Barclay: Winding Path To Winning FG

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Devin Barclay was a professional soccer player from 2001 to 2005 with four teams in Major League Soccer. He'd never seen anything like this, though.

Barclay's 39-yard field goal in overtime gave No. 10 Ohio State a 27-24 victory over No. 15 Iowa on Saturday, securing a share of the Big Ten title and the conference's automatic Bowl Championship Series berth in the Rose Bowl.

"I never saw this coming," said Barclay, an unknown just a month ago before taking over for the injured Aaron Pettrey. "I'm still on Cloud 9. I'm still kind of in shock."

A former walk-on, Barclay has lived a full life in his 26 years - he's the oldest Buckeye. He graduated from McDonogh High School in Annapolis, Md. The son of David Barclay, a soccer All-American at Kenyon College, Barclay played for the Tampa Bay Mutiny, San Jose Earthquakes, D.C. United and Columbus Crew in Major League Soccer.

"Nothing in soccer was ever like this," he said after escaping the mad crush of thousands of people who mobbed the field after his winning kick went through the uprights.

Along the way he met Ohio State's place-kickers, including former 29-year-old professional rugby player Ryan Pretorius, who helped persuade him to go to college at Ohio State and try to join the Buckeyes.

"It's been an amazing experience," Barclay said.

When Pettrey sustained a knee injury against New Mexico State three weeks ago, many believed big-name recruit Ben Buchanan would take over the job.

But Barclay took over and has been dependable.

"I saw Aaron and he told me, 'You've got a chance to be a hero. You want to get this one right,"' Barclay said. "The whole fourth quarter I was preparing myself for the moment. My snaps and holds were perfect all day. I knew (the last kick) was good when I hit it. It was an unbelievable feeling. A lot of joy. There's been a lot of hard work all year, but this made it all worthwhile."

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BIG SACK: Ohio State was expected to force the issue against Iowa's redshirt freshman quarterback by constantly applying pressure. However, the Buckeyes never got to him - until an important time.

The Hawkeyes faced a third and 16 at their own 31 with the first possession in overtime. James Vandenberg had been solid all day for Iowa, completing 20 of 33 passes for 233 yards and two touchdowns with two interceptions.

But the Buckeyes finally broke through.

Defensive tackle Doug Worthington overcame his block at the line and wrapped up Vandenberg, who had hesitated in the pocket when he couldn't find a receiver.

"It was just a brain cramp," Vandenberg said. "They went to a coverage we hadn't seen all night. We didn't have anyone open. I was just thinking, 'Get it off!'

"That guy (Worthington) appeared out of nowhere. I have to get rid of it; that's on me. I have to give our kicker a shot."

Worthington gave the credit to a teammate.

"(Defensive end) Nate (Williams) took inside coverage and took away a guy who would have blocked me," Worthington said. "It gave me time and I was blessed to make an easy sack."

The resulting 10-yard loss forced the Hawkeyes to go for it on fourth and 26 from their own 41 instead of kicking the field goal. Vandenberg arched a long pass into the end zone that was intercepted by Anderson Russell.

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HOT TICKETS: After presenting a bouquet of roses to coach Jim Tressel, Rose Bowl president Jim Throop was asked how many Ohio State fans he expected for the January 1 bowl game in Pasadena, Calif.

"It will look like a home game (for Ohio State)," he said. "They've always traveled well and I have no doubt they'll be out in force."

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MOVING THE CHAINS: No team had rushed for more than 195 yards against Iowa's stolid group all season. Yet the Buckeyes ran for 229 yards on 51 attempts.

Brandon Saine gained 103 yards on 11 carries and scored on runs of 22 and 49 yards. Dan Herron added 97 yards on 32 carries with an 11-yard score.

It was the fourth game in a row the Buckeyes have rushed for at least 228 yards.

"That's extraordinary," coach Jim Tressel said of the efforts by Saine and Herron. "And they were breaking tackles and they were keeping their pads low and they were doing a great job. Those are two tough kids."

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ROOKIE PROPS: Just about every outsider thought redshirt freshman quarterback James Vandenberg would be overwhelmed by the crowd of 105,000, an aggressive Ohio State defense and the weight of the moment.

For the most part, the kid making his first collegiate start in place of the injured Ricky Stanzi had a very good game.

"He did a heck of a job," coach Kirk Ferentz said. "None of us were surprised."

Stanzi said he wasn't intimidated by the setting or the opponent.

"It wasn't near as big (a deal) as I thought it would be," he said. "When it all gets to it, after the ball is snapped that first play goes back to playing football like you've always played."

Vandenberg completed 20 of 33 passes for 233 yards with three interceptions, throwing touchdown passes of 9 and 10 yards to Marvin McNutt.

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QUICK-HITTERS: In case you ever wondered, it takes 3 minutes and 45 seconds to do a single Script Ohio. ... The Buckeyes lead the all-time series with Iowa, 45-14-3 and have won 11 of the last 12. ... Freshman Marcus Hall made his first career start at right tackle for the Buckeyes. ... The Hawkeyes are now tied for second place in the Big Ten, along with Wisconsin and Penn State at 5-2. ... Iowa had 233 yards passing to just 93 for Ohio State. ... Ohio State's game at Michigan on Saturday is at noon. ... Iowa hosts Minnesota, also at noon EST.