COLUMBUS - Ohio State's season-high 45 points against New Mexico State stood out on Saturday.

However, the more impressive number is the zero. Not because the Buckeye defense shut down a team that was only averaging 13.2 points per game, but because shutouts are becoming a regular thing with the Buckeyes.

Saturday's victory was the third time Ohio State blanked an opponent this year. The first came against Toledo at Cleveland Browns Stadium on Sept. 19, the second came the following week against Illinois.

"We were unbelievable today," senior linebacker Austin Spitler said. "It just seemed like we were playing sky high. It seems like when we play at a high level it carries over to the offensive side of the ball and boosts their confidence as well."

That statement is proven. In the three shutouts, the offense has posted scores of 38, 38 and 45.

"Austin (Spitler) did such a great job of leading us today," senior center Andrew Moses said. "Today was the reason you go through all the 6 a.m.'s, all the long practices and all the hard work week-in and week-out. We played great."

TRICK AND TREATS: The Buckeyes pulled a few tricks out of their offensive goody bag Saturday. After the Buckeyes' first score in the second quarter, kicker Aaron Pettrey dribbled an onside kick 10 yards and recovered it himself, giving Ohio State the ball back on their own 41-yard line.

The tricks, and treats, kept coming. With 4:44 left in the second quarter, quarterback Terrelle Pryor handed the ball off to Dan "Boom" Herron, who reversed it to DeVier Posey, who connected with Dane Sanzenbacher in the end zone. The junior wide receiver caught the ball over his shoulder with one hand for the 39-yard score.

"It was just a great feeling, it was better than actually catching one," Posey said. "I was just happy for Dane. He hadn't had one in a few weeks. He had a big game today."

Sanzenbacher knew he was the last resort on the play, which was actually supposed to end with Pryor getting the ball back, but when he saw the ball coming his way, he knew what he had to do.

"We did it a few times in practice, none of those times he threw it back to me," Sanzenbacher said. "I'm just the outlet guy at the end. DeVier was saying all week, 'I'm going to throw it back to ya,' I was like, 'Alright, yeah, we'll see.' But then the ball was in the air and I was like, 'Wow, he actually threw it to me.' "

The touchdown was the first thrown by an Ohio State receiver since Ted Ginn Jr. did it against Indiana on Oct. 21, 2006.

BIG-TIME PLAYS: After a less than impressive first quarter, the Buckeyes came firing back in the second quarter, posting 28 points. The last time Ohio State scored 28 points in one quarter was during the second quarter of the Buckeyes' game against Kent State on Oct. 13, 2007.

Also, Ohio State posted 559 yards of total offense, the most this season. Prior to Saturday's blowout, the Buckeyes put up 522 yards against Toledo.

FIRST FOR EVERYTHING: Junior linebacker Brian Rolle recorded his first career touchdown in the third quarter when he recovered a New Mexico State fumble in the end zone.

Also recording a first Saturday was junior kicker Devin Barclay, who kicked a 29-yard field goal in the third quarter.

dsulonen@tribtoday.com