Buckeyes Bounce Illinois In Final Seconds – Ohio State Buckeyes
11/11/2000 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 11, 2000
Box Score| Quotes
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Ohio State senior Dan Stultz kicked the game-winning 34-yard field goal as time expired lifting Ohio State to a come-from-behind 24-21 win over Illinois Saturday.
Stultz booted a career-high four field goals in the game, including a 17-yarder with 6:05 to play that tied the score at 21.
Ohio State also received career-best efforts from quarterback Steve Bellisari, tight end Darnell Sanders and tailback Jonathan Wells.
Bellisari completed 23 of 38 passes, both benchmarks for the OSU junior, on his way to 251 yards passing and a pair of touchdowns.
Both scoring tosses were to Sanders, who caught two touchdown passes for the first time in his career.
Wells came off the bench to rush for 131 yards on 27 carries, both career highs, in the win over the Illini.
Defensively, Buckeye linebacker Matt Wilhelm led the way with a career-high 12 tackles.
Ohio State improved to 8-2 on the season and 5-2 in the Big Ten. Illinois fell to 5-5, 2-5).
The game was close throughout. Illinois had the biggest lead (14-6) with 12:44 remaining in the second quarter. The Buckeyes cut the Illini lead to 14-12 on a 1-yard Sanders touchdown reception with 23 seconds left before the half.
Sanders grabbed a 7-yard touchdown toss with 8:21 remaining in the third quarter giving the Buckeyes their first lead of the game, 18-14. Ohio State opted for a two-point conversion attempt but did not convert. The Buckeyes were pinned inside their own 5-yard line on the opening kickoff of the second half and later forced to punt.
Illinois did not take advantage of being inside OSU territory on its first possession, turning the ball over to the Buckeyes on downs leading to Ohio State’s 10-play 75-yard scoring drive for the lead.
The teams exchanged punts before Bellisari was intercepted for the third time by Eugene Wilson deep in Illinois territory on the UI 11-yard line.
Illinois’ Kurt Kittner then drove the Illini down to the OSU 2-yard line following a 4-yard run. Kittner left the game with an injury and was replaced by Dustin Ward, who completed a 1-yard touchdown pass to fullback Jameel Cook with 14:17 left in the game. The Illinois drive covered 85 yards on 11 plays giving the Illini a 21-18 advantage.
Stultz then tied and won the game on his third and fourth field goals of the game. He upped his career-leading total of field goals made to 57. He has 17 this season.
Illinois scored first with just 1:35 gone in the first quarter when halfback Rocky Harvey busted a 29-yard run up the middle giving the Illini a quick 7-0 lead.
The Buckeyes marched right down the field to cut the Illinois lead to 7-3 with 8:33 remaining in the first quarter.
Combs carried the ball six times for 33 yards before Stultz split the uprights on a 19-yard field goal.
Ohio State’s defense held Illinois on its next possession but the Illini regained control on an interception by defensive end Fred Wakefield off a tipped pass.
Illinois could not capitalize on the Buckeye turnover and the teams exchanged punts through the end of the first quarter.
Stultz cut the lead to 7-6 on a 41-yard field goal early in the second quarter.
Halfback Antoineo Harris gave the Illini an 8-point cushion with a 31-yard touchdown run with 12:44 to play in the first half.
With 6:35 remaining, Ohio State’s David Mitchell intercepted Illinois’ Kurt Kittner and returned it to the Illinois 22.
Illinois’ Eugene Wilson then intercepted Buckeye quarterback Steve Bellisari on the Illini 1-yard line.
Illinois’ offense was held, forcing a punt.
Bellisari then connected with Sanders for his first touchdown following a 10-play, 80-yard drive. The Buckeyes then attempted a two-point conversion play but were unable to convert.
Illinois led at the half 14-12.
