Gray Rallies for 17-9 Win over Scarlet in 2007 Ohio State Spring Game – Ohio State Buckeyes
4/21/2007 12:00:00 AM | Football
April 21, 2007
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COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Gray team rallied to claim a 17-9 victory over the Scarlet Saturday in the 2007 Ohio State Spring Football Game in Ohio Stadium in front of 75, 301 fans. Last season, the spring game attracted more than 63,000 fans.
Trailing most of the game, the Gray squad came back to take a 10-9 lead behind consecutive fourth-quarter scoring drives. The Scarlet was poised to take back the lead after advancing to the Gray 11 with less than two minutes to play, but senior linebacker Larry Grant forced a fumble by Scarlet quarterback Todd Boeckman and he returned the loose ball 80 yards for the game-sealing score.
In the opening quarter, linebacker Marcus Freeman put the Scarlet ahead, 6-0, with a 49-yard interception return for a touchdown and the Scarlet held the lead for three quarters.
The Gray advanced inside the Scarlet 25-yard line on three second-half possessions, and after failing to come away with any points on a first-and-goal in the third quarter, cashed in for 10 points on back-to-back fourth quarter possessions.
After Gray defensive lineman Alex Barrow picked off a tipped Antonio Henton pass inside the Scarlet 30, the Gray threw three incomplete passes before kicker Aaron Pettrey knocked a 40-yard field goal through the uprights with less than 10 minutes to play.
After a short Scarlet punt, the Gray took advantage of good field position and scored the only offensive touchdown of the game. Quarterback Rob Schoenhoft scrambled for a first down on third-and-9 to set up the Gray with first-and-goal from the Scarlet 6. Schoenhoft then found tight end Brandon Smith for the tying TD with 5:24 to go. Pettrey converted the extra point to complete the Gray comeback.
In the first half, the Scarlet tacked on a Ryan Pretorius field goal in the second quarter. Pretorius connected from 37 yards out after being set up by a 40-yard completion from Boeckman to split end Brian Robiskie at the end of the first quarter.
The Scarlet had an opportunity to extend its lead at end of the first half. Henton, who played for the Gray in the first half, was picked off in the left flat by defensive back Grant Schwartz and returned the ball 41 yards inside the 30-yard line. On the ensuing play, Grant forced his first fumble of the game and halted the Scarlet’s scoring opportunity when he sacked Schoenhoft, who played the first half for the Scarlet. The Gray recovered and ran out the first-half clock, trailing 9-0.
The Scarlet had its chance in the waning moments of the game. Facing a fourth-and-1 from the 39-yard line and two minutes left on the clock, Boeckman faked play-action and found tight end J.D. Larson for a 28-yard completion, putting the ball at the Gray 11. Grant ended all doubt from there with his TD runback.
Maurice Wells was the leading rusher in the game, gaining 48 yards for the Gray on 14 carries. Boeckman finished his day with six completions in 14 attempts for the Scarlet, while Schoenhoft was a combined 7-15 for 83 yards and a TD pass. Devon Lyons topped all received with 72 yards on three receptions, including a 39-yard grab in the third period.
Defensively, Grant finished the game with two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, four total tackles, including three for combined losses of 17 yards. James Laurinaitis added six tackles at middle linebacker for the Gray. Defensive back Shaun Lane was the leading tackler for the Scarlet with eight stops, and Freeman and Austin Spitler each added six tackles for the Scarlet.
