COLUMBUS - Because of a fumble in a 34-point victory over Kent State, Ohio State running back Maurice Clarett was in a bad mood last week.

        “Maurice didn't even talk to me until Thursday,” Buckeyes coach Jim Tressel said.

        There will be no brooding this week.

        Clarett rushed for 230 yards Saturday in the sixth-ranked Buckeyes' 25-7 victory over No.10 Washington State before an Ohio Stadium-record crowd of 104,553 that was chanting “Mau-rice, Mau-rice” in the final minutes.

        It was the sixth-highest single-game rushing total in OSU history, and the most rushing yards for a freshman since Archie Griffin's 239 in 1972.

        “I was just always told: Big players make big plays in big games,” Clarett said.

        OSU (3-0) next plays the University of Cincinnati on Saturday at Paul Brown Stadium (3:30 p.m., ESPN). Ohio State beat the Bearcats 34-20 in 1999 in Columbus.

        The Buckeyes outscored their first two opponents (Texas Tech and Kent State) 96-38, and Washington State had outscored its first two opponents (Nevada and Idaho) 80-21.

        But Saturday was the first real test of the season for both teams.

        “I think it was a statement,” said OSU quarterback Craig Krenzel, who was 4-of-10 passing for 71 yards. “It was a big confidence builder that we can come out and beat a very good football team by playing our game.”

        It also was a chance to find out more about Clarett, a freshman from Warren who came in averaging 120.5 yards per game and rushed for 175 in his college debut. Clarett took over the game in the second half as the Buckeyes rallied after trailing 7-6 at halftime.

        Clarett scored both his touchdowns and ran for 194 yards in the second half. He had more yards on his first carry of the third quarter (44) than in the first two quarters combined (36).

        Clarett cramped up twice during the game and had to go to the sideline. Afterward, he couldn't shake hands because of a cut on his right middle finger. Still, Clarett was in the game until the very end, saying later, “I have to be tough and stick it out for the team.”

        Ohio State's defense played well enough to win all day; it was just a matter of the offense catching up. In the first half, the Buckeyes managed only two 43-yard field goals by Mike Nugent, who added a 45-yarder in the third quarter.

        A big defensive stand came late in the second quarter when the Cougars gained 68 yards in 14 plays but stalled at the 12-yard line. On a field-goal attempt, the snap was high and holder Collin Henderson couldn't hang on to it.

        The Buckeyes were fortunate to be trailing only by a point at intermission.

        “I feel good for the way our guys kept fighting,” Tressel said. “I think we improved today.”

        Momentum changed early in the second half.

        After a Washington State punt, the Buckeyes got the ball on their own 9-yard line. On the first play, Clarett broke outside for a 44-yard gain before being dragged down at the WSU 47. Five plays later, on a third-and-4, Krenzel ran 6 yards for Ohio State's first third-down conversion of the game. Clarett ran 20 yards to the Cougars' 3 and scored on the next play.

        It was 13-7 OSU with 8:37 left in the third quarter.

        “It got the ball rolling,” Krenzel said of Clarett's 44-yard run. “Good football teams feed off momentum. Great football teams make their own, and I think we kind of did that when we took the ball 91 yards.”

        Washington State, the Pac-10 Conference favorite, falls to 2-1. Cougars quarterback Jason Gesser came in ranked ninth nationally in passing efficiency, and finished 25-of-44 passing for 247 yards, one TD and two interceptions.

        “It's frustrating when we know we can move the ball,” Gesser said. “We stopped ourselves a lot by not executing when we had to.”

        Washington St. 7 0 0 0 - 7
        Ohio St. 3 3 12 7 - 25
        First Quarter
        OSU-FG Nugent 43, 13:19
        WSU-Darling 5 pass from Gesser (Dunning kick), 8:33
        Second Quarter
        OSU-FG Nugent 43, 12:09
        Third Quarter
        OSU-Clarett 3 run (Nugent kick), 8:37
        OSU-FG Nugent 45, 1:57
        OSU-Safety, punt snap through end zone, :47
        Fourth Quarter
        OSU-Clarett 1 run (Nugent kick), 10:41
        A-104,553
        RUSHING-Washington St., Tippins 8-35, J.Smith 6-12, J.Green 3-0, Gesser 3-(minus 5), Team 2-(minus 25). Ohio St., Clarett 31-230, Ross 10-46, Krenzel 8-19, Hall 3-1, Team 2-(minus 4).
        PASSING-Washington St., Gesser 25-44-2-247, Henderson 1-1-0-16. Ohio St., Krenzel 4-10-0-71.
        RECEIVING-Washington St., Lunde 8-64, Darling 6-65, Bush 6-63, J.Smith 2-38, Henderson 2-23, Tippins 1-5, J.Green 1-5. Ohio St., Jenkins 2-49, Vance 1-14, Gamble 1-8.
       

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