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