No. 9 Ohio State Tops San Diego State 27-6

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- Santonio Holmes&#39; punt returns set up Troy Smith&#39;s two first-half touchdown runs to help No. 9 Ohio State shake off its Texas hangover with a 27-6 win over San Diego State on Saturday.<br> <br> The Buckeyes (2-1), who lost 25-22 to No. 2 Texas last week before a record home crowd, took a while to find their bearings - trailing 6-0 just 11 seconds into the game. They moved in fits and starts on offense throughout the entire game.<br> <br> But spurred on by a relentless defense and mistakes by the Aztecs (0-3) they were never seriously challenged.<br> <br> San Diego State&#39;s offense never advanced past the Ohio State 46 after the game&#39;s opening play and finished with just three first downs - the fewest in school history. <br> <br> On the last play of the third quarter, the Aztecs muffed an option pitch on first down at their own 1. Anthony Schlegel&#39;s recovery set up Brandon Schnittker&#39;s TD dive on the next play for a 24-6 lead.<br> <br> San Diego State shocked the Buckeyes on the first play from scrimmage when Kevin O&#39;Connell tossed a quick sideline pass to Brett Swain, who turned the corner at right end behind a block by Robert Ortiz and raced untouched for the 80-yard touchdown.<br> <br> A crowd of 104,533 was silenced.<br> <br> Ohio State&#39;s offense floundered on its first two possessions, each of which resulted in punts. But special teams picked up the slack. <br> <br> Holmes returned a punt 35 yards and a late hit gave the Buckeyes a first down at the Aztecs 20. Three plays later, Smith burst through a truck-sized hole at right tackle for a 14-yard TD. Josh Huston&#39;s kick gave the Buckeyes a 7-6 lead.<br> <br> Ohio State then drove from its own 24 to a first down at the San Diego State 1, but Schnittker fumbled at the goal line with the Aztecs Donny Baker recovering.<br> <br> The Aztecs, who had given the Buckeyes good games twice in the last four years, failed to get a first down for the third possession in a row and punted to Holmes again, his 13-yard return putting Ohio State in business at the Aztecs 32.<br> <br> Smith carried on four of the seven plays leading to his 1-yard keeper for the score and a 14-6 lead at the half.<br> <br> After the second-half kickoff, Huston&#39;s 25-yard field goal capped an Ohio State drive which died at the 7.<br> <br> Ted Ginn Jr.&#39;s 26-yard punt return helped the Buckeyes maintain field position late in the third quarter. That possession ended in a punt but a holding call on the return pinned the Aztecs on their own 1. On first down, O&#39;Connell&#39;s option pitch to the right was behind Lynell Hamilton and Schlegel pounced on it to set up the easy touchdown by Schnittker.<br> <br> San Diego State totaled 417 yards in a 41-29 loss to Air Force last week and 402 yards the week before while falling 44-21 to UCLA. But the Aztecs, after getting 80 yards on their first play, mustered just 99 on the next 40 plays.<br> <br> Smith, making his first start since running for 145 and passing for 241 yards to lead an upset of Michigan last year, completed 14-of-26 passes for 149 yards with one interception, and also led the Buckeyes in rushing with 87 yards on 14 carries.<br> <br> He was suspended for taking $500 from a booster and missed the Buckeyes&#39; bowl game and the opener against Miami (Ohio), then came off the bench in the loss to Texas.<br> <br> Justin Zwick, the starter against the Longhorns, played only the final series and hit on 9-of-10 passes for 47 yards.<br> <br> © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.