Buckeye Come Up Short, 21-24
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Buckeye Highlights
The Buckeye Nation will have a whole year to replay those plays that could have tipped the scales.
Ohio State overcame an 11 point second half deficit to pull ahead of No. 3 Texas, but the Longhorns pulled off a dramatic last-second touchdown drive to send the Bucks to their third straight bowl defeat, 24-21.
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.—Thousands of empty seats stood out in University of Phoenix Stadium. They missed a dynamite finish.
Ohio State overcame an 11 point second-half deficit to pull ahead of #3 Texas Monday night in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl. But the Longhorns pulled off a dramatic last-second touchdown drive to send the Bucks to their third straight bowl defeat, 24-21.
The first half began as a kicking contest. Ohio State took an early 3-0 lead on a 51-yard field goal by Aaron Pettrey. Texas evened the game in the 2nd quarter on a 27yard field goal by Hunter Lawrence. Ryan Pretorius put the Bucks back in front with a field goal to set OSU to a 6-3 halftime lead. Texas QB Colt McCoy was intercepted in the final seconds of the 1st half at the OSU 1 yard line by Anderson Russell.
Texas stormed ahead in the 3rd quarter with two touchdowns, first a McCoy td run and then a TD toss to Quan Cosby. Texas gained 14 first downs in the 3rd quarter, compared to zero for the Buckeyes.
OSU managed another field goal by Pettrey to pull within one possession at 17-9. Then in the 4th quarter the Bucks used their two quarterback tandem to perfection. Todd Boeckman lobbed a pass into the endzone for Terrelle Pryor who made the first touchdown catch of his career. The Bucks missed the two-point conversion keeping OSU two points behind at 17-15.
After a Texas 3-and-out, the Bucks went back to work. OSU grinds out an 85 yard drive, ending with a 15 yard touchdown run by Boom Herron, lifting the Bucks into a 21-17 lead with 2:05 to play. A 2-point conversion try failed.
Texas drove near midfield and picked up a crucial 4th down by inches. Then McCoy found Cosby on a quick pass over the middle, who then sprinted untouched to the endzone for the game-winning score.
Ohio State finishes its season 10-3 and sends 28 seniors out tied as the winningest class in school history (43 wins) but with losses in four straight national showcase games.
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Reader Reactions
As an OSU alumn, I love the Scarlet and Grey. However..We have passed the time for moral victories. Coach Tressel has done a marvelous time in Columbus. But just like Cooper could not beat Michigan, its becoming habit that Tressel cannot win big games. If he does not win against USC and Penn State next year, the time will have come for the Buckeyes to begin the search for someone who can. If we are not moving forward, than we are only falling behind. We must be forward thinking on this.
While the outcome was not what we all desired, there is no question in my mind that Jim Tressel and this Buckeye team are deserving of our respect and admiration. McCoy is the real deal and he showed great poise in bringing his team back. But the Buckeye Nation should not hang their heads or criticize this team. Tressel and these Seniors have accomplished feats that none have before…so all of you fickle Buckeye Fans who want to sound off and blame Tressel and these guys need to get a life. They played their hearts out and left nothing behind. I’m proud of them, and if you are a true Buckeye Fan, you will be too.
I hope that Buckeye fans show up to greet these men coming back from a hard fought, albeit a loss, game. They showed heart and desire. If I could be there I would. I want to hear that more than 20 people show up. I was embarassed last year at how our fans treated these guys the last two years. Show some Buckeye Pride and get your butts out there. You know you would be there had we won… so do it anyway.
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