Buckeye Rosters

Recap

West Lafayette, IN — Ohio State was trailing on the road and facing fourth down late in the game, with not only a victory but the Big Ten title and a chance at the Fiesta Bowl berth slipping away.

But Craig Krenzel found a way to keep it all within reach for the Buckeyes.

Krenzel threw a 37-yard touchdown pass to Michael Jenkins on fourth-and-1 with 1:36 left as the third-ranked Buckeyes defeated Purdue 10-6 to keep their national championship hopes alive.

The Boilermakers were leading 6-3 when Krenzel dropped back and found Jenkins – who sprinted down the sideline before cutting in – for an over-the-shoulder catch in the end zone.

Krenzel completed 11 of 23 passes for 173 yards. He had been pressured the entire game by a bruising Purdue defense that held Ohio State to 267 total yards and recorded three sacks.

But Krenzel, using a no-huddle offense, called the game-winning play at the line of scrimmage, and Jenkins beat Antwaun Rogers to get open.

Purdue got the ball again, but Kyle Orton’s long pass into double coverage was intercepted by Chris Gamble.

The Buckeyes though, nearly were done in by the deep pass. Brandon Kirsch threw a 59-yard completion to Ray Williams early in the fourth quarter to set up Berin Lacevic’s 32-yard field goal that put the Boilermakers ahead by three with 7:50 left.

Strong performances by both defenses ensured a low-scoring game.

The Buckeyes barely had enough time to kick a field goal as time ran out in the first half to make it 3-all. Krenzel escaped pressure and scrambled 15 yards down the middle to Purdue’s 13. On third-and-9 from the 12, Krenzel ran again, this time for 7 yards but short of the first down.

With no timeouts left and the clock ticking down, the field goal unit hurried onto the field, and the center snapped the ball just in time for Mike Nugent to kick a 22-yarder.

Orton took command early, going 6-for-9 for 55 yards on the opening drive before a pass was intercepted by cornerback Dustin Fox deep in the left corner of the end zone.

Buckeyes running back Maurice Clarett, who had nerve damage in his left shoulder that kept him out of the last two games, started the game and ran 14 times for 52 yards.