Scarlet Comes From Behind to Down Gray, 22-21 – Ohio State Buckeyes
4/28/2001 12:00:00 AM | Football
April 28, 2001
COLUMBUS, Ohio-The Ohio State football program held its annual spring game Saturday, April 28, to conclude the first 15-practices for Jim Tressel, first year head coach of the Buckeyes.
The game, played at Columbus Crew Stadium in front of 22,892 fans, went down to the wire. The Scarlet team rallied from a 21-7 deficit to score 15 fourth-quarter points to earn bragging rights with a 22-21 victory.
Scarlet quarterback Craig Krenzel (So., Utica, Mich./Henry Ford II) scored on a 4-yard run with just over a minute to play to give Scarlet its first lead of the second half.
Scarlet opened the scoring in the first quarter when starting quarterback Scott McMullen (So., Granville, Ohio/Granville) found receiver Ricky Bryant (So, Farmington Hills, Mich./Harrison) in the right corner of the endzone for a 12-yard touchdown pass. A Jeremy Uhlenhake extra point put the Scarlet up 7-0.
The Gray took a commanding 21-7 lead behind the passing of starting Gray quarterback Steve Bellisari (Sr., Boca Raton, Fla./Boca Raton) and backup Rick McFadden (Fr., Struthers, Ohio/Struthers).
Bellisari tossed a pair of touchdowns around McFadden’s 6-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Childress (Fr., Warrensville Heights, Ohio/Chanel) with 1:50 to play in the first half.
Bellisari found Drew Carter (So., Solon, Ohio/Solon) for a 7-yard scoring pass with 11:52 to play in the second quarter to tie the game at 7-all. Following McFadden’s touchdown pass, Bellisari connected with Carter again for a 1-yard score giving the Gray a 21-7 advantage. Kicker Josh Huston’s (Fr., Findlay, Ohio/Findlay) extra point, his third on the day, was the last score for the Gray.
Krenzel found receiver Chris Vance (Jr., Fort Myers, Fla./Fort Scott C.C.) for a 21-yard Scarlet touchdown with 5:35 to play in the fourth quarter to cut the lead to 21-14 in favor of the Gray.
Gray punter B.J. Sander (So., Cincinnati, Ohio/Roger Bacon) was then forced to take a 2-point safety with 3:41 to play setting up Krenzel’s final scoring run for the win.
Ohio State’s four scholarship quarterbacks combined for 29 completions on 54 attempts for five touchdowns and just one interception.
For the Gray, Bellisari threw for 122 yards and two touchdowns. He completed 11 of 17 pass attempts. McFadden connected on 8 of 12 passes for 76 yards and one score.
The Scarlet was led by Krenzel’s 91 yards passing. He threw for one score with four completions on 11 attempts. McMullen hit on 6 of 14 passes for 42 yards and one score.
Neither team spent much time rushing the ball. Krenzel was the leading rusher in the game with 42 yards and one touchdown on 11 attempts. The longest run of the day was a 13-yard jaunt by fullback Jamar Martin (Sr., Canton, Ohio/McKinley).
Scarlet’s John Hollins (Fr., Huber Heights, Ohio/Wayne) led all receivers with six catches for 84 yards. Tight end Ben Hartsock (So., Chillicothe, Ohio/Unioto) led Gray with three catches for 51 yards.
Defensively, Scarlet was led by linebacker Joe Cooper’s (Sr., Columbus, Ohio/Independence) five tackles. Defensive end Kenny Peterson (Jr., Canton, Ohio/McKinley) and tackle David Thompson (Jr., Paterson, N.J./East) each recorded two sacks.
Gray linebacker Cie Grant (Jr., New Philadelphia, Ohio/New Philadelphia) led with four tackles. Thomas Mathews (Fr., Fort Lauderdale, Fla./Dillard) recorded the game’s only interception. Defensive end Tim Cheatwood (Sr., Cleveland, Ohio/Benedictine) and nose guard Tim Anderson (So., Clyde, Ohio/Clyde) each had a sack for the Gray.
