Columbus, OH ? There’s something about overtime that brings out the best in the Buckeyes.
Craig Krenzel hit Michael Jenkins on a 7-yard scoring pass in the third overtime and No. 3 Ohio State made a goal-line stand to beat No. 24 North Carolina State 44-38 on Saturday.
“Our guys never stop playing. They never stop believing they have a chance,” Ohio State coach Jim Tressel said. “College overtime is extraordinary. It’s great football.”
It was the first overtime game in 81-year-old Ohio Stadium, coming in the old gray horseshoe’s 472nd intercollegiate game.
Will Allen barreled into Wolfpack tailback T.A. McLendon on fourth-and-goal, lowering his left shoulder to stop McLendon just inches from the end zone as the defending national champion Buckeyes (3-0) won their 17th consecutive game.
It took several moments for the officials to determine McLendon had not crossed the goal line. When they finally signaled that he had not, the Buckeyes wildly ran around the field, tossing their helmets in the air in celebration.
“I saw an opening. I don’t know who hit me, but I fell with my arms in the air,” McLendon said. “I think I have it every play, but I guess I didn’t here.”
McLendon lay where he fell, surrounded by teammates and coaches. Some protested to the officials as they left the field.
Last Jan. 3, No. 2 Ohio State needed double-overtime to beat top-ranked Miami 31-24 in the Fiesta Bowl, capturing its first national championship in 34 years. The Buckeyes also beat Illinois in overtime a year ago to remain unbeaten.
North Carolina State (1-2) trailed 24-7 with just over 8 minutes remaining in regulation, but scored on its next three possessions to force overtime.
“We let up,” Ohio State defensive lineman Will Smith said. “Everybody got complacent in this game when it was 24-7 in the fourth quarter. Everybody said, ‘Oh, this game’s over.”‘
Philip Rivers, who completed 36 of 52 passes for 315 yards and four touchdowns with two interceptions, led the charge. He found Jerricho Cotchery on a 9-yard score, A.J. Davis picked off Krenzel’s pass, and Adam Kiker kicked a 24-yard field goal with 5:51 left to cut the lead to 24-17.
North Carolina State pulled even on Rivers’ 5-yard scoring pass to T.J. Williams with 21 seconds left.
The Wolfpack won the coin flip and elected to play defense first. Ohio State needed four plays to score, with Krenzel connecting with Ben Hartsock on a 10-yard pass and Mike Nugent adding the first of two extra-point kicks in overtime.
The Wolfpack countered with a three-play scoring drive, with Rivers hitting Tramain Hall for the score on second-and-goal from the 17. Hall went high between Chris Gamble and Nate Salley, helicoptering to the ground after he was hit, but holding onto the ball. Kiker added the important point-after kick.
North Carolina State had the ball first in the second overtime, and scored in three plays on McLendon’s pitch-sweep around right end with Kiker converting the kick.
Krenzel, who completed 26 of 36 passes for 273 yards and career highs of four touchdowns and three interceptions, then found tight end Ryan Hamby over the middle on a 2-yard pass. Nugent’s extra point tied it at 38.
In the third overtime, Krenzel took a moment to speak to his teammates in the huddle.
“That’s one of the reasons we come here — it’s the tradition and the type of games you’re going to play in,” Krenzel said. “I brought that up and said, ‘Let’s go do our jobs.”‘
They did. On third-and-3 at the 7, Krenzel faked a handoff to Lydell Ross and found Michael Jenkins between two defenders. Teams are required to go for a 2-point conversion after the second overtime, and the Buckeyes failed to convert when Krenzel’s pass for Maurice Hall was batted down by linebacker Pat Thomas.
The Wolfpack benefited from Ohio State mistakes on their final possession. The Buckeyes — who had five turnovers and 129 penalty yards — were flagged for offsides, facemasking and defensive holding as the Wolfpack moved to a first down at the 4.
Rivers kept for 2 yards, then his pass for Hall was wide. Rivers picked up a half-yard on another keeper before both teams took timeouts to assess the fourth-down play from just outside the 1.
With four receivers split wide, McLendon took a pitch from Rivers and cut back off left tackle. He made contact with linebacker A.J. Hawk, but it was Allen’s shoulder that prevented him from tying the game.
“I just reacted to the football,” Allen said. “I had to get off of a block and had to stop him. It felt great to make the hit.”
The Wolfpack held the upper hand in first downs (28-15), yards (336-317) and had fewer turnovers (4-3) and penalty yards (129-46).
Rivers ended up setting Atlantic Coast Conference career records for passing yards, touchdowns and completions.
All he could think about, though, was the final play.
“This is the worst loss I’ve ever been through by far,” Rivers said. “You tie it up and you’re fighting and then you lose. It comes down to a few inches against a great team.”
