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| Devin Smith catches the game-winning touchdown from Braxton Miller |
Last season Ohio State was #1 when they played Wisconsin. That was when the rivalry started. In 2010 the Badgers upset the Buckeyes, then did the same thing to them in basketball, hand them their first loss of the season, as the #1 team.
Ohio State was ready to get revenge. No one believe in them. According to ESPN's online poll, 85% of people said Wisconsin would beat Ohio State.
The Buckeyes had a lot to play for. Revenge, it was Homecoming, Boom's 1st home game of the season, they were wearing uniforms in tribute to the 1961 team, Eddie George was being honored at halftime, they were on nation TV, etc.
Wisconsin was coming off of a heartbreaking loss last week, Michigan State beat them with a Hail Mary. They were trying to forget about that and beat OSU.
That didn't happen. The Buckeyes upset the #15 Badgers, 33-29. It was the best game I had ever seen. Here is how all the action happened.
On the Badgers' 2nd drive, Russell Wilson threw it to Monte Ball, who was in tight coverage, Ball somehow made the catch, made a few moves to get past some Buckeyes, and took it to the endzone for a 22 yard score. 7-0 early on. That would be the only score of the 1st.
Ohio State would not score until there was 02:55 to go in the 2nd. That was when Drew Basil kicked a 39 yard field goal. The ball actually hit off the left upright but fell through, luckily. 7-3 the score going into the half.
The Bucks got the ball to start the 2nd half. Braxton Miller marched the team down the field, all the way to the 1 yard line. It was 1st and goal. No gain. 2nd and goal. No gain. 3rd and goal. No gain. Then it was 4th and goal. If Tressel was still here, there would have been a field goal attempt, but Fickell said "go for it". Miller had a nice play action and easily trotted into the endzone for the 1 yard touchdown "run". The Buckeyes took a 10-7 lead.
Wiscy got the ball back, and eventually would have to punt it. But, the punt was blocked! Ohio State picked it up at the 1 yard line. It was 1st and Goal for OSU! That would lead to a Jordan Hall touchdown run to make it 17-7.
The Badgers would answer back, however. Russell Wilson marched the team down the field until they were at the 1 yard line, then Monte Ball took it in. It was a one possession game, 17-14 at the end of 3.
The Bucks would score first in the 4th, when Basil kicked a 22 yard field goal to make it 20-14. That was with 10:39 left.
Then with 04:39 to go, it was 3rd and 2 from the 44. B Millz called his own number. He found a huge hole on the left side and ran it to the endzone! It was a 44 yard run by Miller, and the Buckeyes had a 26-14 lead! That is when Brad Nessler, an ESPN commentator, said "he might be growing up right in front of our eyes".
Wisconsin didn't like that at all. Monte Ball had a 40 yard run on the ensuing drive, that would set up a 17 yard touchdown pass from Wilson to Jared Abbrederis, the Badgers were back in it, 21-26.
OSU would get the ball back and run it 3 times, Wisconsin called timeout after all 3 runs. The Bucks would have to punt.
Wisconsin got the ball back with about 02:49 to go. Then, it happened. Wisconsin took the lead. Russell Wilson connected with Abbrederis once again, this time for 49 yards. They would go for 2 to make it a 3 point game, and they got it. It was 29-26.
Ohio State got the ball back with 01:18 to go. They needed a field goal to tie, and a touchdown to win. Jordan Hall had a nice kickoff return, taking it to the OSU 48 yard line, so good field position to start with.
Miller would move the chains a couple of times, until they were at the Wisconsin 40 yard line. It was 1st and 10 with little time left. Miller dropped back to pass, he was pressured, he ran to his right, he looked like he was going to run it, then last second, at the line of scrimmage, he threw it deep to the endzone. HE GOT DEVIN SMITH! HE GOT DEVIN SMITH! TOUCHDOWN OHIO STATE! THE BUCKS TAKE THE LEAD, 32-29! But wait a minute, was that a forward pass? Did Miller's feet go past the line of scrimmage before he threw it? It was indisputable video evidence, and the Buckeyes got the touchdown, Basil added the PAT to make it 33-29 with 20 seconds left.
But Wisconsin had to get the ball back, by rule. The kickoff went out of bounds, so they started at their own 40. The first play, Wilson went deep, incomplete. 13 seconds left. 2nd play, Wilson's pass fell incomplete. Then with 5 seconds left, there was time for one last play. Wilson's throw went to the sideline, missing everyone. The clock hit double-zero! The Buckeyes Win! The Buckeyes W-wait a minute. There were flags down, it was a facemask against O-State. So the Badgers got one last play. Sweat brought pressure, forcing Wilson to make a bad throw and it was incomplete. NOW THE BUCKEYES WIN! THEY PULL OFF THE UPSET OF WISCONSIN!
Monte Ball is one of the nation's top running backs, but was held to just 85 yards today. His counterpart, Boom Herron, he ran for an impressive 160 yards. Miller added 99.
Russell Wilson had a great game, 20/32, 253 yards, 3 TD's, no picks. But, he didn't win. Braxton Miller did. Even though he went just 7/12, had 89 yards, and 1 TD. That 1 TD couldn't have came at a better time either.
So the Buckeyes are still in the hunt for the Big Ten Leaders Division Title. They need to win out and Wisconsin lose again, and Penn State needs to lose as well. There is plenty of season left, so it could happen.
Next week the Bucks head to the state west of them to take on the Hoosiers. Game time is set for noon ET and will be on the Big Ten Network.
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