Buckeyes squander crucial opportunity

Ohio State had a chance to tie the game at 28 early in the fourth quarter.
By PETE MOLLICA
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Senior quarterback Craig Krenzel sat out just about 11 minutes of Saturday's Big Ten showdown between Ohio State and Michigan.
But, according to the 6-foot-4, 225-pound Michigan native, the most crucial point in the contest happened when he couldn't do anything about it.
The Buckeyes, who trailed 21-0 in the first half and 28-7 in the second half, had just battled back to within seven points, 28-21, with 13:53 remaining in the game.
On the next Michigan series, the Buckeyes came up with their first big defensive play of the game as Chris Gamble intercepted Michigan's John Navarre at the OSU 37 yard line.
The momentum was beginning to swing.
But the Buckeyes, behind senior backup quarterback Scott McMullen, went three downs and out on that crucial series and the Wolverines scored their fifth touchdown on their next possession to put the game away.
Turning point
"That was the turning point in the game," said Krenzel, who left the contest with four minutes remaining in the third period with a slightly separated left shoulder.
"It could have been the turning point for us, but we just didn't respond," he said.
"The biggest thing all day was that we could not do what we needed to do," he added. "For the first 25 minutes we had no success running the ball and once we got behind it was just trying to play catch-up.
The crucial series that cost the Buckeyes a chance at a Big Ten championship and a possible chance at defending their national championship, started at their own 37-yard line with 13:17 remaining in the contest.
On first down, McMullen threw an incomplete pass, then tailback Lydell Ross ran for just 1 yard. On third down, McMullen sacked for a 2-yard loss.
"I probably would like to have that third down call over again," said OSU coach Jim Tressel. "I didn't put our guys in a very good position."
Back to Krenzel
Tressel went back to Krenzel with 7:50 remaining in the contest, but he threw three incomplete passes, one of which was dropped, before the Buckeyes punted the ball away.
Tressel said he wasn't sure why he went back to Krenzel.
"I guess you could call it loyalty, but sometimes you have to make decisions that you feel is the right one and at that time I though it was the right thing to do," Tressel said.
Tressel said it was disappointing not winning the school's first outright Big Ten championship since 1984, when he was an assistant coach for the Buckeyes under Earle Bruce.
"Winning the Big Ten has always been our primary goal and it still remains a goal of ours," he added.
Tressel praised the Wolverines.
"When you have good run-pass balance you can seize the tempo of the game," he said. "They [Michigan] did that and they put up some points in the process."