COLUMBUS: Cardale Jones, who guided Ohio State to three postseason wins and the national championship last season, threw two touchdown passes to Corey Smith to lead the Gray to a 17-14 win Saturday before a national spring-game record crowd of 99,391 at Ohio Stadium.
Jones also won a halftime quarterback challenge.
Defense dominated as the offenses were hampered by injuries. Erik Smith intercepted two passes and Nick Conner intercepted a pass and forced a fumble for the Gray.
Many of the Buckeyes’ top players did not play because they are recovering from surgery or injuries, including tailback Ezekiel Elliott (hand), quarterbacks Braxton Miller (shoulder) and J.