The Buckeyes have surprised many around college football. OSU started the season ranked #24 but have risen to #3 with a 10-0 start. This one will determine the Big Ten leader before the final weekend in conference play. Big time game. It's sunny and 28 degrees here in Columbus and the Shoe is rocking. The Bucks took the ball first and established the running attack. After a holding call, however, the passing opened up and OSU took the lead on a 60-yard slant and go from the tight end, who burned FS Booker Greene on third and 20. After a few punts, Greene made up for his mistake, intercepting the Buckeye signal-caller who looked suspiciously like Terelle Pryor. Starting at the Buck 22, HMU could only go backward (on a sack) and settled for a 46-yard field goal from P Jean-Luc Mbuta, the long distance specialist. Two plays later, OSU turned it over again, this time on an interception from MLB Sam Van. Starting at the 29 this time, the Crows did move forward, failing to convert a third and 4. Another field goal was pushed through, this time from 37 by K Jerome Sherman and HMU trailed 7-6 after one quarter. Early in the second, the Buckeyes used a couple of solid completions to set up a screen pass for a 14-6 advantage. HMU, still without a first down, punted again and OSU drove deep into Crow territory, but missed a 35-yard FG. HMU responded by finally getting the offense clicking, thanks to a third and 12 completion to TE Tomas Rosen for 37 yards into Buckeye territory. A couple of key conversions kept things alive but on third and goal, QB Clarence Oveur's pass was incomplete. Sherman knocked through a chip shot to make it 14-9. A quick three and out for OSU included two Crow sacks and then a shanked punt. Starting at the OSU 32 with about 30 seconds before half, HMU suffered a double whammy play. HB Delmar Coffee caught a screen pass for 7 yards on third and 10, which would have given the Crows a 30-yard field goal try. However the flag for holding comes out and Coffee is knocked out for the game with an injury. Mbuta's 48-yard attempt sails wide right and the home Bucks lead 14-9 at the break.
In the second half, HMU nearly coughed up the opening kickoff, but WR Lance Day's fumble was covered by CB Tops Bonner. Oveur led the team into Bucks territory, but once again failed on a key third down with an incompletion. Mbuta nailed a 52-yard bomb though to narrow the gap to 14-12 halfway through the third quarter. The OSU quarterback was sacked by DE Edgarian Mukezamfura, who felt him up to force a fumble which Van fell upon. Starting at the Buck 20, Oveur finally got the Crows into the end zone on a TD pass to Day, giving HMU a 19-14 lead. After a couple of punts, OSU tossed yet another interception deep in its own end, as LB Samson Stewart muscled his way in front of the receiver. The [B]fifth[/b] Crow drive to start inside the OSU 32 results in another TD as Oveur, hot now, hits WR Uti Possidetis for the score on the final play of the third quarter. HMU leads 26-14 at the Shoe and OSU appears to be folding. The Bucks turn it over on downs at midfield on a Mukezamfura sack and CB Jules Barbish ends the next OSU drive with an interception. The final Buck possession is quick and painless with another TOD. Huge, huge win for the Crows, who remain #1 in the nation and are 11-0 (7-0 Big Ten) going into a final matchup with rival (but down) Northwestern at home.
