Buckeye Rosters

Recap

Columbus, OH — Maurice Hall scored on a 3-yard run with 4:55 left and the second-ranked Buckeyes survived two late drives by No. 12 Michigan for a 14-9 win that vaulted Ohio State into the Fiesta Bowl Jan. 3.

Will Allen intercepted John Navarre’s pass just short of the end zone with 0:00 showing on the clock for the bend-but-don’t-break Buckeyes (13-0, 8-0 Big Ten), who have won six games by seven or fewer this season.

The Buckeyes earned a share of the Big Ten title with No. 5 Iowa (11-1, 8-0).

The time off will give many of the record 105,539 fans in attendance time to recover from the final tense moments of yet another Ohio State-Michigan classic.

Maurice Clarett energized the Buckeyes and a record crowd by shaking off a shoulder injury to run for 119 yards, breaking Robert Smith’s freshman rushing record in the process.

Clarett also caught a 26-yard pass to set up Hall’s game-winning TD.

Taking a pitch from quarterback Craig Krenzel, Hall swept into the right corner of the end zone for the only score of the second half.

But Michigan, aided by a pass interference call, moved to Ohio State’s 44. Navarre then completed a fourth-down pass to Ronald Bellamy before hitting Braylon Edwards to give Michigan a first down at the 30.

That’s when Ohio State’s defense, which has given up just 63 points in its last nine games, came up with yet another big play, this one by Darrion Scott.

As Navarre stepped up in the pocket, Scott knocked the ball loose and Will Smith recovered with 2:02 left.

Ohio State couldn’t run out the clock, however, and Michigan got the ball back with 58 seconds left at its 20.

Out of time outs, Navarre (23-of-46 for 247 yards) drove the Wolverines to the 24. He threw one pass out of the end zone with seven seconds left before Allen jumped in front of a Michigan receiver to end the game.

Ohio State’s players danced in a circle as students lifted Krenzel, from Sterling Heights, Mich., onto their shoulders as the 80-year old Horseshoe stadium shook.

Michigan’s Adam Finley kicked three field goals in a first half dominated by the Wolverines, who didn’t even have to punt.

Michigan closed the half with a 19-play drive that ate up 8:24 and ended with Finley’s third field goal, a 22-yarder, that put the Wolverines up 9-7.

Only a pass interference call against Edwards, who pushed Chris Gamble to the ground in the end zone, prevented Michigan from having a bigger lead.

Clarett sat out two of Ohio State’s previous three games hoping his shoulder would heal in time for Michigan. He didn’t play on the Buckeyes’ first series before making his entrance with eight minutes left in the first quarter.

On his first play, he ran 9 yards with a screen pass, and then followed a 7-yard pickup by ripping off a 28-yard run.

However, Clarett took a blow on his shoulder on his next carry and went to the sideline in pain clutching his left arm. He came back and scored on a sweep to put Ohio State ahead 7-3.