Ohio State Stuns Wisconsin In Final Minute

Devin Smith catches the game-winning touchdown from Braxton Miller

By:  Coop


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. 

Bucks Down Buffs In Miller's Starting Debut

By:  Coop


After a tough loss to Miami last week, the Buckeyes were trying to turn the page.  Coach Fickell decided to start Freshman QB, Braxton Miller, rather than Senior, Joe Bauserman. 


Braxton was very impressive.  Not so much with his passing game, but his running game, and his ability to make things happen helped the Buckeyes get the win.  The final score was 37-17, here is how it all happened.


With just under 8 and a half minutes to go in the 1st, Jordan Hall ran it in from 1 yard out, OSU was up 7-0. About 4 minutes later, Drew Basil kicked a 28 yard field goal, the score would be 10-0 at the end of the 1st quarter. 


In the 2nd quarter, Braxton Miller connected with Devin Smith for a 32 yard touchdown, 17-0 the score.


The Buffaloes would get on the board when Toney Clemons caught and 11 yard touchdown pass from Tyler Hansen, it was now 17-7.


Later on, OSU had to punt the ball.  The Buffalo player who was going to return the kick, dropped the ball. OSU picked it up and had about 15 seconds with the ball on the 6.  Miller would run it to about the 1 yard line and call a timeout with 6 seconds left.  It was decision time for Fickell.  He decided to take the guaranteed  points.  Drew Basil kicked the field goal, Ohio State was up 20-7 at the half.


In the 3rd quarter Braxton Miller and Devin Smith hooked up for another scoring play.  This one for 17 yards, the Bucks were up 27-7.


Colorado made it a little bit closer when Will Oliver kicked a long 47 yard field goal, it was now 27-10.


But OSU was able to answer back when Carlos Hyde took it to the house for a 5 yard run, it was 34-10 going into the 4th.


Early in the 4th Basil kicked a field goal to make it 37-10.


The Buffs would get a touchdown when Hansen connected with McCulloch for a 14 yard score to make it 37-17, and that's how she finished.


Braxton Miller was not great with his passing game, as a previously mentioned.  He completed only 5 passes on 13 attempts, but 2 of those completions were for touchdowns, he threw for 83 yards.  However, he did run the ball 17 times, good for 83 yards, one yard shy of Jordan Hall's game-leading 84 yards.


Devin Smith had 3 receptions for 64 yards, and 2 touchdowns.


The Bucks are now 3-1, and will host Michigan State next week.

Buckeyes Begin Fickell Era With Win Over Zips

QB Joe Bauserman passed for 3 TD's and rushed for 1 in OSU's 42-0 win over Akron

By:  Coop


With a season full of sanctions, suspensions, and controversy, the Ohio State Buckeyes were ready to put the past behind them and move on with a new coach, and a new quarterback.


They looked liked they moved on, everyone looked good today.  The passing game, the rushing game, and the defense.  The Buckeyes beat the Akron Zips 42-0, here is how.


Luke Fickell decided to start Senior Quarterback, Joe Bauserman, today.  He sure looked good.  OSU's first score of the season was a 15 yard touchdown run by Bauserman, it was 7-0.


7-0 was the score at the end of the 1st, so the Zips looked like they were playing a game with the Bucks.


Ohio State would try and change that later on though.  With 5:45 to go in the 2nd Bauserman connected with Jake Stoneburner for a 28 yard score, 14-0 was the score.  Four minutes later it happened again!  Bauserman found Stoneburner in the endzone for an 11 yard score, 21-0.  That would be the score at the half.


In the 3rd quarter, Joe and Jake connected for their 3rd touchdown of the game.  This time it was just a 2 yard TD pass, but none the less OSU was up 28-0.  Jake Stoneburner becomes the first tight end in Ohio State history to score 3 touchdowns in a game.  He sure looked good today.  I have a feeling he and Joe Bauserman are going to be very good friends by the time the season is over.


In the 4th quarter Buckeye fans got a good taste of freshman QB, Braxton Miller.  He looked very good, almost as good as Bauserman.  Early on in the 4th B Millz found Devin Smith in the endzone for 14 yard score, 35-0 the score.


With about 6 minutes left, the new #2, Rod Smith, ran into the endzone for a touchdown, 42-0 the score, and that's how she finished.


The starting QB, Joe Bauserman looked very good as he went 12/16, good for 163 yards, and 3 TD's.  He also rushed for 32 yards and had a touchdown in that category as well.


Braxton Miller looked very impressive as he was 8/12, good for 130 yards, and he had 1 TD.  He also rushed for 30 yards.


Carlos Hyde was the Bucks, as he ran for 94 yards.  Rod Smith added 73.


Verlon Reed had 3 receptions, good for 66 yards, as he was OSU's best receiver, yardage-wise today.


The Buckeyes are now 1-0 and will host Toledo next week.  Toledo is better than Akron for sure, but still it will be a MAC vs. Big Ten match-up.  Should be another easy win for OSU.  Next week's game is set for noon ET and you can catch in on the Big Ten Network.