Game Thread Game Eight: Ohio State 45, Minnesota 31 (final)

[SanAntonioBuck]

0 turnovers was my favorite stat of the game.

Great call bro! That was overlooked by all of us!

 

[sandgk]

0 turnovers was my favorite stat of the game.

Pittman is becoming one of the better backs in the Big Ten. Smith looked great.

Second BOTH of those -

Zero turnovers on the O - that's great.

2 TD's (richly deserved) by Pittman wonderful

Winning on the road against the #1 Offense in the Big 10, in their house - Priceless.

They definitely damaged our Rush D standing, but when you play top rated offenses you will see that happen.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

BN (Free)

10/29/05

<TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=0 width="98%" align=center border=0><TBODY><TR><TD colSpan=3>Buckeyes Sidestep Pesky Gophers 45-31

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Troy Smith

</TD><TD noWrap width=3></TD><TD vAlign=top>By Steve Helwagen
Managing Editor
Date: Oct 29, 2005

Antonio Pittman had a career-high 186 yards and his first two touchdowns of the season and Troy Smith threw for three scores as OSU stopped upset-minded Minnesota 45-31. Ted Ginn Jr. added a 100-yard kick return for a score. Click this free link for more.
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In a game of one huge play after another, Ohio State made just enough of them to get by.


No. 12 Ohio State kept its Big Ten championship aspirations alive for another week or so with a strong second half to turn back host Minnesota 45-31 before 54,825 at the Metrodome in Minneapolis.

It was billed as a titanic battle between Minnesota’s top-ranked rushing offense against OSU’s top-ranked rushing defense. And the Gophers found success offensively with 578 yards of total offense.

Tailback Antonio Pittman got a career-high 186 yards on 23 carries with his first two touchdowns of the season.

Quarterback Troy Smith completed 14 of 20 passes for 233 yards and three touchdowns. Two of those went to Santonio Holmes, who had four catches for 94 yards. Anthony Gonzalez added four catches for 63 yards, while Ted Ginn Jr. had a 100-yard kick return for a touchdown.

Minnesota’s Laurence Maroney had 127 yards on 25 carries with a touchdown. But he only got 13 of those yards in the second half and had a costly fumble late that allowed OSU to put the game away.
UM quarterback Bryan Cupito completed 26 of 35 passes for 396 yards and a touchdown.

Ohio State had the ball to open the game and moved 80 yards in a quick seven plays. Smith hit Gonzalez for an 11-yard gain to convert a third down. Smith then hit Holmes for a 9-yard gain and a first down at the OSU 47. Pittman then got 12 yards on a toss sweep.

Finally, on first down from the UM 41, Smith hit Holmes on an out pass in the left flat. He caught the ball in front of UM’s Jamal Harris, who slipped, and turned down the sideline for the 41-yard touchdown that put the Buckeyes up 7-0 with 12:42 left in the first quarter.

Minnesota then drove down but Jason Giannini’s 32-yard field goal was wide right.

OSU answered with a 66-yard scoring march, keyed by Smith’s 35-yard pass down the middle to Ginn. But when Smith’s third-down pass to Holmes was incomplete at the UM 14, the Buckeyes settled for Josh Huston’s 31-yard field goal and a 10-0 lead with 7:09 left in the first quarter.

Minnesota came to life on its next possession, moving 80 yards in a quick six plays. Maroney ripped off a 53-yard run down to the OSU 13. OSU’s Malcolm Jenkins made the touchdown saving tackle. But Gary Russell netted 12 yards on three straight plays. On second-and-goal from the 1, Maroney plowed in for the touchdown, cutting the lead to 10-7 with 5:16 left in the first quarter.

But OSU answered as Ginn returned the ensuing kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown. He took the ball near the left sideline and faked a reverse handoff to Gonzalez. He then cut right through the UM coverage team and was gone on his second kick return touchdown of the season, giving OSU a 17-7 bulge with 5:03 left in the first quarter.

Minnesota then marched down to the OSU 14, but had to settle for Giannini’s 30-yard field goal. That trimmed the gap to 17-10 with nine seconds left in the first quarter.

The Gophers drew even early in the second quarter, moving 58 yards in five plays. The key play was Cupito’s 42-yard bomb down the right sideline to Logan Payne. He hauled the ball in over OSU’s Ashton Youboty at the OSU 5. On first down there, Cupito threw a perfect timing pass to Jared Ellerson – again over Youboty – for the 5-yard TD that tied the game at 17-17 with 11:57 left in the first half.

That score stood at halftime and OSU forced a UM punt on the first series of the second half. On second-and-5 from the OSU 33, Pittman took a handoff up the middle and followed pulling guard Rob Sims. Pittman then broke a tackle by UM John Pawlienski and was gone on a 67-yard touchdown run that gave OSU a 24-17 lead with 12:47 left in the third quarter.

Minnesota then drove down to the OSU 32. But on fourth-and-2 there, the Gophers tried a sweep right with Maroney. OSU end Mike Kudla scraped off his blocker and made a strong tackle, slamming Maroney out of bounds for no gain with 10:16 left in the third.

OSU then went 68 yards in seven plays to widen the lead. Smith’s 27-yard TD pass to Gonzalez on the slant made it 31-17 with 7:46 left in the third.

Minnesota got a bit of big play magic, itself, though as Cupito hit Jakari Wallace for a 32-yard gain and Ellerson for 44 more down to the OSU 1. On first down there, Russell plowed in for the touchdown that cut OSU’s lead to 31-24 with 6:14 left in the third.

But the Buckeyes then broke it open with a pair of touchdowns on short fields early in the fourth quarter.

Ginn returned a punt 18 yards to the Minnesota 37. The Buckeyes needed six plays to put the ball in the end zone. The key play was Smith’s 14-yard pass to Gonzalez. On second-and-3 at the UM 4, Pittman went into the end zone over right tackle. That put OSU up 38-24 with 13:20 left in the game.

The OSU defense then got to Maroney as safety Nate Salley stripped him and defensive tackle Quinn Pitcock recovered the fumble at the UM 28 with 12:09 left in the game. After two plays netted a loss of 2 yards, Smith stayed alive in the pocket and found a wide open Holmes, who drifted behind the secondary and completed the 30-yard TD that put the game away at 45-24 with 10:39 left.

Russell capped the scoring with a 1-yard TD plunge with 53 seconds left.

Game Notes
* Ohio State now leads the all-time series 38-7, including 19-4 in Minneapolis. This game ended a two-year hiatus in the series. The Buckeyes have won 19 of the last 20 games in the series. The one loss was a 29-17 Minnesota win in 2000 in Columbus. The Buckeyes have won 10 straight in Minneapolis, dating to a 35-31 loss in 1981.

* Ohio State is now 13-8 in road games in five years under Jim Tressel. That includes a mark of 12-7 in conference road games.

* Tressel is now 3-0 against Minnesota, while UM coach Glen Mason fell to 1-6 against his alma mater.


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[Steve19]

Better and better, week by week. My favorite moments were the Minny secondary talking crap to our WR and then watching the wheels go by with the ball the next play. Pittman. Ginn. Boy, that was fun.

Go Purdue!

 

[CCI]

a real solid game for us on O and the D held up. Pittman had a great game and so did Smith, Holmes, Ginn, and the offenseive line did a damm great job.

 

[MondayAMGenius]

Wow

I'm always screaming for an offensive coordinator. And then 8 games in we put up an offensive gem. Though our 3rd down execution continues to be questionable, we kept them guessing and got everybody involved for the first time in ages.

Congrats Pittman, Holmes, Ginn, Gonzo, Smith.... wow!!

Intestinal fortitude award to the defense for adjusting very late in the first half, and then hanging a 3 and out to start the 2nd half. It looked like our d line really adjusted. And actually Youboty was in perfect position all day long, so credit the Minny receivers all day long for making spectacular catches. Is anyone else surprised they worked Ashton all day, and less toward Jenkins?

It's hard to give just one game ball today.

Offense plays out of their minds with no to's.

Defense finds a solution to the running game and gets a rare fumble recovery.

But I don't think you can underestimate special teams as Josh Huston showed more consistent power than anyone I can remember and completely eliminated a Minny strongsuit.

Ginn scared the shit out of Minny. Ginn caused many squibs and bad punts and still got over 200 all purpose yards. Plus he turned in his first big time grab early by scooping it up off the carpet Gonzo style.

The real challenge for the program now is to get consistent on offense. Plus, in future seasons the o needs to get good earlier in the season.

 

[bukIpower]

Couple things have really impressed me here. Troy is standing tall alot better than he has been. Pittman will be a great back here at this university. Finally how about Malcom Jenkins? I know Youboty got most of the heat today and got burnt fairly bad, but it almost seemed like they went away from Malcom. Whether by design or not, malcom is a true freshman which means they SHOULD be going after him.

I finally feel that Ted Ginn is starting to settle in for the year also. He seems like he's breaking free alot more now. Great win eventhough our defense struggled. Its about time our offense picked up our defense!!!

LETS GO BUCKS!

 

[SanAntonioBuck]

Next up the Battle for the Illibuck! I want to see at least 45 points next week.

 

[scooter1369]

Next up the Battle for the Illibuck! I want to see at least 45 points next week.

Can't wait to get back into the Shoe.

 

[smith403]

Great to see Pittman get nearly 200 and the Td's! Purdue is up early on PSU! SCUM could lose! Good turn out to be an excellent day all around!

 

[OSU_Buckguy]

Finally how about Malcom Jenkins? I know Youboty got most of the heat today and got burnt fairly bad, but it almost seemed like they went away from Malcom. Whether by design or not, malcom is a true freshman which means they SHOULD be going after him.

i was able to catch only the second half, so could it be that cupito was throwing to the wide side of the field, which is ashton's side, much more often than the short side? then again, minnesota could have chosen to throw to the short side, targeting malcolm.

 

[iambrutus]

just imagine how dangerous Teddy is going to be when he learns more about reading the lanes during kick off returns!

The hit by Salley at the end of the game was SICK.

Tony P had a great day!! Very happy to see him go wild!!!

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

yahoo.com

10/29/05

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=yspsctnhdln>(12) Ohio St. 45, Minnesota 31</TD></TR><TR><TD height=7><SPACER width="1" type="block" height="1"></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>Preview - Box Score - Recap

Minnesota </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>By DAVE CAMPBELL, AP Sports Writer
October 29, 2005
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Antonio Pittman rushed for two second-half touchdowns and a career-high 186 yards, springing No. 12 Ohio State to a 45-31 victory over Minnesota on Saturday in a game featuring more than 1,000 yards of offense.

Troy Smith passed for 233 yards and three scores, two to Santonio Holmes, and Ted Ginn Jr.'s 100-yard touchdown on a kickoff return highlighted a wild first quarter for the Buckeyes (6-2, 4-1 Big Ten).
The Gophers (5-3, 2-3) had an Oct. 15 win over Wisconsin -- currently ranked 15th -- wrapped up until the Badgers blocked a punt for the game-winning touchdown with 30 seconds left. After a week off, they returned to the Metrodome hoping to stay in the conference race -- but their defense didn't comply.

Ohio State's speed was just too much, evidenced by Ginn's breath-stopping, untouched return for a 17-7 lead. Minnesota surged back to tie it at 17 before the half on Jared Ellerson's 5-yard touchdown catch from Bryan Cupito, a pretty throw on a fade route against cornerback Ashton Youboty.


Laurence Maroney, the Big Ten's leading rusher for a Gophers team that led the nation in yards rushing coming into the game, ran for 114 yards and a score on 16 first-half carries against the stingiest rushing defense in the country.

The Buckeyes, led by linebacker A.J. Hawk, were allowing only 62.7 yards per game on the ground. They played more like that after halftime, holding Maroney to just 13 yards on nine carries. He also fumbled.

Pittman broke the tie with a 67-yard burst up the middle early in the third quarter for his first touchdown of the season. Nobody touched him.

Minnesota subsequently marched to the Buckeyes 32-yard line, but after two curious play calls the ball went right back to Ohio State. On third-and-2, Gary Russell ran right, stopped and threw softly across the field to Cupito -- who was running up the left sideline. But the ball hung in the air too long, and Malcolm Jenkins nearly intercepted it.

Then on fourth down, Maroney caught an option pitch from Cupito and tried to turn up the right sideline, but Mike Kudla chased him down and dragged him out of bounds.

The fans wearing scarlet and gray in the northwest corner of the upper deck began chanting, ``Let's go, Bucks!'' Pittman and Smith then drove the Buckeyes down for the clinching score -- a 27-yard pass to Anthony Gonzalez.

Lost in all of this was a career-best game by Cupito, who missed the Wisconsin game because of a shoulder injury. He completed 26 of 35 passes for 396 yards and a touchdown. Cupito, from Cincinnati, is one of 16 Ohio natives on the Gophers. Ohio State, which entered the game as one of four teams with one loss in conference play, won its third straight after a defeat at Penn State.
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Minnesota's Trumaine Banks reclines on the bench during the closing moments of Minnesota's 45-31 loss to Ohio State Saturday, Oct. 29, 2005 in Minneapolis.
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Ohio State corner back Malcolm Jenkins (2) bats a pass from Minnesota running back Lawrence Maroney to quarterback Bryan Cupito (3) during the third quarter Saturday, Oct. 29, 2005 in Minneapolis. Ohio State won 45-31.
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Minnesota head coach Glen Mason reacts after Ohio State picks up a first down late in the fourth quarter Saturday, Oct. 29, 2005, in Minneapolis. Ohio State won, 45-31.
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Ohio State running back Antonio Pittman (25) falls into the end zone with a third quarter touchdown as Minnesota's Dominic Jones (2) hangs on Saturday, Oct. 29, 2005 in Minneapolis. Ohio State won 45-31.
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Minnesota quarterback Bryan Cupito (3) completes a pass to a teammate under the reach of Ohio State defensive end Jay Richardson (99) during the fourth quarter in Minneapolis, Saturday, Oct. 29, 2005. Ohio State beat Minnesota 45-31.

Ohio State's Santonio Holmes, right, dives into the end zone for a touchdown after escapeing the crasp of Minnesota's John Pawielski (34) during the third quarter Saturday, Oct. 29, 2005 in Minneapolis. Minnesota's Mario Reese (48) moves in late on the play. Ohio State won 45-31.
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Ohio State linebacker Antony Schlegel 951) congratulates defensive tackle Quinn Pitcock (90) after Pitcock recovered a fumble by Minnesota tailback Laurence Maroney during the fourth quarter in Minneapolis, Saturday, Oct. 29, 2005. Ohio State beat Minnesota 45-31.
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Ohio State cornerback Keith Massey (9) shoves Minnesota tailback Laurence Maroney, left, out of bounds after a 12-yard gain during the frist quarter in Minneapolis, Saturday, Oct. 29, 2005.
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Minnesota running back Laurence Maroney, right, carries the ball and Ohio State defender Ashton Youboty (26) for yardage during the first quarter Saturday, Oct. 29, 2005 in Minneapolis.
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Ohio State quarterback Troy Smith (10) gets off a pass under pressure from Minnesota nose tackle Anthony Montgomery (95) during the first quarter in Minneapolis, Saturday, Oct. 29, 2005.
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Minnesota wide receiver Jared Ellerson, back, pulls in a touchdown pass from quarterback Bryan Cupito in front of Ohio State corrnerback Ashton Youboty, left, during the secoond quarter Saturday, Oct. 29, 2005 in Minneapolis.
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[DaddyBigBucks]

Then on fourth down, Maroney caught an option pitch from Cupito and tried to turn up the right sideline, but Mike Kudla chased him down and dragged him out of bounds

Excuse me while I show my age;

FUCKIN' A Big Mike!!!

 

[Zurp]

The day after I see the "Bizarro Jerry" episode on Seinfeld, I seem to have stepped into Bizzaro World.

-Ohio State's defense gave up 575 yards. Of course, many were at the end of the game, against 2nd-teamers, but it was 500+ yards against 1st teamers.
-Ginn returned a kickoff for a touchdown and no penalties were called.
-The Bucks got a long running play (67 yards).
-Pittman scored a touchdown.
-The offense looked GOOD. REALLY good.

I think that if anyone says that one of my posts was "insightful" or "knowledgeable" or has anything positive to say about it, I'll have to figure out how to get back to my own world, because I'd be convinced that this isn't it.

As I said, I thought the offense was great. Did they meet the 250 pass yards, 200 rush yards goal Tressel always seems to have? If so, is this the first time he's done that at Ohio State?

Congratulations to Pittman on his first (and second) touchdown. He's been a huge player for the Bucks. I know the win should be enough reward for him, but it's good to see him get some points.

I thought Smith played well. He made good passes, and I remember only one that should have been picked, and one or two that was underthrown. Even with those passes, he was 70%, and I won't complain about that. And with the play he made to find Holmes in the 4th quarter was outstanding.

I give the offense an A.

Defensively was pretty bad. They did a pretty good job against Minnesota's running game, which should be commended. But I think that cost them the passing game. All the players had great games, but it seemed that they often left a receiver open, and Cupido found him every time.

I certainly won't complain about a win, though. I give the defense a C+. Giving up long plays hurt their grade, and 500+ yards, too. But the 14-point win pushes it back up.