Flashback: Bucks Upset No. 1 Hawks at Home in 1985 – Ohio State Buckeyes
11/13/2009 12:00:00 AM | Football
AP (Nov. 3, 1985) – Ohio State linebacker Chris Spielman looked at it in simple terms: “The motivational factor was, we were the underdogs in Ohio Stadium.”
The simple result was No.8 Ohio State handing No.1-ranked Iowa a 22-13 setback in the rain Saturday.
“If somebody wants to fight me in my own backyard, he had better bring an army with him,” said Spielman, who intercepted two passes, batted away another and was in on a game-high 19 tackles.
Ohio State is not accustomed to being an underdog _ even if only by 1 1/2 points, as it was against Iowa _ while playing at home. With the victory, the Buckeyes extended their home winning streak to 20 in a row and did it in front of an all-time record crowd of 90,467 in 63-year-old Ohio Stadium.
The Buckeyes got a grip on the upset in the first half of the game, played in a persistent downpour, by intercepting three Chuck Long passes and rolling to a 15-0 lead.
A 28-yard field goal by Rich Spangler made it 3-0 after Ohio State’s first possession. The Buckeyes went ahead 5-0 on the final play of the first period when Sonny Gordon blocked a Gary Kostrubala punt and the ball squirted out of the end zone for a safety.
Going into the game, Iowa had not allowed a point in the first quarter this year.
Long’s second interception led to the first Ohio State touchdown. After William White intercepted Long, the Buckeyes took over on their own 38 midway through the second period. On second down, tailback John Wooldridge shredded the middle for 57 yards and the touchdown. Spangler’s extra point made it 12-0.
Three plays after the ensuing kickoff, Ohio State’s Greg Rogan stepped in front of another Long pass, and the Buckeyes turned the turnover into a 26-yard Spangler field goal.
The Hawkeyes finally scored just before halftime on Ronnie Harmon’s 4-yard option run, cutting the gap to 15-7.
After a scoreless third period, the Ohio State defense forced another turnover on Iowa’s first play of the fourth period when substitute linebacker Derek Isaman hit receiver Scott Helverson, causing a fumble at the Hawkeye 31.
It took Ohio State five plays to push across what would be the clinching touchdown on freshman tailback Vince Workman’s 4-yard run.
Iowa countered with an 80-yard drive that culminated in Kevin Harmon’s 2-yard run, Rob Houghtlin adding the conversion to make it 22-13.
But the Hawkeyes’ final two thrusts resulted in a 42-yard missed field goal by Houghtlin and Long’s fourth interception _ and Spielman’s second _ to put an end to Iowa’s five-week reign atop the poll.
Iowa right tackle Mike Haight said, “Their two linebackers were awesome _ Chris Spielman and Pepper Johnson. It seemed like they had a crystal ball and knew where Chuck was going to pass.”
Long came into the game leading the nation in pass efficiency but left with 17 completions in 34 attempts for 169 yards and four interceptions.
“It was a really long day for us, it really was,” said Long. “It was one of my most frustrating days.”
