DE Brent Johnson blocked a 29 yard field goal attempt by Purdue’s PK Travis Dorsch with under a minute to play, preventing a tie and OSU’s first ever overtime game in a hard fought 25-22 victory in rainy and enthusiastic Ohio Stadium.

This was a game of spurts. Trailing 13-7 at halftime, the Buckeyes responded by scoring 10 points in the third quarter and taking the lead on a seven yard touchdown catch by TE Darnell Sanders from TB Michael Wiley, who ran right then threw a strike on the run, and a 45 yard field goal by PK Dan Stultz. Wiley (a part-time QB in his High School days) is 8 of 9 passing for 176 yards and two touchdowns in his collegiate career.

The forth quarter defensive problems Ohio State had against Wisconsin looked like they were going to resurface again against the Boilermakers. Purdue, held scoreless in the third quarter by a determined Buckeye defense, scored 9 points in the first 1:18 of the fourth quarter (one TD was on a five yard run by TB Montrell Lowe after LB Willie Fells intercepted a QB Steve Bellasari pass at the OSU 34 and returned it 29 yards to the five), but could not muster anymore points the rest of the way.

With OSU down 22-17 midway through the 4th quarter, Bellasari and his offense was put to the test to put together a long touchdown scoring drive and take time off the clock doing it. He responded by driving the Bucks 76 yards in 13 plays that took 5:13 off the clock and ended with a two yard TD run by TB Jonathen Wells. Wiley then took a pitch out to the left and scampered to the end zone for the successful two point conversion that put Ohio State on top for good 25-22.

THE OFFENSIVE STARS FOR PURDUE WERE:

1. QB Drew Brees- 24-39-0 with no TD passes for the first time in 19 games, but he did catch a 12 yard TD pass from RB Vinny Sutherland on a trick play midway through the first quarter.
2. TB Montrell Lowe - 25 carries for 153 yards and one score.
3. WR Chris Daniels - 11 receptions for 76 yards, mostly on the dump-off for a short gain variety underneath OSU’s defensive zone that was trying to prevent long passing plays by Purdue’s Run and Shoot offense. The Boilers had 380 yards of total offense and 21 first downs.

THE OFFENSIVE STARS FOR OHIO STATE WERE:

1. TB Michael Wiley- 108 yards of total offense on 8 carries for 67 yards on the ground with one two point conversion run, a seven yard TD pass and two receptions for 34 yards.
2. QB Steve Bellasari- 17 carries for 96 yards and 10-26 passing with two int’s for 174 yards and no TD’s.
3. WR’s Ken-Yon Rambo and Reggie Germany combined for six receptions for 129 yards. OSU had 369 yards of total offense and 19 first downs, none more important than the 68 yard run by Bellasari from the OSU 11 yard line with 20 seconds remaining, enabling him and the Bucks to take a knee and let time run out.

It wasn’t a pretty game by any means as both teams combined for 19 penalties (12 by Purdue, 7 by OSU), six fumbles (both squads lost one fumble each) and countless missed tackles on a sloppy, torn apart field.

Next up for the Buckeyes is the #2 ranked Penn State Nittany Lions at State College (Happy Valley), P.A. in undoubtedly the toughest game of the season for the youthful Bucks. We will be (or should be) double didget underdogs in this game (this Saturday, October 16th). OSU will have to play their best in order to come away with a victory in one of the most hostile stadiums in the history of college football. We can hear that lion growling over the loud speaker now!