Dayonne Nunley would have preferred the glory.

The Miami University junior cornerback was involved in a highlight-reel play that was splashed across the Internet and television screens around the country Saturday. Unfortunately, the spotlight wasn’t on him.

Ohio State’s Devin Smith made a spectacular one-handed touchdown catch during the second quarter of the Buckeyes’ 56-10 victory in a football season opener at Ohio Stadium.

“Next time, I’ll make the pick one-handed,” Nunley said.

Braxton Miller threw the pass that wiped out a 3-0 deficit and ignited OSU after an opening stanza that the RedHawks dominated. Nunley was one-on-one with Smith in the back of the end zone.

“I was there,” Nunley said. “I saw the ball in the air, and my eyes got big. I was like, ‘It’s coming. I’ve got to make a play.’ His hand came up, and he made a play. Honestly, I thought he dropped it. But everybody started cheering, and I’m like, ‘Oh, he caught it.’ I give him his props.”

Defensive downer: After a strong start, Miami’s veteran defense gave up 56 points and 490 yards over the last three quarters.

“We came out the way we expected to play,” senior linebacker Jaytee Swanson said. “And then a couple missed tackles, a couple missed assignments, really took a big hit on us. It’s hard for them to run the ball down the field if you’re in the gap and you’re making all the tackles. So that starts with us.”

“I thought our D-line as a whole played a pretty physical game,” senior tackle Austin Brown added. “Our eyes got us in trouble a couple times across the whole front. We didn’t play as disciplined as we’re taught, and I think that really came back and bit us.”

The RedHawks did have a goal-line stand at the end of the first half. With the ball on the 1 and OSU opting for a run, Justin Bowers stopped Carlos Hyde for no gain.

Brison Burris, Pat Hinkel and D.J. Brown all had seven tackles for MU. Freshman Josh Dooley totaled six.

Running on empty: An improved ground game failed to materialize as Miami was held to minus-1 yard on 20 carries. Justin Semmes (five carries, 13 yards) and Robert Williams (three carries, 10 yards) led the way.

“I don’t get too caught up in the numbers until I see the actual plays ran and what we actually did when we were trying to run the ball,” RedHawks coach Don Treadwell said.

O-line commended: Senior center JoJo Williams didn’t play because of a leg contusion. Treadwell said his status is day to day.

Brad Bednar started at center and Marcus Matthews replaced Bednar at right guard. Quarterback Zac Dysert didn’t feel pressure very often.

“All day long, our offensive line protected well,” receiver Andy Cruse said. “You’ve got to give credit to them.”

Cruse (eight catches, 48 yards), Nick Harwell (eight catches, 120 yards, TD) and Dawan Scott (five catches, 87 yards) were MU’s top receivers. The wideouts had a tough day as a group, dropping at least a half-dozen passes.

“We did a lot of good things on offense besides the drops,” Dysert said.

Rookie kicker: Freshman Kaleb Patterson won the place-kicking job, but misfired on a 24-yard field goal midway through the first quarter. He followed that with a 22-yard make later in the period and converted his only extra point.