In a season where the Ohio State football team won six games by less than a touchdown, it should not have come as a surprise that the Buckeyes were going to hang tough with the defending national champion Miami Hurricanes in the Fiesta Bowl Friday night.
But in the month leading up to the battle for the Bowl Championship Series title, all the respect went to the Hurricanes and many expected them to run away from the Buckeyes.
Someone must have forgot to tell OSU.
For the first time since 1968, the Buckeyes can call themselves the best team in Division I-A college football as they outlasted the Hurricanes in a 31-24 double overtime victory in Tempe, Ariz.
“It is amazing,” said OSU linebacker Matt Wilhelm. “It hasn’t sunk in at all yet.”
With the score tied in regulation, the two teams went to overtime for the first time in the history of the BCS title game. Miami got the ball to start off the extra session and Heisman finalist quarterback Ken Dorsey quickly went to work.
With the ball at the OSU seven-yard line, Dorsey found tight end Kellen Winslow II in the back of the end zone for the touchdown, forcing the Buckeyes to score one of their own to keep their season alive. Dorsey finished 28 of 43 for 296 yards, while Winslow caught 11 balls for 122 yards.
OSU’s offense sputtered at the start of overtime, going nowhere on its first three plays. Facing fourth-and-14 and with the season hanging in the balance, OSU signal caller and Fiesta Bowl Most Valuable Offensive Player Craig Krenzel found wide receiver Michael Jenkins on a sideline pattern, good enough for 17 yards and a first down.
The Buckeyes again faced another fourth down, this time at the Miami 5-yard line. Dropping back to pass, Krenzel seemed to have receiver Chris Gamble open in the back of the end zone, but Hurricane defensive back Glenn Sharpe knocked the ball to the ground as Miami players rushed the field and fireworks went off around the stadium.
But what the Hurricanes and the rest of the crowd did not see was a referee’s yellow flag laying on the ground in the end zone. After some deliberation, the official announced pass interference had been called on the Hurricanes, keeping OSU’s drive alive.
“I thought there was contact,” Krenzel said. “But I didn’t see the flag because I was on the ground.”
Three plays later, Krenzel, who was the game’s leading rusher with 88 yards, snuck into the end zone.
At the start of the second overtime, OSU got the ball to start. Tailback Lydell Ross gave the Buckeyes some room when he ran for nine yards on first down, bringing OSU to the Miami 16-yard line. From there, Maurice Clarett dove into the end zone from five yards out just three plays later.
But the Hurricanes still had a chance to send the game into a third extra period. Miami was helped on a first-and-goal pass interference call, which put the ball at the two-yard line. On the first three plays, Miami was unable to move the ball at all and faced a fourth-and-goal from inside the one-yard line.
With 77,502 fans on their feet in Sun Devil Stadium, a majority wearing scarlet and gray, the Buckeye defense put pressure on Dorsey, who was unable to get away a good pass. The ball fell incomplete and the Buckeye bench rushed the field.
“That’s how you win championships,” said OSU football coach Jim Tressel. “You make plays and you make them in key situations.”
The game started as many suspected, with the Buckeye offense struggling against the quick Miami defense. After being called for illegal substitution before the first play, Clarett was stuffed behind the line on a two-yard loss. Krenzel then escaped pressure on an 11-yard run up the middle, but had to throw his third-down attempt out of bounds.
Miami started its first drive on their own 20-yard line and could not do much better on its first two plays. Dorsey was sacked by Will Smith on a three-yard loss, followed by a Willis McGahee run that was stopped two yards in the backfield.
But Dorsey hooked up with receiver Andre Johnson on a 20-yard gain to pick up the Hurricanes’ first first down. Miami faced another third down just two plays later, but Dorsey found Johnson on an 11-yard pass.
The Hurricanes moved backward when Dorsey was sacked for the second time, this time by Kenny Peterson. Dorsey completed two straight passes to Roscoe Parrish and Winslow, but Miami did not pick up the first down.
The Buckeyes would not get any help from the Miami special teams as Freddie Capshaw’s punt was downed at the OSU 1-yard line by both Antel Rolle and Sean Taylor.
The Buckeyes went three-and-out again, and the Hurricanes started at their own 48-yard line.
McGahee continued to find the running tough as he picked up only one yard on first down. Dorsey then found Winslow on a 26-yard throw for a first down.
With the Hurricanes at the OSU 23-yard line, McGahee again tried to run up the middle, but was stopped by Kenny Peterson for a two-yard loss.
But after an incompletion, Dorsey found a streaking Parrish over the middle and the 5-feet-9-inches wide receiver dragged Mike Doss into the end zone for the game’s first score. Todd Sievers added the extra point as Miami took a 7-0 lead.
The Hurricanes got the ball right back on OSU’s next possession. Krenzel threw deep to Vance, who was in the midst of double coverage. Taylor came down with the interception as Miami took over at their own 35-yard line.
But the Buckeye defense was up to the challenge and forced Miami to punt after three straight plays.
OSU’s drive again started with a penalty, but Krenzel picked up the five yards on another quarterback draw on first down. The Buckeyes picked up their first first down when Krenzel found Jenkins on a 12-yard sideline pattern.
However Clarett, like his counterpart, found the ground game tough. On an apparent reverse to Gamble, Clarett slipped and was swarmed by six Hurricane defenders for no gain. Another handoff to Clarett went for a seven-yard loss, followed by no gain from Krenzel and OSU had to punt again.
The Buckeyes then became the recipient of the game’s next turnover when Dorsey looked to throw to Johnson. However, the only player in the area was OSU cornerback Dustin Fox, who returned the interception 12 yards.
The Buckeyes looked like they were going to finally move on the Hurricanes, as Krenzel’s nine-yard run gave OSU a first down at the Miami 26-yard line. Clarett finally picked up positive yards with a three yard gain, but gained nothing on his next carry. A delay of game penalty pushed the ball back five yards and an 11-yard run by Krenzel fell just short of the first down.
OSU kicker Mike Nugent trotted onto the field for a 35-yard field goal attempt, but instead of putting the ball down for the hold, punter Andy Groom ran around the right side on a fake field goal attempt. Groom was stopped just before reaching the first down marker and the Hurricanes seemed to seize the momentum.
But it didn’t take long for OSU to grab it right back. With McGahee finding it tough on the ground, Dorsey tried to pick apart the Buckeye secondary. He completed two straight passes to Sands and Geathers as Miami moved to their own 34-yard line.
On third down, Dorsey dropped back and seemed to have Johnson wide open. However, the pass attempt was high and Johnson tipped it into the waiting arms of OSU safety Mike Doss. Doss took back the Buckeyes’ second takeaway 45 yards to the Miami 17-yard line.
“We just made big plays,” Doss said. “That’s been the story of our defense all season long.”
With Clarett struggling, Tressel decided to try Lydell Ross at tailback. Ross didn’t find it any easier as he gained a total of five yards on his first two carries. On a third-and-six, Krenzel, feeling the heat from a blitzing Miami cornerback, tossed a strike to Chris Vance for a eight-yard gain and a first down.
On first and goal, Krenzel found Jenkins on a fade pattern in the end zone, but the senior receiver was un
able to get a foot inbounds.
Ross pushed OSU to the one-yard line on second down, but Krenzel was kept from a score on a third-down sneak attempt.
Finally on fourth and goal, Krenzel was able to find just enough room to fall into the end zone. Nugent added the extra point and the game was tied at 7-all with just less than three minutes remaining in the half.
The Buckeyes got the ball back just 20 seconds later, thanks to their defense. On first down, Dorsey dropped back to pass. As he saw an open receiver, he was hit on his blind side by Peterson. The ball fell to the turf and Darrion Scott pounced on the loose ball for OSU’s third takeaway.
A two-yard gain by Ross pushed the Buckeyes to the Miami 12-yard line. This time, an offside penalty on the Hurricanes brough the ball to the 7-yard line and that was all Clarett needed as he ran threw two Miami tacklers into the end zone. Nugent added his second extra point, and the Buckeyes took a 14-7 halftime lead.
The second half began much like the first half as the Buckeye defense stopped the Hurricane’s high-powered offense on a three-and-out.
OSU’s offense, especially Clarett, seemed to get back on track. On the first two plays, Clarett ran for a total of 14 yards, picking up a first down and bringing OSU to its own 42-yard line.
Then, on a third-and-15 from their own 37-yard line, the Buckeyes showed they had a little team speed of their own as Krenzel launched a 57-yard bomb to Gamble, bringing OSU to the Hurricane six-yard line.
But on the very next play, Krenzel threw into the end zone and his pass was picked off again by Taylor. As Taylor ran the turnover back, Clarett caught the Hurricane defender. With both players on the ground, referees pointed in OSU’s favor as Clarett ripped the ball from Taylor’s arm.
The Buckeyes’ offense stalled, but Nugent hit a 44-yard field goal to give OSU a 17-7 lead.
The two teams traded three-and-outs before Miami’s offense began to move again, thanks in large part to Winslow.
McGahee began the drive with a six-yard run. That’s when Dorsey began to find Winslow. The first came on a 23-yard strike down the middle of the field as Winslow found an opening in the Buckeye zone. After McGahee picked up a first down with a 10-yard run, Dorsey hooked up with Winslow again on a five-yard pass, bringing in the Hurricanes to the OSU 21-yard line.
Facing a third-and-five, Dorsey again found Winslow, this time on a seven-yard pass for the first down. Just one play later, McGahee ran around the right side and found the end zone, cutting the OSU lead to 17-14.
The Buckeyes again could not muster any offense as the third quarter ended with Groom punting back to the Hurricanes.
Dorsey, McGahee and Winslow again led Miami down the field. However, the Hurricanes could not advance past the OSU 35-yard line and faced a third down.
On the play, Dorsey hit McGahee out of the backfield on a screen pass. But McGahee was hit two yards behind the line of scrimmage by Will Allen and did not get up. The sophomore tailback suffered an undisclosed knee injury, was helped off the field by Miami trainers and would not return.
“You hate to see that happen,” said OSU defensive end Simon Fraser. “When I saw him go down, I just felt horrible. I hope he can make a quick recovery.”
On fourth down, Sievers missed a 54-yard field goal attempt and OSU got the ball back on their own 37-yard line.
This time, the Buckeye offense seemed a little more relaxed and began moving up the field. The biggest plays of the drive came on passes from Krenzel to both Jenkins and Gamble.
But the drive stalled on the Miami 25-yard line and Nugent, who missed only two kicks all season long, sent his 42-yard attempt wide right.
With the ball back, Miami used a steady dose of Dorsey and junior tailback Jarrett Payton. Dorsey connected on two straight passes to Winslow.
The Hurricanes almost broke the Buckeyes’ back when on third down Dorsey completed a 26-yard pass to Parrish. But like it had all night long, the Buckeye defense made a play as Fox stripped Parrish of the ball and Allen pounced on it.
OSU tried to simply run out the clock, but couldn’t do it as the team faced a fourth down with just more than two minutes remaining in the game. All night long, Groom had been able to punt it away from the dangerous Parrish, but this time, Parrish was able to field Groom’s punt and returned it 50 yards to the OSU 26-yard line.
From there, the Hurricanes were content with running out the clock, setting up Sievers’ 40-yard game-tying field goal with time expired.
“That’s how it’s been all season,” Allen said. “It was no surprise this game went into overtime.”
