Ginn leads Buckeyes past Mich. State

EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) -- Add another name to the list of true freshmen having sensational seasons.
Ted Ginn Jr. had three touchdowns -- on a run, catch and punt return -- and Ohio State rallied by scoring the last 15 points in a 32-19 victory over Michigan State on Saturday.
"It's kind of odd because I told my coach [Darrell Hazell] during practice Wednesday that I was going to try to get three touchdowns," Ginn said. "Hey, it happened."
Ginn caught four passes for 77 yards, including a 58-yard reception with 1:37 remaining, in a game of scoring streaks. He also had a 17-yard TD on a reverse and scored on a 60-yard punt return that gave Ohio State a 17-0 lead.
"It's a simple game," Ohio State coach Jim Tressel said. "Just look under the category that says Ginn."
Hawk seals verdict
A.J. Hawk's diving interception at midfield with 45 seconds remaining sealed the outcome for the Buckeyes (6-3, 3-3 Big Ten) and made them eligible for a bowl. Maurice Hall scored on a 51-yard run with 25 seconds to go.
"When 11 games are over, you get what you deserve," Tressel said. "The rules say you've got to win six. So, we're going to get a bowl, let's see what we deserve after 11 games. We're not going to worry about it now."
Perhaps more than any team, the Spartans (4-5, 3-3) know 17-point margins are not safe.
Dave Rayner's 29-yard field goal gave Michigan State a 19-17 lead with 3:06 left after trailing Ohio State by 17. Last week, the Spartans blew a 27-10 fourth-quarter lead in a triple-overtime loss at Michigan.
After Rayner's fourth field goal, Troy Smith connected with Ginn on a short pass over the middle and the speedy receiver sprinted for the go-ahead TD.
The Spartans had a chance to come back again, but Hawk's pick along the sideline handed them their second straight demoralizing loss and hurt their chances of playing in a bowl. Because Michigan State has 12 scheduled games, it has to beat Wisconsin and win on the road against Penn State and Hawaii to earn a bowl bid.
Coach walks out of conference
Following the game, John L. Smith was more angry than he's been in his two seasons as Michigan State's coach. Smith made a brief statement and after bristling at one question, he walked out of his news conference.
"Coaches deserve the credit for this loss, not the kids," Smith said.
Ohio State's Troy Smith was 13-of-21 for 138 yards and a TD, and ran for 34 yards. Hall ran for 83 yards and a TD on 11 carries. Playing for Drew Stanton, out with a separated shoulder, Damon Dowdell was 29-of-46 for 262 yards with a TD and three interceptions.
"It's frustrating, really frustrating," Dowdell said. "I'm just so lost because we're not finishing games."
Ohio State started and finished strong.
The Buckeyes were ahead 17-0 with 2:50 to go in the first quarter after Ginn scored two TDs -- on a punt return and a reverse -- in 88 seconds midway through the quarter and Mike Nugent made a 53-yard field goal.
Spartans came back
Just when it seemed as if the Spartans still were thinking about the agonizing defeat, they came back.
On the ensuing drive, Dowdell's 8-yard pass to Jerramy Scott capped a 15-play, 86-yard possession. Rayner's 27-yard kick on the next drive and 44-yard field goal late in the second quarter made it 17-13.
After Lydell Ross fumbled in the third quarter, Rayner's 53-yard kick pulled Michigan State within a point. The field goal also broke John Langeloh's school record for points and field goals.
Ginn, who has six touchdowns in the last five games, broke an Ohio State single-season record with his third punt return for a score and tied the mark Jeff Graham and Garcia Lane set during their careers.
Ohio State170015--32
Michigan State01333--19
First Quarter
OSU--Ginn 17 run (Nugent kick), 9:43.
OSU--Ginn 60 punt return (Nugent kick), 8:15.
OSU--FG Nugent 53, 2:50.
Second Quarter
MSU--Scott 8 pass from Dowdell (Rayner kick), 13:13.
MSU--FG Rayner 27, 7:11.
MSU--FG Rayner 44, 1:08.
Third Quarter
MSU--FG Rayner 53, 7:54.
Fourth Quarter
MSU--FG Rayner 29, 3:06.
OSU--Ginn 58 pass from Smith (Smith run), 1:37.
OSU--Hall 51 run (Nugent kick), :25.
A--72,222.
OSUMSU
First downs1222
Rushes-yards35-16934-145
Passing138262
Comp-Att-Int13-21-029-46-3
Return Yards12946
Punts-Avg.7-445-47
Fumbles-Lost1-10-0
Penalties-Yards7-506-60
Time of Possession30:0729:53
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING--Ohio State, Hall 11-83, Smith 13-34, Ross 7-26, Ginn 2-21, Joe 1-5, Johnson 1-0. Michigan State, Teague 11-69, Caulcrick 9-33, Dowdell 8-32, Cobb 6-11.
PASSING--Ohio State, Smith 13-21-0-138. Michigan State, Dowdell 29-46-3-262.
RECEIVING--Ohio State, Ginn 4-77, Holmes 4-41, Gonzalez 1-11, Johnson 1-5, Joe 1-3, Hall 1-1, Lyons 1-0. Michigan State, Alexander 4-56, Shabaj 4-49, Trannon 4-35, Scott 4-32, Teague 4-30, Love 4-5, Brown 2-37, Randall 2-12, Caulcrick 1-6.