Michigan was able to
compete with the Buckeyes through two quarters in the Horseshoe on Saturday but
Ohio State was able to make the big plays in
both the passing game and the running game to put them on top for a fifth
straight time.
By Steve Patterson
First Half
The Buckeyes got on the scoreboard
early with a 59 yard run in the first quarter by starting running back Chris
Wells. Wells finished the game with 134 yards and the touchdown. To start the 2nd
quarter, the Buckeyes put up another seven points this time through the air.
Terrelle Pryor found Brian Hartline deep for a 53 yard touchdown. Hartline was
the best performing receiver for Ohio
State on the day with 71
yards and 2 touchdowns.
Michigan was able to put
seven points on the board later in the quarter with a nice drive beginning on
their 35 yard line. Brandon Miner finished the drive with five runs to finally
put the ball into the end-zone after several failed attempts against the difficult
Buckeye defense.
Second Half
But Ohio State
was too much for the Wolverines in the second half, scoring on their first
position of the period making the score 21-7 and not looking back. A 49 yard
touchdown by Sophomore ‘Daniel’ Boom Herron, a second Herron touchdown from two
yards out, a second catch by Hartline from senior quarterback Todd Boeckman,
and a touchdown by Brian Robiskie from Terrelle Pryor all added up to put
Michigan away.
Laurinaitis Reflects
After the
game senior Linebacker James Laurinaitis reflected on the accomplishment of
defeating Michigan five times straight while a
part of the Ohio State program. "It's obviously a
great accomplishment.” He said. “I don't think we really realize it now, but I
think as we get older, we'll look back on our career and stuff and realize to
be a part of the first team to win five times in a row is something that is
very special. We got to hear from (former OSU linebacker) Ike Kelly today at
breakfast, he talked about the one that stuck with him was the fifth one they
tried to get and they lost here. To be able to say forever that you're a part
of this team is something that I'll remember for the rest of my life."
BCS Doesn’t Love the Big Ten
Ohio
State remains 10th in the
BCS despite the victory with Penn
State getting a very low
ranking of 8th in the country despite their great season. I will
take a good number of teams falling in the next weeks for Penn State
to secure a spot in the National Championship and opening up the Rose Bowl for
the Buckeyes.
If Michigan State
was able to beat Penn State on Saturday, things could be different for Ohio State
but Penn State
handled Michigan State with ease, beating them 49-18. Penn State
and Ohio State
finished co-champs of the Big Ten but the head-to-head loss by the Buckeyes
gives the Nittany Lions the automatic bid for the Pasadena played bowl game.