Spartans Knock Off Buckeyes in Columbus – Ohio State Buckeyes
11/7/1998 12:00:00 AM | Football
November 7, 1998
COLUMBUS, Ohio – By Rusty Miller Associated Press
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Julian Peterson forced three fumbles and Renaldo Hill intercepted top-ranked Ohio State’s last-gasp pass at the goal line with 1:12 left as four-touchdown underdog Michigan State shocked the Buckeyes 28-24 Saturday.
The Buckeyes – with no opponent coming within 17 points all year – were not only No. 1 in both major polls the entire season, but also in the latest Bowl Championship Series rankings.
The Spartans had trailed 17-3 in the first quarter and fell behind 24-9 early in the third quarter after Ohio State’s Damon Moore picked off Bill Burke’s pass and returned it 73 yards for a touchdown.
But Burke didn’t make too many other mistakes, and the Spartans’ defense was close to perfect.
With 3:33 left, Michigan State’s T.J. Turner, with help from Sorie Kanu and Josh Thornhill, stuffed the Buckeyes’ Joe Montgomery for no gain on fourth-and-1 at the Spartans 26.
After forcing a punt, the Buckeyes took over again with 1:39 left, David Boston’s 26-yard punt return putting them in business at their 49.
Joe Germaine, who had engineered a 20-17 upset of Arizona State in the Rose Bowl two years ago under almost identical circumstances, completed passes to David Boston and John Lumpkin for 16 and 20 yards, respectively.
That put the ball on the Michigan State 15, but three straight incompletions – all with the Spartans blitzing – left the Buckeyes facing another fourth-down situation.
Again the Spartans came with a full blitz, leaving flanker Dee Miller isolated in single coverage on Michigan State cornerback Hill. Under pressure, Germaine lobbed the ball to the left corner of the field, but it was underthrown and Hill picked it off.
