Buckeye Rosters

Recap

New Orleans, LA — Making its fourth consecutive New Year’s Day appearance, the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Florida State Seminoles clashed in the Nokia Sugar Bowl with the Seminoles coming out ahead, 31-14.

FSU was led on offense by Thad Busby, who threw for 334 yards, and E.G. Green, who caught seven passes for 176 yards, and the defense of All-American Andre Wadsworth. The Seminoles took control of the game with two quick touchdowns in the final four minutes of the second quarter for a 21-3 lead at the break. The margin proved plenty for the FSU defense, which harassed OSU quarterbacks Stanley Jackson and Joe Germaine into a 16-36 throwing evening with three interceptions.

The Buckeyes were not able to score a touchdown until Joe Germaine escaped heavy rush and tossed a 50-yard strike to John Lumpkin, who made a spectacular, juggling grab with 8:57 remaining in the game. In the first half, the Buckeyes appeared to score a touchdown when Lumpkin caught a 4-yard pass from holder Brent Bartholomew after faking a field goal. But officials called an unsportsmanlike penalty against Lumpkin for slipping on the field illegally, and Dan Stultz missed a 42-yard field goal after another penalty pushed Ohio State further back. Stultz had given OSU an early 3-0 lead with a 40-yard field goal, but Busby and Green hustled up on a 27-yard scoring connection less than two minutes later, giving FSU a lead that it would not relinquish.

NOTES: The 1997 senior class closes a four-year record of 41-10, tying last year’s class for the most wins in a four-year period at Ohio State.

The Buckeyes put a new twist on its quarterback rotation system. OSU actually rotated Stanley Jackson and Joe Germaine several times in mid-series for the first time this season. Germaine finished the game 10-of-26 for 173 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions, while Jackson was 6-of-10 for just 34 yards, with an interception.

The was Ohio State’s 30th appearance and ninth straight in bowl games. Ohio State is 13-17 in bowls.