Troy Smith Named Big Ten Co-Offensive Player of the Week – Ohio State Buckeyes
11/21/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 21, 2005
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio State junior quarterback Troy Smith earned Big Ten Co-Offensive Player of the Week honors after leading the Buckeyes to 25-21 comeback victory over Michigan to garner a share of the school’s 30th conference championship.
Smith directed the Buckeyes’ offense on a pair of fourth-quarter touchdown drives to rally Ohio State to victory. The Cleveland, Ohio (Glenville H.S.), product connected on 73 percent of his passes on the day, completing 27-of-37 throws for a career-best 300 yards and a touchdown while adding 48 yards on 11 carries and another score.
After the Wolverines took a 21-12 lead with less than eight minutes remaining in the game, Smith drove the Buckeyes 67 yards on five plays in just over a minute, connecting on a 26-yard scoring strike to Santonio Holmes with 6:40 on the clock to cut the lead to 21-19. The OSU defense then forced a Michigan punt to give the ball back to the Buckeyes’ offense at the 12-yard line with just over four minutes left. Smith led the visitors on a 12-play, 88-yard scoring drive, completing seven-of-eight passes for 77 of those yards before Antonio Pittman scored on a three-yard run to give Ohio State the lead with only 24 seconds remaining. It is the first Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week laurel for Smith.
Iowa’s Ed Hinkel shared offensive honors with Smith. Hinkel equaled a school record with four touchdown catches while also setting career highs with seven receptions for 151 yards against Minnesota.
Penn State’s Alan Zemaitis and Purdue’s Rob Ninkovich shared defensive player of the week honors while Penn State’s Donnie Johnson was the special teams honoree.
