TimesLeader.com

Buckeyes need to find a kicker

By Derek Levarse dlevarse@timesleader.com
Sports Reporter

One of the most impressive four-year stretches in Big Ten history is on the line for Ohio State this week. The Buckeyes have earned at least a share of the last four conference titles, playing in four straight BCS bowls. A road win at Penn State on Saturday will likely be required to extend both streaks.

So what’s one of the main topics of conversation for Ohio State heading into back-to-back games against 8-1 Penn State and 9-0 Iowa? The placekicker.

The Buckeyes find themselves in an unusual situation for what should be a pair of tight contests, as starting kicker Aaron Pettrey will miss the rest of the season after tearing an MCL on Saturday.

Pettrey suffered the injury against New Mexico State when he was blocked low on a kickoff return. That means the kicking duties against the Nittany Lions will come down to 26-year-old junior Devin Barclay and freshman Ben Buchanan, who is listed as a punter on the team roster.

“Sometimes that happens in football,” Ohio State coach Jim Tressel said Tuesday at his weekly press conference. “There was no intent involved, but it’s a reality for us, so Devin Barclay and Ben Buchanan (will be our kickers). Ben was not in uniform Saturday, he was out last week. He’ll be back. I’m told by the trainers that he’ll be able to work today.

“So between Devin and Ben, we’ve got to step up. I’m not sure any of us expected that, but that’s part of football.”

Barclay was forced to take over when Pettrey went out in the second quarter against the Aggies, finishing 3-for-3 on extra points and 1-for-3 on field goals. He hit a 29-yarder sandwiched around misses from 47 and 36.

Tressel said the tentative plan for this week was to use Barclay on field goals and kickoffs against Penn State but added he wanted to see Buchanan in practice this week and that he wouldn’t be afraid to use both if the need arises.

Last year, points were at a premium between the two schools, with Penn State pulling out a 13-6 victory in Columbus. With two of the nation’s top defenses on the field Saturday, the kicking game could again prove to be critical.

The sudden inexperience at the position could make Tressel think twice about a fourth-and-short call inside Penn State territory, especially against a hostile crowd.

“Yeah, Devin or Ben, I don’t think are going to be your 57-yard kind of guys … so it might change it a little bit,” Tressel said. “Just have to see how Devin and Ben are looking and the conditions, the wind, the footing, and all those different things. But, yeah, it does (change things).

“I mean, we were very comfortable with Aaron from anywhere. He had a great leg. I’ve seen him hit 63-, 64-yard field goals in practice – not just standing there alone, I mean with a rush coming and the whole deal. So these guys aren’t quite there.”

On the bright side for the Buckeyes, Barclay is used to facing pressure, having played pro soccer in MLS at age 17. Injuries slowed his soccer career, which came to an end in 2005 after a stint with the Columbus Crew.

From there, Barclay wanted to continue the education he had to put aside and ended up sticking around the area to play at Ohio State.

“I think Devin was involved in the Athletes in Action Ministry and some of the Athletes in Action’s leaders that minister to the MLS teams of the various pro teams and college programs happened to bring him over,” Tressel said. “And he got to know our guys, our kickers, and he had forged a little bit of a relationship, I think, while he was still with the Crew.

“And one thing led to another, and he said he wanted to go to college. And I remember there was some time that it took to figure out if he could come and walk on and so forth. … One thing led to another and he’s done a nice job.”

Getting healthier

While the situation at kicker is precarious, Ohio State expects to have a few other key contributors back against the Lions.

Junior defensive tackle Dexter Larimore and junior guard Justin Boren both should be back.

Boren, a high-profile transfer from Michigan of all places, started the first eight games before sitting out last week’s non-conference tilt. Larrimore has four starts this season and eight total in his career.