Ohio State, Big Ten Champions!

By: Cooper Ledford

The Ohio State Buckeyes (9-2) were playing host to the Iowa Hawkeyes (9-2) This was the Big Ten Championship Game, whoever won would get the free ride to Pasadena to play in the Rose Bowl.  Ohio State was coming off of a win at Penn State and Iowa was coming off of a loss at home against NorthWestern.  The Buckeyes and Hawkeyes played one of the best games in Big Ten history on my opinion, for sure the best OSU game of my life.  Ohio State won it overtime 24-21.  Here is how.

To start things off, Iowa's kicker, Daniel Murray kicked a 32 yard field goal and Iowa had a 3-0 lead.  Iowa lad the lead until the Buckeyes answered back in the 2nd quarter when Devin Barclay kicked a 30 yard field goal and the game was tied at 3.  The Buckeyes would get the lead going into the half after a  Brandon Saine 22 yard field goal, it was 10-3 Silver Bullets on top.  Iowa would tie it up late in the 3rd quarter when Vandenberg connected with Marvin McNutt for a 9 yard touchdown, 10-10.  Ohio State got the lead back when Dan "BOOM" Herron ran for an 11 yard touchdown it was 17-10 Bucks on top.  Later on after an Iowa turnover Ohio State was at the Hawk's 49, Brandon Saine got his longest run of the season, 49 yards, it was a touchdown and it was now 24-10 Ohio State on top with 11:11 to go in regulation.  The Hawkeyes would get 6 when Derrell Johnson-Koulianos returned the kickoff 99 yards and it was 24-17 Buckeyes still with the lead.  Then, Iowa would tie it up once again when McNutt got his 2nd touchdown of the game, this one from 10 yards out and we were tied at 24.  Iowa would let the clock run out and the game was heading into overtime.  After a couple of sacks on Vandenberg it was 4th and about 26, the pass was picked off and the Buckeyes got the ball back on the Iowa 25.  After a few short gains, a couple of losses by Saine, Herron, and Pryor it was 4th down and here came Devin Barclay.  This meant the game, the Big Ten, the Rose Bowl.  It would be a 39 yard field goal.  The kick was up.  It was GOOD!  Ohio State wins the Big Ten in overtime!  Ohio State gets thier 14th Big Ten title and are going to the Rose Bowl. Also, OSU has won 5 strait Big Ten titles, their record is now 9-2.  Next OSU will travel to Ann Arbor to play Michigan in THE GAME.  For video highlights go to www.youtube.com/Redsfancoop

FAR TOP: DEVIN BARCLAY CELEBRATES AFTER GAME WINNING FIELD GOAL.  LOWER PICTURE, TOP TO BOTTOM: TEAM CELEBRATES WIN.  KURT COLEMAN CELEBRATES BCS BIRTH. DEVIN BARCLAY KICKING GAME WINNING FIELD GOAL VS. IOWA.