Calm Buckeyes win another nail-biter

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- When Illinois kicked the game-tying field goal as time expired in regulation Saturday, Ohio State knew it had the Illini right where it wanted them.

Seriously.

With a perfect season imperiled, the situation looked anything but dire in the faces of some of the Buckeyes before they went back on the field for the first overtime in school history.

"I've been in some overtime games, but I'm not sure any of those kids have," coach Jim Tressel said. "When we were standing there before the (OT) toss, Donnie Nickey and Mike Doss were commenting on how much fun it was. They were saying 'Hey, this is what it's all about.' "

How about you, coach? Were you having fun?

"Absolutely," Tressel said.

The best part was retracing the extra steps that led to a 23-16 victory, making Ohio State 12-0 for the first time and putting the Buckeyes (7-0 in the Big Ten) within one victory -- over archrival Michigan at home next Saturday -- from earning a share of the league title with Iowa and playing for the national championship in the Jan. 3 Fiesta Bowl.

Illinois won the OT toss and elected to play defense first, with the ball placed at the Illini 25. On third-and-10 quarterback Craig Krenzel scrambled from the pocket on a pass play and picked up 14 yards to the 11.

Two plays later, tailback Maurice Hall followed the blocking of mammoth left guard Adrien Clarke into the end zone for what proved to be the decisive eight-yard score, putting an even bigger grin on Michael Jenkins' face than he was wearing before the drive began.

"I would say we were calm on the sidelines," said Jenkins, who had six catches for 147 yards and scored in the third quarter on a 50-yard reception. "It felt like the beginning of the game. I was smiling because I knew we were going to score."

But OSU's victory wasn't secure until two end zone passes by Illini quarterback Jon Beutjer (27 of 45, 305 yards) were called incomplete. On second-and-8 from the 9, Aaron Moorehead was ruled out of bounds on his attempted catch in the right corner of the end zone.

Cornerback Dustin Fox didn't give Moorehead room to come down inbounds. In the NFL, his catch would have been ruled a TD, but receivers receive no such benefit on the collegiate level, according to Earl Sell, the Big Ten officials' observer. Sell watched Saturday's game from the press box.

On third down, Beutjer tested corner Chris Gamble in the left corner of the end zone, but the official ruled that wide receiver Walter Young was bobbling the ball on his way out of bounds.

Beutjer's last-gasp pass never got beyond the line of scrimmage as tackle Tim Anderson batted it down with his left forearm.

Neither end zone call sat well with the Illini faithful, who lustily booed Ohio State and chanted "Over-rated!" at the top of their lungs as the Buckeyes headed for their locker room.

"I'd like to have instant replay all the time," Illini coach Ron Turner said after his team fell to 4-7 (3-4 in the Big Ten) and out of bowl contention. "It's a crying shame for those kids, if the game was decided by the officials. Anyone who is against instant replay should walk into (our) locker room and see the look in those players' eyes."

There was a look of relief in OSU eyes. It was the Buckeyes' sixth second-half comeback of the season and gives them five victories on the road by a total of 31 points.

"We're definitely toeing the line," tight end Ben Hartsock said of OSU's tightrope walks. "It's not something I'm really excited about. I don't really want to get into those situations. I don't think anybody wants to.

"It makes for an ESPN Classic game, but it also makes for lesser years on your life."

Mike Nugent's streak of 24 consecutive field goals came to an end on a 37-yard attempt into a stiff wind in the second quarter. But without freshman tailback Maurice Clarett (shoulder stinger), OSU still rode Nugent's right leg to a 6-3 halftime lead before surrendering its first second-half touchdown in six games.

Young's 19-yard catch over Fox put the Illini in front 10-6 in the third quarter. The Buckeyes answered immediately on Krenzel's 50-yard strike down the left side to Jenkins, but John Gockman booted a 47-yard field goal for Illinois to forge a 13-13 tie heading into the final period.

Nugent's third field goal, a 37-yarder, put Ohio State back in front until Beutjer completed four passes in the final 1:04 to set up Gockman's game-tying 48-yard field goal as the clock ran out.

Suddenly, a long season got even longer for the Buckeyes. But afterwards they were feeling no pain.

"Overtime meant more plays in what was already a close, physical game," Tressel said. "Game No. 13 (against Michigan) is coming up, so our energy level better be fine."

Originally published Sunday, November 17, 2002