The Ohio State defense held Ohio University scoreless until the 6:14 mark in the fourth quarter en route to a 43-7 victory.

After coming up with four interceptions in last week’s game against Miami (Fla.), the Buckeyes were at it again with two interceptions and three fumble recoveries. The team has forced 11 turnovers through the first three games of the season.

“It’s just something we stress,” safety Jermale Hines said. “We do a lot of ball drills in practice and turnover drills. … It shows out there.”

Ohio State also forced a safety and a turnover-on-downs.

The Bobcats only crossed midfield twice in the game, once on a blocked punt, and managed only 158 total yards of offense, 99 yards less than their average entering the game.

Defensive lineman Cameron Heyward recorded the safety and one of the fumble recoveries for the Buckeyes.

He attributed both to good play calls and fortunate timing on his part.

He was less satisfied with his four yard fumble recovery.

“The quarterback tackled me,” he said as his fellow captains laughed. “It’s not good enough.”

Linebacker Ross Homan and defensive back Tyler Moeller recorded the two interceptions while Homan and defensive back Devon Torrence recovered the other two fumbles.

“Everyone is making plays out there,” Moeller said. “We’re all being aggressive. Everyone is doing a great job.”

Special teams woes continue

The biggest problems for the Buckeyes in the first two games of the season came on special teams as they had surrendered 21 points on kick and punt returns.

It seemed like more of the same in the first quarter as the Bobcats’ Julian Posey had a 99-yard kick return. The play was negated by a block in the back penalty on Ohio.

“We let that kickoff return out, you know the problem is if you get blocked in the back out of one lane and they happen to hit that lane it is going to come out,” OSU coach Jim Tressel said.

OU averaged 12 yards on punt returns and nearly 21 yards on kickoffs.

The Bobcats were able to down two punts inside the OSU 5-yard line and blocked Ben Buchanan’s first punt of the second half.

“We just flat out missed a guy on the punt that was blocked,” Tressel said.

Better red zone efficiency

In addition to special teams struggles, red zone efficiency was an area of concern following the Miami game as the team settled for field goals four times when inside the opponent’s 20-yard line.

The team was forced to kick field goals from the red zone twice against the Bobcats, but overall felt more confident about their efficiency.

“I feel we did a better job than last week of scoring touchdowns,” senior offensive lineman Bryant Browning said.

Though there was evidence of improvement, red zone efficiency will continue to be an area of concern.

“It’s definitely important for us to get touchdowns in the red zone,” running back Dan Herron said. “That’s something that coach (Tressel) wants us to be 100 percent at. We have to continue to get better.”

Record-breaking day for Pryor

Terrelle Pryor set an Ohio State record with 16 consecutive pass completions in a game.

Overall he was 22-for-29 for 235 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions.

“Sixteen in a row is pretty good,” Tressel said. “He was 22-for-29 which is pretty fair, I think he’d like to have a couple of those back. Interceptions ruin a quarterback’s day in their own mind.”

The completion percentage was a drastic improvement over last week, when Pryor connected on only 44 percent.

“He’s not happy unless he is a 60-plus percent guy, that’s just the standards he sets for himself,” Tressel said.

Spreading the ball around

Of Pryor’s 22 completions, 13 of them went to running backs or tight ends.

Tight end Jake Stoneburner caught five of those passes and recorded his first career touchdown.

“They just forgot about me and he made an easy pass and it was an easy catch,” he said of the score.

Tressel and the players on offense have talked at lengths about the value in getting the tight ends involved in the passing game.

“I think Jake is a talented receiver,” Tressel said. “He gets himself in position to get the ball thrown to him and I think (tight end) Reid (Fragel) had a catch as well.”

Saine also added a touchdown through the air and was often targeted out of the backfield.

“I think it’s both Terrelle and the coaches getting me the ball,” he said of his increased role in the passing game. “Some are designed plays while other times Terrelle just sees me open.”

Overall, the running backs and tight ends combined for 136 of the 281 receiving yards and both passing touchdowns.