Buckeyes Overcome Third-Down Short-Yardage Struggles On TD Run
The then-No. 6 Ohio State Buckeyes defeated the then-No. 9 Notre Dame Fighting Irish on a 1-yard run, getting the necessary push at the line of scrimmage to punch it into the end zone on third-and-1.
The Buckeyes heard Lou Holtz's comments about how they weren't a tough and physical team, and head coach Ryan Day said that factored into the final call "1,000 percent."
"I said, 'Well, you know, it probably just makes sense for one yard,'" Day said after the Buckeyes' 17-14 win. "Not only do we need to get that yard for this program, but I felt like it was the right thing to do schematically."
However, the schematics and execution on all of Ohio State's short-yardage situations weren't that of the Buckeyes' final play.
In the second quarter, Ohio State had driven 70 yards on 11 plays to set up a goal-to-go situation from Notre Dame's 1-yard line, where it was burned by former Buckeyes defensive end Javontae Jean-Baptiste.
Running back Miyan Williams' rush up the middle was thwarted for no gain, and on the fourth-down attempt, Kyle McCord's pass attempt to Cade Stover was knocked down and the Buckeyes came away with no points. Heading into halftime, Day said on the NBC broadcast that he was "pissed" the Buckeyes couldn't convert.
Then in the fourth quarter, Ohio State was threatening again to answer Notre Dame's touchdown to take a 14-10 lead. The Buckeyes were on the Fighting Irish's 11-yard line and yet again faced a third-and-1.
TreVeyon Henderson, who had a 61-yard touchdown run earlier in the game, was stuffed setting up fourth and 1.
After a timeout, the Buckeyes ran a jet sweep to Emeka Egbuka to the short side of the field. He was unable to get to the corner and was stopped by Jean-Baptiste.
The Buckeyes came through when needed with Chip Trayanum's game-winning touchdown plunge but will need to clean up the short-yardage situations during Big Ten play.
