OSU Makes Strong National Showing for the Big Ten

 Columbus, OH The Ohio State defense intercepted Heisman candidate Miami QB Jacory Harris four times leading the #2 Buckeyes (2-0) to a convincing 36 –

 

Pryor and the Buckeyes showed the nation that the Big Ten will be in the hunt all season! Photo courtesy of Bill Marklevits

Columbus, OH

The Ohio State defense intercepted Heisman candidate Miami QB Jacory Harris four times leading the #2 Buckeyes (2-0) to a convincing 36 – 24 victory over #12 Miami (1-1) in a re-match of the 2002 BCS National Championship Game.  In a game billed as a Heisman showcase Ohio State’s Terrelle Pryor passed for 233 yards and 1 TD while rushing for 113 yards and 1 TD, while Harris passed for 232 yards and 1 TD. A more telling stat comparison is that Harris had four turnovers while Pryor had none.  

The Ohio State victory builds on the national respect the Big Ten gained from winning two BCS bowl games last season, while putting a damper on Miami’s hopes of returning to the upper echelon of college football.  Jim Tressel said “we beat a top 10 team today which is huge, if we keep growing we have a chance for a special season. If we think we’ve arrived, we’re done!”

Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel who is now 27-2 in non-conference games played in Ohio Stadium praised his defense saying “we flew around, our guys up front are relentless, the linebackers are active and the DBs will hit you even if you might catch a few of them, but they’ll hit you.  And today they did a heck of a job against a very talented team.  The result would have been even more one sided if not for Miami’s Lamar Miller returning a first-half kickoff 88 yards for a touchdown, and Matt Bosher returning a second quarter punt 51 yards for a score.  Ohio State special teams have given up big plays in both games this season and are sure to be an area of concentration going forward for Tressel.

Key plays in the game for OSU in which there were many were Pryor leading OSU on a 2 play 80 yard drive after in the second quarter after Miami had taken a 10-3 lead. Pryor hit DeVier Posey on a 62 yard pass play and then followed that up with an 18 yard touchdown toss to RB Brandon Saine.   Trailing 26 -17 at halftime, Miami took the second-half kickoff and drove to a first down at the OSU 6. But on third-and-goal, Harris’s pass over the middle was off target and intercepted by burly Buckeye defensive end Cameron Heyward, who rumbled 80 yards.  Heyward’s interception led to Terrelle Pryor’s 13 yard TD run. On the play Pryor rolled right looking to throw then reversed field and raced untouched into the end zone.

 OSU CB Chimdi Chekwa had two of the Buckeyes four interceptions the first time a Buckeye had two picks in a game since Kurt Coleman did in the 2009 Michigan game. OSU Kicker Devin Barclay tied a school record with five field goals, connecting from 24, 41, 21, 24, and 24 yards. He could have had the school record had he connected on a fourth quarter 32 yard attempt but it sailed wide left.

The highly anticipated September headliner was a re-match of one of college football’s reatest games. The 31-24 double –overtime 2003 BCS Fiesta Bowl national championship game that won Ohio State the Big Ten Conference’s first ever BCS national championship title and the school’s first national title in 34 years.  Miami had thought they won the game after the first over-time but a late flag in the end-zone on a pass to WR Michael Jenkins gave the Buckeyes second life.  After QB Craig Krenzel banged in from one yard for a tying score, freshman RB Maurice Clarett ran in for the winning touchdown from 5 yards out in the second-overtime while the OSU defense turned back #1 Miami’s attempt to tie. The Buckeyes were an 11.5 point underdog in that game but led by their defense (Mark Dantonio was the DC) they persevered as they had all season to knock Miami off their pedestal at the top of college football. The Hurricanes had come into the game with a 34 game winning streak and were seeking back to back BCS national titles.  That game launched Ohio State to a string of six BCS bowl game appearances over the following seven seasons, while Miami has not played in a BCS game since 2004.