COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Pagentry and patriotism ruled the day at Ohio Stadium Saturday. From pre-game team handshakes to a co-taking of the field by the teams to a military flyover, Ohio State and Navy took a respectful tone from the outset.
OSU's defense then struggled containing Navy's option attack and fought to pull out a 31-27 season opening victory.
The Bucks' Brandon Saine returned the opening kickoff past midfield, setting up a 38 yard Terrelle Pryor TD pass to Dane Sanzenbacher. But Navy marched the field in response. QB Ricky Davis followed blockers 16 yards into the endzone to tie the game at 7. OSU got back in the endzone in the 2nd quarter when pryor ran around left end for a 2 yard touchdown. A pair of Aaron Pettrey field goals set a 20-7 halftime score.
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At the half, former Senator and Astronaut John Glenn dotted the I during Script Ohio as part of a nearly 800 piece OSU Alumni band.
In the second half, Navy stuns the Horseshoe crowd with an 8-minute, 99 yard drive, capped by a 16 yard touchdown pass from Dobbs to Marcus Curry. That score narrowed the Buckeye lead to 20-14.
A third Pettrey field goal moved OSU in front 23-14 as the 4th quarter began. Then the Bucks forced the game's biggest turnover. Kurt Coleman stripped the ball from a Navy receiver and Doug Worthing recovered it at the Navy 30. 3 plays later Boom Herron took an option pitch for a 6 yard touchdown. Pettrey missed the extra point, setting the score at 29-14.
Coleman forced another turnover moments later, intercepting Dobbs at the OSU 48. But Navy held OSU on a 4th down try and on the next snap Dobbs found Curry behind the OSU defense for a stunning 85 yard touchdown. Navy pulled within 8 points with less than 6 minutes to go. That pass was the 3rd longest in school history.
Pryor then attempted a pass to Sanzenbacher that sailed high and was intercepted by Emmett Merchant and returned to the OSU 33. 3 plays later Dobbs ran 24 yards on 3rd down to bring the Middies within a 2-point conversion with 2:23 to play. But Dobbs was intercepted on the conversion by Brian Rolle who returned the pass to the other endzone for an OSU safety, sealing the OSU win.
Pryor finished the game 14-21 for 174yds with a TD pass and an interception.
"We have to tip our cap to the young men from the Naval Academy... We gave them a little help along the way in the 4th quarter." OSU coach Jim Tressel said. "That does not take away from the play of Navy... I told our kids they'll remember this day for the rest of their lives."
OSU now prepares for a showdown with fellow top ten team USC next Saturday night at Ohio Stadium.
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