hole, they were quick to lose it," Hamilton said, after he gained a career-low 15 yards on seven carries.
It was a game Hamilton probably wishes never happened, one that involved a play that he'd want to soon forget.
In the last play of the third quarter from the Aztecs' own one-yard line, sophomore quarterback Kevin O'Connell tried to pitch the ball to Hamilton in an option play, but the ball sailed out of Hamilton's reach. Ohio State linebacker Anthony Schlegal recovered the ball, and his team would score on the following play.
"I didn't see Lynell at first, so I kind of double-clutched it," O'Connell said. "That's definitely unacceptable."
He finished 12-of-17 passing with one touchdown and was substituted by redshirt freshman Darren Mougey with 10:11 remaining in the fourth quarter.
The offense couldn't establish any rhythm, and SDSU had a tough time sustaining drives and coming up with big plays in crucial situations.
The Aztecs recorded only one third down conversion out of 12 chances, going 0-for-6 in a second half that began 14-6, when SDSU still had a chance.
Meanwhile, the Aztec defense did a solid job, considering how long it was on the field.
Ohio State ran 82 plays compared to SDSU's 41. The Buckeyes' star receiver Ted Ginn Jr. was held to three catches for 37 yards.
Perhaps most impressive was senior linebacker Freddy Keiaho's 18 tackles, just short of the school record of 21.
On a day when so little went right for the Aztecs, Keiaho presented a bright side on a defense and kept SDSU within striking distance for most of the game.
"Coming into the game, we had a lot of questions, and a lot of players stepped up," Keiaho said.
Added Craft: "We have the potential to be a good football team. Now, we lost three rounds (of the season) but can look forward to the fourth.
"We will go back to work and clean some stuff up."
The Aztecs will have a chance to clean everything up against San Jose State when the Spartans come to San Diego for a 5:05 p.m. kickoff Sept. 24 in Qualcomm Stadium.
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