Football Flashback 1984 – Buckeyes Escape East Lansing with 23-20 Win over Spartans – Ohio State Buckeyes
10/16/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
Keith Byars ran for 121 yards as OSU dodged MSU’s last-second game-tying FG try
Earle Bruce might have Superman in scarlet and gray pants, but the Ohio State coach also knows he had a little luck running for him in the Buckeyes’ 23-20 Big Ten football victory over Michigan State.
Ohio State tailback Keith Byars, one of the best in the nation, rushed for 121 yards and a touchdown and Rich Spangler kicked three field goals, but only a failed field goal attempt by Michigan State’s Ralf Mojsiejenko with three seconds remaining enabled the No. 8 Buckeyes to escape with the victory.
“I was crossing my fingers and holding my breath on that kick,” Bruce confessed. “I guess I was blinded.
“The Big Ten race is a dogfight. This is a very tough league.”
Michigan State’s defense forced the Buckeyes to punt and the Spartans took over the ball 39 yards from the goal line with 2:56 remaining in the game.
The Spartans moved the ball to the 23 before quarterback Dave Yarema was sacked for a 3-yard loss, setting up a fourth and 13 situation. Mosjsiejenko attempted a 43-yard field goal from the left hash mark, but pulled the ball low and to the right of the goal posts.
“I think the punting’s taking a toll on my placekicking,” said Mojsiejenko, who had been perfect on six previous field goal attempts this season. “There’s no excuse, though. I just had a bad day. It was just a bad kick.
“I’m lifting my head up. I just didn’t make it. I start thinking too much instead of knowing I’m going to make it.”
Spangler kicked field goals of 36, 42 and 30 yards to account for all the scoring in the first half.
Byars scored on a 1-yard run 57 seconds into the second half to stake the Buckeyes to a 16-0 lead before the Spartans began their gutty comeback.
“They played excellent defense,” Byars said. “We thought they were going to get worn down, but they just kept on fighting back.”
