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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