COL FB: Ohio State 48, Northwestern 7

COLUMBUS, Ohio, Nov. 12 (UPI) -- Quarterback Troy Smith ran for two scores Saturday as 10th-ranked Ohio State mauled Northwestern, 48-7.

Antonio Pittman gained 132 yards rushing and scored once; reserve running back Maurice Wells finished with 70 yards on 13 attempts; Smith added 75 yards on seven attempts and went 7-of-12 passing for 75 yards, one interception and no touchdowns; and Santonio Holmes added three catches for 49 yards. In his last game at Ohio Stadium, all-America senior linebacker A.J. Hawk returned a blocked punt for a touchdown for the Buckeyes (8-2, 6-1 Big Ten).

Brett Basanez completed 15 of 31 passes for 121 yards and one score, Tyrell Sutton had had 93 yards on 14 attempts. He scored on a touchdown pass from Basanez in the first quarter for Northwestern (6-4, 4-3 Big Ten), which blew an early 7-0 lead and suffered its second loss in three games after yielding 48 straight points.