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Ohio State 25, Michigan 21, Smith’s 26-yard pass to González at UM’s 4 set up victory
By LARRY LAGE
AP Sports Writer

ANN ARBOR, MI (AP): Meeting for the 102^nd time, Ohio State overcame a slew of mistakes just in time to clinch a share of the Big Ten football title with Penn State, who defeated Michigan State in E. Lansing, 31 to 22.

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Antonio Pittman’s 3-yard run with 24 seconds left capped an 88-yard drive and gave the ninth-ranked Buckeyes a 25-21 win over No. 17 Michigan on Saturday.

Ohio State’s rank went to 7^th after this victory and Ohio State (9-2, 7-1) closed the regular season with six straight wins and gave coach Jim Tressel his fourth win in five games against Michigan (7-4, 5-3).

The Buckeyes rallied for the victory despite two turnovers and a shanked punt that led to UM scores, a missed extra point and field goal, mishandled punt returns and two pass interference penalties in the end zone.

Michigan was essentially playing mistake-free football when it led 21-12 midway through the fourth quarter before Ohio State quarterback Troy Smith rallied his team to a victory.

Smith’s 26-yard pass to Santonio Holmes made it 21-19 with 6:40 to go in the fourth quarter.

Michigan then drove to Ohio State’s 34 and chose to have Garrett Rivas pooch punt, instead of kicking a long field goal into the wind.

Smith’s 26-yard pass to González at UM’s 4 set up victory
Smith started the second scoring drive at the Buckeyes’ 12 with 4:18 left and made a series of clutch plays, including a 26-yard pass to Anthony González to Michigan’s 4, to set up Pittman’s winning TD.

In response, Michigan got to midfield, but its comeback hopes ended when receiver Tyler Ecker caught a short pass and tried to gain yards instead of running out of bounds.

As the final seconds ticked off the clock, the Buckeyes ran across the field and celebrated with their fans in the corner of Michigan Stadium.

Smith was 27-of-37 for 300 yards with a TD pass, and ran for 37 yards and a score, one year after his spectacular performance led Ohio State to a win over Michigan.

Pittman had 85 yards rushing and a TD. Ted Ginn Jr., who had trouble fielding punts, caught nine passes for 89 yards and Holmes had 72 yards receiving and a score.

Chad Henne, who had to throw because Michigan couldn’t run on Ohio State’s defense, was 25-of-36 for 223 yards and a TD. Steve Breaston had seven receptions for 53 yards.

Mike Hart, who aggravated an ankle injury early in the second half, was held to 15 yards rushing on nine carries and his replacement, Kevin Grady, ran for just 11 yards.
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Ohio State led 12-7 at halftime and probably would’ve held Michigan scoreless had Maurice Wells not fumbled—on his only carry—at the Buckeyes 36 early in the second quarter.

The Buckeyes outgained Michigan 200-103, but had to settle for two field goals in the first half.

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Early in the third quarter, Michigan’s LaMarr Woodley split two Buckeyes blockers and knocked the ball out of Smith’s hands to set up Rivas’ 27-yard field goal to make it 12-10.

Another Ohio State miscue, an 18-yard punt to its 37, helped Michigan take its first lead.

Grady’s 2-yard run, a play after a pass interference penalty in the end zone, and Hennes’ 2-point conversion run gave the Wolverines an 18-12 lead late in the third quarter.

Ohio State then put together its first solid drive of the half, but Josh Huston missed a 46-yard field goal.

On the ensuing possession, Henne’s sneak picked up a first down on a fourth-and-1 from Michigan’s 38. That gutsy call kept alive a drive that ended with Rivas’ 19-yard kick, giving the Wolverines a 21-12 lead with 7:49 left.

On a sunny, windy and crisp day, the Buckeyes were dominate early—and late.
Ohio State opened the game with an 80-yard, 13-play drive capped by Smith’s 4-yard run, then Huston missed his first extra point of the season.

Michigan drove to Ohio State’s 28 on the ensuing possession, but instead of attempting a field goal with the wind, it chose to go for it on a fourth-and-1 and Henne threw an incomplete pass.

Huston kicked a 47-yard field goal to give the Buckeyes a 9-0 lead on their second drive.

Wells’ fumble, caused by Pierre Woods and recovered by Gabe Watson, set up Michigan’s only score in the first half. One play after a pass interference penalty was called on third down, Jason Avant caught a 2-yard TD pass in the corner of the end zone.

Huston’s 25-yard kick with 23 seconds left in the half gave Ohio State a 12-7 lead, and its third score on four drives.

In the top right photo, L-R, Joemanuel L. Leal, Olga Flores-Atwater, Lupe Lizcano, Emiliano Costilla, and Carlos Carrillo of Latinos United celebrate the UM/OSU annual football game, while the Spanish American Organization celebrates at Lucille’s Diner & Saloon.