COLUMBUS – Ohio hung tough into the second half, but eventually top-ranked Ohio State pulled away with a 37-9 victory Saturday night at Ohio Stadium.

The Bobcats (1-2) trailed just 13-9 after Chase Hendricks’ 67-yard touchdown catch from Parker Navarro less than a minute into the second half. The Buckeyes (3-0) scored 24 straight points to close out the game.

Total yards were a complete mismatch, with Ohio State outgaining Ohio 572-181 and never punting. However, Ohio’s defense bent but did not break early, giving up just one touchdown and two short field goals in the first half.

Eventually, the Buckeyes broke through. Julian Sayin threw for 347 yards and three touchdowns, while Bo Jackson rushed for 110 yards on just nine carries with a touchdown.

Ohio came up with a goal line stand on the game’s opening possession. Anas Luqman sacked Sayin on fourth-and-goal from the 4-yard line, and then late in the first quarter, an Ohio State drive stalled at the Bobcats 20. Jayden Fielding’s 38-yard field goal were the game’s first points.

The defense came up clutch for the Bobcats on the next possession. Ohio State had a first-and-goal from the 3, gained a yard on a second-down run and then threw two incompletions before settling for a Fielding 20-yard field goal to make it 6-0 with 9:58 left in the first half.

The Buckeyes got their first touchdown with 2:29 to go before halftime. Sayin threw a 16-yard touchdown pass to Max Klare on a third-and-10 play, making it 13-0.

Ohio took advantage of the first of two Ohio State turnovers to get its first points. Sayin was picked off by Michael Mack II, and that led to a Brad Peacock 44-yard field goal in the final minute to make it a 13-3 game.

After missing a portion of the first half with a wrist injury, Navarro was back to start the second half and struck right away with a 67-yard touchdown pass to Hendricks, who outbattled defenders for the ball and then raced the rest of the way to the end zone. The extra point was no good.

One more time, Ohio’s defense limited Ohio State to a short field goal, forcing a fourth down inside the 5. Fielding connected from 22 yards to make it a seven-point game and giving the Bobcats a chance to possibly tie the score.

But they picked up just one first down before punting, and Brandon Inniss’ 28-yard return gave the Buckeyes solid field position. Sayin then hit Jeremiah Smith for a 47-yard touchdown pass, making it 23-9.

The Buckeyes added two more touchdowns in the fourth quarter. Sayin threw a 49-yard touchdown pass to Carnell Tate at the 14:14 mark, and Smith added a 17-yard touchdown run with 6:36 left.

In between the two scores, Ohio had a chance to make it a closer game after Austin Mitchell intercepted Sayin at the Ohio State 42-yard line. The Bobcats, though, gained just a yard before turning it over on downs.

The Bobcats’ best offensive drive came with backup Nick Poulos at quarterback against the Buckeyes’ backups. The long deliberate drive ended at Ohio State’s 18-yard line when time ran out.

Navarro was just 6-of-13 passing for 94 yards and netted just 3 rushing yards on five carries. Sieh Bangura had 24 yards on 12 carries. Hendricks made three catches for 76 yards.

Smith (nine catches for 153 yards) and Tate (five catches for 101 yards) were difficult covers for the Ohio defense.

Adonis Williams Jr. and Cam Hollobaugh both made nine tackles for Ohio.

After facing threw power conference opponents to begin the season, the Bobcats finally get a break in their final nonconference game. They host Gardner-Webb at 3:30 p.m. Saturday at Peden Stadium.