OSU FOOTBALL Allen's 'bit role' plays big for Buckeyes

The "Nickle" defensive back made two key interceptions to keep the team unbeaten.
COLUMBUS (AP) -- Will Allen has never started a college football game yet made two of the biggest plays in Ohio State's 13-0 march to the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl.
The Buckeyes' version of Forrest Gump seems to jump from one chance encounter to another that somehow ends up featured on SportsCenter.
It was Allen -- the fifth man in a four-man secondary -- who caught interceptions on the final plays against Cincinnati and Michigan to keep the second-ranked Buckeyes perfect and on the road for a showdown with No. 1 Miami on Jan. 3 in Tempe, Ariz.
"It couldn't be any more perfect," Allen said, a reference to one of those interceptions that also could apply to his unforgettable season.
A bit player in his two previous seasons with the Buckeyes, he became the team's nickel back this year -- coming on the field in obvious passing situations to give Ohio State an extra defensive back.
In the game at Cincinnati, the Buckeyes had already dodged a couple of close calls when Bearcats receivers dropped two touchdown passes in the final minute.
Big play against Bearcats
On the game's final play on fourth and 10 from the Ohio State 15, Cincinnati quarterback Gino Guidugli dropped back and rocketed a pass over the middle. Linebacker Matt Wilhelm got a hand on it, and the ball ricocheted wildly to Allen, who caught it with 32 seconds left to preserve a 23-19 victory.
"Realistically, it was all or nothing," Wilhelm said.
Allen wanted to keep the ball.
"I was almost to the sideline and the ref said, 'Come here, give me the ball,' " Allen said with a laugh. "I tried to keep it, but he took it out of my hand real quick."
In the regular season finale against rival Michigan, just one second remained as quarterback John Navarre broke the huddle and walked to the line of scrimmage at the Ohio State 24 with the Buckeyes leading 14-9. Allen had been inserted because the Wolverines were forced to go to the air for the potential winning score.
"I saw a receiver [Braylon Edwards] break at the 5-yard line toward the end zone on a little post pattern," Allen recalled. "As soon as he broke, that's when Navarre tried to gun it in there.
"As soon as he threw it, I broke. I just put my hands up and caught it."
Gave ball to mother
Bedlam ensued. Allen was mobbed by teammates and then slid out from beneath the churning pile of humanity. He slowly pushed his way through a throng of well-wishers to the first row of seats behind the team bench where his mother and father, Monica and Keith Allen, were grinning.
"I just ran over to my mom and handed her the ball," he said. "She was crying and I gave her a big hug and just told her, 'Thank you. Thank you for being here.' "
The big plays, however, didn't surprise Allen or his teammates.
"When I have taken him home after some of the away games, he was like, 'Man, I'm going to make a big play,' " linebacker Cie Grant said. "He's made two very, very big plays this season. The interception against Michigan is probably the biggest play up to this point in his career."
Ohio State has its share of defensive stars. Wilhelm and safety Mike Doss were first-team All-Americans, and cornerback/wide receiver Chris Gamble was a third-team pick.
But it is players who know their role -- sometimes in the supporting cast -- who are a large reason why Ohio State finds itself playing in the ultimate game.
"It's not a very difficult defense to learn, but you have to be very disciplined for it to be successful," Allen said. "That's what the coaches preach a lot: discipline, discipline, discipline."