Anyone who has asked what I thought of this game has pretty much received the same answer. This is one of the most satisfying wins that I can remember in a long time. The three-bowl losing streak is history, and all the talking heads that were man-crushing on Oregon’s offense got their yaps shut by a stellar defensive effort. It also offers hope that both Jim Tressel and Terrelle Pryor have seen the light. The TP that Buckeye Nation has waited for turned up in SoCal. And maybe it was all the film that he watched of Oregon’s creative offense, or his realization that “Tresselball” will NOT win big games. Whatever the reason, “The Vest” kept the Duck “D” on its heels, and despite some of the usual redzone breakdowns, Ohio State was able to control the game late with a solid lead.
I never would have anticipated it, not with the way the stretch run played out. Talking with ABC’s Lisa Salters before the game about Pryor and quarterback play in general, I rolled my eyes as “The Vest” said that the QB had to “make sure we’re safe”. But in the next breath, he told her “Sometimes you just gotta go let it happen...” I would have bet the ranch right there that we were hearing the equivalent of a politician’s empty campaign promise, but lo and behold, the croupier handed Tress the dice and he was ready to roll.
Generations ago, when these two teams last tangled on these hallowed grounds on the first day of 1958, Ohio State marched 79 yards on their opening drive, capping it with a Frank Kremblas touchdown run to jump out 7-0. Fast forward to the dawn of the “teens”, and the Scarlet and Gray equaled that national title squad’s effort. 74 yards were covered in 10 plays, all of them- grab onto something- out of the shotgun. The afternoon’s initial third-down was converted as Terrelle Pryor danced through the Duck defense for 24 yards. Much was made of TP’s knee in the runup to the game, and he did appear to hobble as he headed out of bounds, but I kept a glass half-full mindset- our guy has a bum knee and is still carving through the green jerseys.
Three straight completions moved the ball to Oregon’s 24, where Brandon Saine powered for 13 behind great blocks from J.B. Shugarts and Michael Brewster. The redzone ghosts were ready to appear, especially when DeVier Posey dropped a sure touchdown pass in the left corner, but Pryor kept his poise and found Brandon Saine with a missile along the right sideline on third down. Tightroping the chalk beautifully, Saine bowled over Talmadge Jackson and spun into the endzone. For the fourth straight bowl game, Ohio State had lit the board first. And in a much welcome sight, Aaron Pettrey nailed the point-after kick, giving the Bucks a quick 7-0 advantage.
Now came a key sequence- a fast Oregon response might have lifted the lid on a track meet which Ohio State didn’t want to get into. And it didn’t look promising when the Ducks ate up 10 and then 13 yards on their first two plays. But Cameron Heyward dropped quarterback Jeremiah Masoli for a 9-yard sack, and the drive went “poof”. Freshman punter Jackson Rice bombed a 55-yard punt down to OSU’s 2, pinning Pryor and Co. back and igniting a standout day for Oregon’s special teams.
Ohio State’s new radical offense set sail again, getting some breathing room on the first play as Dan Herron’s 6-yard run was mixed in with a facemask call on Oregon. “Boom” popped through the middle for another 9, and two plays later, Pryor moved the chains thanks to a brutal stiff-arm on linebacker Spencer Paysinger. A slant to Dane Sanzenbacher was good for another first down, but Oregon’s defense “rose” to the challenge as defensive end Kenny Rowe chased Pryor down for an 11-yard sack. Thanks to a holding call, the Ducks had to start from their own 9 on their ensuing drive, but a TFL from Thaddeus Gibson initiated a quick three-and-out.
Starting from midfield, the Buckeyes took advantage of an unbelievable matchup. Reminiscent of the USC game when someone on the OSU defensive staff thought it would be a good idea for a linebacker to cover Joe McKnight, the Oregon defensive braintrusts went one better, using defensive end Kenny Rowe to cover tailback and record-setting track star Brandon Saine. Saine again utilized nice footwork along the boundary as he gathered in a rainbow from Pryor on the wheel route for 46. But the two-touchdown advantage the scarlet masses in the Rose Bowl were anticipating never materialized. Pryor had to chase down a bad center snap on first-and-goal and lost two, and two plays later from the original line of scrimmage, an option keeper could only manage a pair down to the Oregon 2. Devin Barclay, who punched OSU’s ticket to the left coast with his winning boot vs. Iowa, easily knocked through this 19-yard chipshot and the Buckeye lead ballooned to 10-0.
Only 34 seconds were left in the opening period, but those who had “0” and “0” in the office pool had to sweat for it. Kenjon Barner fielded a poor kickoff at his 13 and sped back 28 yards to his 41. Then on the very next snap he got loose around right end on a reverse sweep for a huge chunk of 37 yards. Keeping the pedal down, Jeremiah Masoli cut through the middle for 13 more, bowling over Anderson Russell to the Buckeye 9. Masoli went for the score as the first quarter clock expired, but he had no one open as he rolled right and he was forced to throw it away.
As the second period got underway, Oregon faced third-and-goal from the OSU 7. Jeff Maehl had Chimdi Chekwa beaten in the endzone but a blitzing Kurt Coleman forced Masoli to heave it before he wanted and the ball fluttered to the turf. Morgan Flint got the Ducks on the board with a 24-yard field goal to make it 10-3, Bucks.
The Duck “D” forced a quick three-and-out and Kenjon Barner broke off a 28-yard return of Jon Thoma’s punt to give Chip Kelly’s crew excellent field position at the OSU 30. The Scarlet and Gray defenders stiffened, bringing up a 4th-and-9. Kelly rolled the dice, and Jeremiah Masoli hooked up with Jeff Maehl at the sideline for 10 yards and a fresh set of downs. Maehl was picture perfect in keeping both feet down and stretching over the sideline to haul in Masoli’s throw. Two runs by LaMichael James brought the pigskin to the Buckeye 3, and on second-and-goal the rock went to LeGarrette Blount, he of the punch heard ‘round the world. Kurt Coleman and Doug Worthington both went low to stop Blount, but as he fell he actually landed on both players, never hitting the ground. Stretching the ball over the goal line, the burly senior was awarded a touchdown after review, knotting the count up at 10.
The Buckeyes then set sail on an 18-play, 8-minute-plus excursion, overcoming two penalties and converting two third downs and a fourth down to reach the Oregon 10. Later in the game ABC’s Kirk Herbstreit would rightfully acknowledge that had OSU been playing Indiana or Minnesota, the field goal unit would have been trotting out on the fourth down call. But in this case Brandon Saine bulled his way for 5 yards to the 10. Oregon, however, got tough and Devin Barclay had to come on for a 30-yard field goal, which he converted with ease to put the Bucks back up top at 13-10 with 1:05 to go in the half. The Pac-10 champs, predictably, had no desire to take a knee and worked their way to the OSU 43. But on third down from there, Doug Worthington got his big paw on a Jeremiah Masoli pass. The misdirected pigskin fluttered right to Ross Homan at his 35, and big 5-1 motored back to the Oregon 46 with :25 until the break.
Genuflect offense? Bah, that was the old Jim Tressel. This was the brand new 2010 model of “The Vest”, and he wasn’t going to sit on the three-point lead. Terrelle Pryor pegged an 18-yard completion to Dane Sanzenbacher, and although TP had to throw the ball away after being flushed two snaps later, Dane’s catch was well within Aaron Pettrey’s range and he banged home a 45-yard field goal at the gun to make it 16-10. Again, as Herbstreit had alluded to earlier, if it’s Indiana or Minnesota; those with “3” and “0” in the office pool are counting their winnings as Terrelle takes a knee.
Kenjon Barner continued to torment Ohio State, bringing the second half kickoff back out to his 47. As anyone knows, for “Tresselball” to truly work, special teams has to be practically flawless. Ray Small’s absence was certainly glaring enough, but one of the most consistent factions of the Buckeye specialty units- the coverage teams- was having major problems. Oregon converted a third down thanks to an interference penalty on Chimdi Chekwa, then later made fourth down magic as Jeremiah Masoli hooked up with Lavasier Tuinei to move the chains. Barner galloped for 14 on a 3rd-and-10 screen to put the Ducks on the doorstep from the OSU 6. The defense continued to hold tough, but on third-and-goal everyone bit on a fake to LeGarrette Blount and Masoli was able to run right over Brian Rolle for the score. Morgan Flint’s PAT gave the Ducks their first lead of the afternoon at 17-16.
Back came the Bucks- Terrelle Pryor mixed Brandon Saine runs with passes to Dane Sanzenbacher and a textbook play-action bomb of 36 yards to DeVier Posey to move the ball to Oregon’s 18. But Chip Kelly’s crew knuckled down, tossing Saine for a three-yard loss and forcing Pryor into two hurried incompletions to Dane. Devin Barclay made it 4 for 4 for the field goal kickers from 38 yards away, putting OSU back on top 19-17.
It didn’t look like it would last long. Barner again burned the kick coverage unit for a 36-yard return. Two plays later, LaMichael James gained a first down but shook Kurt Coleman and trucked down the sideline for 30 yards. Barner added 8 more on an end-around and once more it appeared a second-half track meet was shaping up. But Jermale Hines had to be taken off after having the wind knocked out of him, and suddenly Oregon ran aground as LeGarrette Blount fumbled a handoff, and then kicked the ball into the endzone. The Buckeyes couldn’t gather it up before it went out-of-bounds but it wouldn’t have mattered- it was a touchback and OSU’s ball at the 20.
Pryor got the march off to a great start with one of his better throws of the evening- a 12-yard dart to Posey. But after a swap of penalties, Kenny Rowe got to Pryor for another sack. Terrelle tried to hit Posey deep again down the left sideline but safety John Boyett came over to pick if off, adding a 5-yard return to his own 43. Oregon couldn’t do anything against the increasingly stifling Ohio State defense, and as the fourth quarter dawned, the white-jerseyed Big Ten champs had the ball and the two-point lead.
that Pryor hardly even dropped back- he no more got the snap then he fired to Dane for the first. Old “mo” took a turn for the worse as Kenny Rowe chased Pryor down for a two-yard loss before TP slipped on the option and lost another yard. 3rd-and-13. Two point game. Oodles of time left. The stage was set for the play of the year.
Say what you will about ABC’s Brent Musberger. He won the “Crystal Ball” award on this afternoon. As OSU huddled for the critical third down play, Brent pointed out “Jake Ballard (has) been very quiet as a tight end here tonight. (He) has released into a few pass patterns (but has been) mainly used as a blocker.” Terrelle Pryor dropped back, surveyed the field and stepped up into the pocket. The entire time, linebacker Casey Matthews was storming right by Jim Cordle and was closing in on #2. At the last possible moment, Pryor slid to his right and bought the second he needed to heave up a prayer. Ballard, Sanzenbacher and Lamaar Thomas were all in the vicinity- along with the defenders covering them, of course- and Ballard stretched his 6’8” frame into the SoCal air and snapped the pigskin down for 24 yards and a first down. While there was certainly jubilation at the catch, you ache as a Buckeye fan thinking that he could have been doing this a handful of times a game for the last four years.
For the here and now though, the Buckeyes had a fresh set of downs and had taken major wind out of Oregon’s sails. Even when OSU had 3rd-and-7 moments later, Pryor had the touch. Actually, it was more like a hammer as safety Javes Lewis got stiff-armed into the turf by TP on an 8-yard keeper. After a short pop from “Boom” Herron, Jim Tressel ordered up the same pass play to DeVier Posey that the sophomore wideout had dropped in the endzone in the first quarter. This time, Posey twisted as the pass came to his outside shoulder and snagged it for a 17-yard touchdown. Aaron Pettrey tacked on the PAT and with 7:02 to go, the Ohio State lead was 26-17.
Leave it to Kenjon Barner to keep the heat on. With OSU’s coverage unit trying to contain him, Barner flipped a reverse to Cliff Harris on the ensuing kickoff and Harris sped up the sideline back to the Buckeye 36. LaMichael James punched ahead for 5, but on the next snap he gave it right back as Doug Worthington and Cameron Heyward smacked him in the backfield. Jeremiah Masoli went to the air with James to try and keep the drive alive, but Thaddeus Gibson hauled James down a yard shy of the first. Chip Kelly had already been successful on two longer fourth-down plays earlier in the contest, but at this juncture he called on Morgan Flint to get three. Flint’s kick had plenty of leg but it started right of the posts and never veered off course. It was a beautiful replay shot from behind the line of scrimmage, as that endzone was full of red-shirted Buckeye fans. As the ball stayed right, the red swarm of humanity shook the old Bowl. 5:10 remained on the clock and now it was time for Terrelle Pryor to officially cement the Offensive Player of the Game award.
Jim Tressel had completely stood his play-calling reputation on its head in this game, but even the most ardent critic of “Tresselball” (you know who you are, Joe-S-U) was ready for a heavy dose of it to milk the rest of the clock. Between Brandon Saine and Terrelle Pryor, the offense did just that. Oregon never saw the ball again as Pryor legged out the final two first downs of the night, including a beautiful 12-yard keeper to drive the final nail.
RANDOM THOUGHTS - Ohio State’s seniors became the most successful class in school history with this win, their 44th .… The Buckeyes ran their all-time mark against Oregon to 8-0. The only other team that OSU has a lifetime 8-0 record against is Washington State .… The Bucks have now won two consecutive Rose Bowls for the first time since the 1968 national champs capped off a streak of four straight (’50, ’55, ’58, ’69) and the school’s all-time Rose Bowl record is now even at 7-7 .… For all of you “old school” college football fans, you may remember the name Dave Diles. Dave was a longtime sportscasting presence in Detroit, but also covered many events for ABC. Diles passed away a couple of weeks back. He was the host of ABC’s “Prudential College Football Scoreboard” back in the day, and also co-authored “The Archie Griffin Story” with the two-time Heisman winner.
(8)Ohio State 26 (7)Oregon 17
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January 1, 2010
Rose Bowl
Pasadena , CA
Attendance 93,963
1/7/10
VS
By Joe-S-U
2000-2010 Buckeye50.com, All Rights Reserved
The teams exchanged punts at the outset of the fourth, and when ABC came back from break after Oregon’s boot, there was a no-explanation-necessary shot of the San Gabriel Mountains behind the Rose Bowl, glowing bright red as the sun set. A few people I talked to who were there weren’t trying to be rude at all, but they said you can’t really describe that scene, it has to be experienced. It sure looked spectacular in HD. (Photo (right) is not HD but hopefully it reminds everyone of just how great the view was both on the field and above.)
Ohio State took possession at their 19 and set sail on what would prove to be the drive of the season. Terrelle Pryor got the initial first down of the drive with a highlight-reel 11-yard scramble, shaking a tackle and juking two other defenders. Moments later a quick- and I mean quick- slant to Dane Sanzenbacher got another first down. Dane had so much cushion
