Postgame Notes From Ohio State vs. No. 7 Michigan – Ohio State Buckeyes
11/20/2004 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 20, 2004
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Ohio State Notes
With the 37-21 win Saturday over Michigan, Ohio State has won21 of its last 22 games at home. The win Saturday upped JimTressel’s career mark to 174-68-2, including a 39-11 record at OhioState.
Tressel is 25-3 at home at Ohio State.
With the win Saturday over No. 7 Michigan, Tressel is 5-1against Top 10 opponents. The last time an unranked Ohio State teamdefeated a Top 10 opponent was Nov. 10, 1990 at No. 6 Iowa, a 27-26victory.
The 37-21 win over No. 7 Michigan serves as Ohio State’s largest margin of victory over a Top 10 opponent when the Buckeyes enter unranked. An unranked Ohio State team defeated No. 6 Purdue, 15-0, in Ohio Stadium on Oct. 17, 1959.
With the win, Tressel moved to 3-1 in his career vs. Michigan,becoming the second coach at Ohio State to start his career 3-1 vs.the Wolverines. Former head coach Earle Bruce started 3-1 vs.Michigan from 1979-82. Francis Schmidt started 4-0 vs. theWolverines from 1934-37. Ohio State held a 20-14 lead at halftime.With the win, the Buckeyes are 19-1 under Tressel at Ohio Stadiumwhen leading at halftime. Overall, the Buckeyes are 28-2 underTressel when leading at the half. The Buckeyes extended their leadto 34-14 after three periods. Under Tressel, OSU is 22-2 at OhioStadium when leading after three quarters and 30-3 overall whenleading after three periods. For the 101st consecutive game, OhioState scored at least one touchdown. The last time a Buckeye teamwas held without a touchdown was a 13-9 loss to Michigan in the1996 season. With the win, the Buckeyes own an all-time Big Tenrecord of 418-161-24. Under Tressel, Ohio State is 23-9 in Big Tenplay.
Ohio State – Michigan Series
With the win Saturday, Ohio State moved to 38-57-6 all-time vs.Michigan and 21-27-2 in Columbus.
The Buckeyes have won three of the last four meetings with the Wolverines. The two teams have played annually since 1918 and have concluded their Big Ten seasons against one another every year since 1935. With the win, Ohio State has moved ahead in the series 26-25-2 since 1952.
The 37-21 win Saturday serves as the largest margin of victoryover the Wolverines since 1994, when the Buckeyes downed U-M, 22-6.
The 16-point win over No. 7 Michigan served as the largest OSU victory over a Top 10 team since defeated No. 10 Washington State, 25-7, Sept. 14, 2002.
The win Saturday is the first by an unranked Ohio State teamover a Top 10 Michigan squad since 1981, when the Buckeyes won 14-9in Ann Arbor. Ohio State’s 37 points Saturday marked the first timethe Buckeyes have score 30 or more points vs. Michigan since a31-16 victory over the Wolverines in Ohio Stadium in 1998. The winin 1998 gave Ohio State a share of the Big Ten championship.
All-time, Ohio State is 7-1 against Michigan when scoring 30 or more points. The only such loss came in 1988 in a 34-31 U-M win at Ohio Stadium.
Ohio State scored 27 unanswered points between the second andthird quarters. The 27 unanswered points are the most in the seriesvs. Michigan since Ohio State posted 24 unanswered points in the31-16 win over Michigan at Ohio Stadium in 1998. The Buckeyes ranfor 207 yards Saturday, which is the first time Ohio State rushedfor more than 200 yards against the Wolverines since 1999, when theBuckeyes ran for 263 on 48 in 24-17 in Ann Arbor. The Buckeyes alsopassed for more then 200 yards, which is the first time sincethrowing for 251 in 2000 in a 38-26 loss in Ohio Stadium. The gameSaturday marked the first time Ohio State has rushed and passed for200 or more yards against Michigan since 1989, when the Buckeyeshad 200 yards rushing and 220 yards passing.
In total yardage, the Buckeyes amassed 446 yards, serving as the first time Ohio State totaled 400 yards since 2000.
The game Saturday served as the 10th in the Ohio State -Michigan series when the game was played on Nov. 20. With the win,Ohio State holds a 6-4 edge in the series in games played Nov. 20.The date has featured a handful of upsets, including the 37-21 OhioState win Saturday. Most recently in 1993, No. 5 Ohio State wasshutout, 28-0, by an unranked Michigan team in Ann Arbor. In 1982,the unranked Buckeyes defeated No. 13 Michigan, 24-14, in Columbus.
Included in the Nov. 20 games are several when Michigan and Ohio State was ranked No. 1 on the country. In 1954, top-ranked Ohio State completed its perfect season with a 21-7 victory over No. 12 Michigan in Ann Arbor. In 1948, the No. 1-ranked Wolverines downed No. 18 Ohio State, 13-3, in Ann Arbor.
The Ohio State – Michigan game on Nov. 20 Year Winnner Loser Score Site 2004 Ohio State No. 7 Michigan 37-21 Columbus 1993 Michigan No. 5 Ohio State 28-0 Ann Arbor 1982 Ohio State No. 13 Michigan 24-14 Columbus 1976 No. 4 Michigan No. 8 Ohio State 22-0 Columbus 1971 No. 3 Michigan Ohio State 10-7 Ann Arbor 1965 Ohio State Michigan 9-7 Ann Arbor 1954 No. 1 Ohio State No. 12 Michigan 21-7 Columbus 1948 No. 1 Michigan No. 18 Ohio State 13-3 Ann Arbor 1943 No. 4 Michigan Ohio State 45-7 Ann Arbor 1937 No. 19 Ohio State Michigan 21-0 Ann Arbor
Ohio State Special Teams
Ohio State freshman Ted Ginn, Jr. returned a punt 82 yards fora touchdown in the third quarter. The TD return is the fourth ofthe season for Ginn, setting an Ohio State and Big Ten record formost punt returns for touchdowns in a single season and tying theNCAA record for touchdowns on punt returns in a single season.
Ginn became the third player in NCAA history to return four punts for touchdowns, tying David Allen of Kansas State (1998) and Golden Richards of BYU (1971)
In Ohio State annals, Ginn surpassed Jeff Graham (1989-91) and Garcia Lane (1981-83). Graham and Lane each had three TD returns for their careers.
Ginn also tops the Big Ten record book, passing Iowa’s Tim Dwight (1997), Gene Derricotte of Michigan (1947) and Ira Matthews of Wisconsin (1976).
Ginn’s 82-yard TD return is the fourth longest in Ohio State history. Former Buckeye Robert Demmel holds the record at 87 yards in 1950 vs. Iowa. The 82-yard return marked Ginn’s sixth play of more than 50 yards this season.
Ted Ginn’s plays of 50-plus yards
Receiving
59, Ted Ginn, Jr. vs. Indiana for TD
58, Ted Ginn, Jr. at Michigan State for TD
Punt Returns
65, Ten Ginn Jr. vs. Wisconsin – PR for TD
67, Ted Ginn Jr. vs. Penn State – PR for TD
60, Ted Ginn Jr. at Michigan St. – PR for TD
82, Ted Ginn, Jr. vs. Michigan – PR for TD
Ginn’s punt return was the Buckeyes’ fifth punt return to gofor a touchdown this season. Upping the school record, which theBuckeyes set when Ginn returned a punt for 60 yards againstMichigan State. Ohio State had three punt returns for scores in1973, 1979, 1983 and 1998. Ginn’s 82-yard punt return is thelongest play allowed by Michigan this season and the first Buckeyepunt return for a touchdown vs. Michigan since 1971, when TomCampana took a U-M punt back 85 yards. Senior placekicker MikeNugent converted three field goals Saturday of 21, 42 and 48 yards.For the season, Nugent is 20 for 23 and has 11 field goals of morethan 40 yards in 12 attempts.
Nugent had 13 points against the Michigan, boosting his career point total to 341, which is good for third all-time at Ohio State. Nugent needs 8 points to surpass Pete Johnson (348 points, 1973-76) as the school’s all-time point leader and two points to pass Dan Stultz (342, 1997-00) for second all-time.
With his three field goals Saturday, Nugent became the first Buckeye to convert three field goals against Michigan since Josh Jackson in 1996.
Senior punter Kyle Turano booted a career long 71-yard punt inthe fourth quarter. His previous long was 68 yards this season.Turano is the first Buckeye to record a punt of more than 70 yardssince Tom Tupa boomed a 75-yarder in 1986 vs. Illinois.
Turano is the first Buckeye to record a punt for more than 70 yards since 1936, when Howard Wedebrook kicked a 78-yarder vs. the Wolverines.
Ohio State Offensive Notes
Troy Smith capped a 99-yard Ohio State touchdown drive in thesecond quarter with a 1-yard touchdown plunge. The 99-yardtouchdown drive is the longest by Ohio State this season and thelongest since a 98-yard touchdown drive against Toledo on Sept. 12,1998.
Ohio State’s previous long this season was an 85-yard drive against Marshall. The 99-yard possession served as the eighth Ohio State drive of 80 yards or more.
The Buckeyes drove 97 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter.
The 99-yard and 97-yard drives by the Buckeyes Saturday servedas the longest drives allowed by Michigan this season. Ohio Stateallowed zero sacks by Michigan Saturday, marking the first timethis season and since the Northwestern win in 2003.
The game is the first time Ohio State has not allowed a Michigan sack in a contest since 1990, a 16-13 U-M win.
The Buckeyes jumped to a 7-0 lead on their first drive of thegame on a 68-yard touchdown pass from Troy Smith to AnthonyGonzalez. The play served as Ohio State’s eighth play covering 60yards or more and its sixth scoring play this season of 60 yard ormore.
Ohio State plays of more than 60 yards in 2004
Rushing
68, Lydell Ross (vs. Cincinnati)
Receiving
80, Santonio Holmes/Zwick (vs. Marshall) – TD
68, Anthony Gonzalez/Smith (vs. Michigan) – TD
Returns
63, Santonio Holmes (at Northwestern) – PR for TD
65, Ten Ginn Jr. (vs. Wisconsin) – PR for TD
67, Ted Ginn Jr. (vs. Penn State) – PR for TD
62, Maurice Hall (vs. Penn State) – KOR
60, Ted Ginn Jr. (at Michigan St.) – PR for TD
82, Ted Ginn, Jr. (vs. Michigan) – PR for TD
The 68-yard touchdown pass from Smith to Gonzalez accounted forthe second time in the 2004 season Ohio State has scored on itsopening drive. The Buckeyes scored on their first possessionagainst Indiana on a 59-yard touchdown strike from Smith to Ginn.
The 68-yard plays is the longest from scrimmage allowed Michigan this season.
The Buckeyes rushed for 205 yards on 47 carries Saturday,marking the third time this season Ohio State has reached at least200 yards on the ground. The Buckeyes ran for 220 yards on 43carries in the season opener vs. Cincinnati and 282 on 43 rushesvs. Indiana. Ohio State has run for 200 yards or more in three ofsix home games this season.
The 47 carries marks a season best for Ohio State.
Ohio State also threw for 241 yards Saturday, marking the firsttime Ohio State has eclipsed 400 total yards this season the firsttime since racking up 603 total yards at Indiana last season. TheBuckeyes held possession for 10:03 of the second quarter, taking a20-14 lead into halftime. The Buckeyes outscored U-M 13-0 in thethird quarter. Coming into the game Saturday, Michigan held an88-34 lead in third-quarter points.
The Buckeyes’ 37 points tied the most scored by a U-M opponent this season. Michigan State scored 37 against the Wolverines earlier this season in a triple-overtime Michigan win (44-37).
The Buckeyes were 3-for-4 in Red Zone scoring opportunities(three TDs and one FG) Saturday. For the season, Ohio State is17-of-22 when scoring in the red zone. The Buckeyes, up 20-14 atthe break, scored 20 points in the first half for the third timethis season. Ohio State led Indiana 20-7 at intermission and PennState 21-7 at the break.
Ohio State Offensive Players
Ohio State quarterback Troy Smith rushed for 145 yards on 18carries Saturday, becoming the first Ohio State quarterback to rushfor 100 yards since Rod Gerald ran for 100 yards against Iowa onOct. 15, 1977. Smith also passed for 241 yards, becoming the firstplayer in Ohio State history to rush for 100 yards and pass for 200yards. Smith’s 386 yards of total offense, ranks third all-timebehind 388 by Joe Germaine at Penn State in 1997 and 412 by ArtSchlitcher vs. Florida State in 1981.
The 386 total yards are by a Buckeye against Michigan, passing Joe Germains’s 321 in 1998.
The 145 yards on the ground by Smith fell just 1-yard shy ofthe Ohio State record held by Cornelius Greene with 146 yards vs.Wisconsin in 1974. The 145 yards also serves as a season for OhioState. Freshman Antonio Pittman had 144 yards against Indiana.
Smith scrambled for 46 yards in the third quarter, marking a career long. Rex Kern owns the Ohio State record for longest rush by a quarterback at 76 yards against Illinois in 1970.
Smith’s 68-yard touchdown pass to Gonzalez on Ohio State’sopening drive was the longest completion of his career. Smith’sprevious long was a 59-yard connection with Ted Ginn, Jr. for atouchdown against Indiana.
Smith added a 12-yard scoring strike to Santonio Holmes in the third quarter for his second career two-touchdown game through the air. He had two TD passes against Indiana this season.
Smith scored his second rushing touchdown of the season the second quarter. He scored last week at Purdue. Smith accounted for three touchdowns Sunday, a career best.
With the win Saturday, sophomore quarterback Troy Smith movedto 4-1 as a starting quarterback.
Offensively, Ted Ginn, Jr. set career highs in receptions with five and yards with 87. He had four catches for 77 yards at Michigan State.
Freshman wide receiver Anthony Gonzalez hauled in a 68-yardtouchdown pass from Troy Smith on Ohio State’s opening driveSaturday. The scoring play served as Gonzalez’s first careertouchdown and the longest catch of his career. His previous careerlong gain came last week at Purdue, a 38-yard catch in the fourthquarter.
Gonzalez finished the game with two catches for 77 yards, a career best in yardage.
Senior fullback Branden Joe ran for 52 yards on 14, whichserved as a career high in both categories. Joe ran for 46 yards on11 attempts in the 2004 Fiesta Bowl vs. Kansas State. Ohio Stateflanker Santonio Holmes had three grabs for 50 yards. He has caughtat least one pass in 17 straight games. Holmes had a 12-yard TDreception in the third quarter, his third in the last two seasonsvs. Michigan. In two games vs. the Wolverines 11 catches for 171yards and three scores.
Ohio State Defense Notes
The Buckeyes held Michigan to just 71 yards rushing, the secondlowest total by the Wolverines this season. Michigan ran for 65yards in a loss to Notre Dame.
Ohio State snapped Michigan’s streak of four straight games with more than 200 yards rushing.
Ohio State held Michigan’s leading rusher, Michael Hart, to 61 yards on 18 carries. Hart’s total Saturday is the first time he has been held under 100 yards in the last five games. Hart’s 61 yards serves a Big Ten low.
The Buckeyes recorded a season-best 10 pass break-ups Saturday.Sophomore cornerback Ahston Youboty halted a Michigan scoringthreat in the fourth quarter with his fourth interception of theseason. Youboty, who returned the pick 20 yards, has recorded aninterception in three of the last four games. He intercepted passesvs. Penn State and at Michigan State.
Youboty also broke up four passes Saturday, setting a person best. He had three PBU’s against Penn State.
A.J. Hawk recorded 11 tackles Saturday, marking fourth withdouble-digit tackles. Hawk has 136 tackles this season. SafetyDonte Whitner recorded his first career sack Saturday, an 11-yardloss on Michigan quarterback Chad Henne. Safety Tyler Everettrecorded a career-best eight tackles Saturday. His best was five,set three times. Safety Nate Salley recorded his second careerinterception Saturday to seal the win for Ohio State. BobbyCarpenter added nine tackles and career-high three pass break ups.
Other Ohio State Notes
The Buckeyes first fielded a football team in 1890. With thewin Saturday, Ohio State has posted an all-time record of764-298-53 in 114 years. With the win Saturday, Ohio State’sall-time record moved to 355-102-25 in Ohio Stadium (opened in1922). A sell-out crowd of 105,456 attended the game Saturday. Thecrowd is the second largest in Ohio Stadium history, falling shy of105,539
For the season, the Buckeyes have played before sellout crowds in all 11 games this season.
SENIOR DAY
Seventeen Ohio State seniors will be making their final home appearances in Ohio Stadium Saturday. That group, plus two senior managers, and their parents, will be recognized prior to kickoff against Michigan. This year’s class, which includes 12 fifth-year seniors, has a combined won-lost record of 46-15, has won a national championship and a Big Ten co-championship, has played in, and won, two BCS bowls and appeared in four bowl games.
Michigan Postgame Notes
Ohio State snapped Michigan’s eight-game winning streak thisseason and ended the Wolverines’ 13-game Big Ten winning streakdating back to last year. Senior outside linebacker Pierre Woodsand senior wide receiver Braylon Edwards served as the Wolverines’special teams captain against Ohio State. Junior wide receiverJason Avant caught a four-yard touchdown pass from Chad Henne onthe Wolverines’ opening series of the game. Avant has scored areceiving TD in each of the past three games. He made fourreceptions for 40 yards against the Buckeyes. Mike Hart found theend zone for the eighth straight game, scoring on a one-yard run atthe 6:03 mark of the first quarter. Hart has nine rushingtouchdowns this season. Hart finished the game with 100 all-purposeyards (61 rushing, 39 receiving), his ninth straight game with100-plus all-purpose yards. Senior defensive end Pat Massey madehis 20th career start in the Ohio State game and recorded fourtackles. Braylon Edwards surpassed the 100-yard barrier for thethird time in his career against the Buckeyes. He has topped thecentury mark in six games this season. Edwards caught 11 passes for172 yards and one touchdown. He made six catches for 125 yards inthe second half, including his 36-yard TD. Edwards set schoolsingle-season records with 87 receptions and 1,310 receiving yards.The former marks were 86 catches and 1,143 yards, both by MarquiseWalker in 2001. Edwards caught one touchdown, his 15th of theseason, second most in school history to the 19 by Desmond Howardin 1991. Edwards has 36 career touchdown receptions, one shy of theschool mark of 37 set by Anthony Carter in 1979-82. Edwards movedinto the third spot in the Big Ten’s career receiving yardage listwith 3,432 yards on 242 receptions. He passed D’Wayne Bates(Northwestern) and David Williams (Illinois) on the yardage listand stands 36 yards shy of Wisconsin’s Lee Evans for second placeon the all-time list. Mike Hart became the third true freshmantailback to start vs. Ohio State, joining Jamie Morris (1984) andButch Woolfolk (1978). Chad Henne became the first true freshmanquarterback start a game at Ohio State. Henne finished the game27-for-54 for a career-high 328 yards, two touchdowns, and twointerceptions. Senior cornerback Marlin Jackson made his 38thcareer start in Michigan’s secondary at Ohio State, tying BradCochran (1982-85) for the school record. Senior cornerback MarlinJackson picked up a key pass breakup to thwart a fourth-and-goalplay at Michigan’s one-yard line during the second quarter. Jacksonis second all-time at Michigan with 33 career PBUs. Jackson talliedfour tackles and one PBU against the Buckeyes. Pierre Woods startedat outside linebacker since the Purdue game and his third startingassignment of the season. He contributed five stops. LaMarr Woodleyset a career-high with 12 tackles, including seven solo tackles andtwo tackles for loss. Lawrence Reid set a season-high with 10tackles, including four solo tackles and two tackles for loss.Saftey Ryan Mundy tied a career-high with seven tackles, includingfour solo stops. Defensive lineman Larry Harrison set a career-highwith seven tackles. The 14 first quarter points scored by Michiganwere the second most in the opening quarter this season. U-M had 17points in the opening stanza against San Diego State (Sept. 18).The Buckeyes 99-yard touchdown drive in the second quarter was thelongest against the Wolverines this season, surpassing the 84-yardTD drive by Michigan State (Oct. 30). Michigan held Ohio State toone field goal in a pair of first-and-goal trips inside theWolverines’ two-yard line. The 20 first half points by the Buckeyeswere the second most yielded by the Wolverines this season. SanDiego State scored 21 points during the opening half of theMichigan’s 24-21 victory on Sept. 18.
