KENNY GREER/THE LANTERNTwo quarterbacks, three running backs and four wide receivers were not enough for the 10th-ranked Buckeyes to prevail over No. 3 Texas, as the Longhorns prevailed 24-21 in the final moments of last night's Fiesta Bowl.
Ohio State was ahead 21-17 with 2:05 remaining after a 15-yard touchdown by running back Daniel "Boom" Herron.
The stage was set for McCoy to lead the Longhorns to victory; the Heisman trophy runner-up delivered.
Ohio State's defense could not stop the Longhorns' passing attack as McCoy connected with three different receivers and completed an 11-play, 78-yard scoring drive that culminated with a 26-yard pass to senior wide receiver Quan Cosby.
"We had this game," left tackle Alex Boone said. "Two minutes, eight seconds left and we're up. Sixteen seconds, we're down."
On the game's deciding play, the Buckeyes' defense was in man coverage and safety Anderson Russel tried to swipe the ball but came up short.
"You just feel like it's all your fault that you lost the game," Russell said. "That's how I felt like right then, it hurts."
McCoy had a career-game against the nation's eighth-ranked passing defense, setting personal bests in completions, attempts and yards.
The junior signal-caller finished 41-for-59 for 414 yards with two touchdowns and one interception.
It was the most passing yards allowed by Ohio State all season; Illinois previously had thrown for 241 against OSU.
For senior linebacker James Laurinaitis, the end of the game was surreal.
"Never thought we were going to lose, once," he said. "It's frustrating to have a chance to win it and be on the field and experience that just slip away."
Ohio State (10-3) came into the game as eight-point underdogs to the Longhorns (12-1). An ESPN poll had 90 percent of the country picking Texas to win the game.
After the game, in the Ohio State locker room, Boone embraced many of his fellow seniors, congratulating them on a hard-fought game.
"We showed 90 percent of the world that we're not going to take anybody's shit."
KENNY GREER/THE LANTERNJames Crepea can be reached at crepea.1@osu.edu.
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