BIG TEN Nugent's nugget gives OSU a victory

He tied a stadium record with a 55-yard field goal on the final play.
By JOHN BASSETTI
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
COLUMBUS -- Senior Mike Nugent wasn't taking the full credit following his game-winning field goal that lifted Ohio State over Marshall at Ohio Stadium Saturday afternoon.
"I just did a job when called upon," the All-America senior kicker said of his 55-yard field goal that gave OSU a 24-21 win as time ran out.
The breathtaking kick before a crowd of 104,622 lifted the Buckeyes to 2-0 while Marshall fell to 0-2.
Following the game, Nugent didn't hesitate to spread the glory.
"Justin came up to congratulate me after the kick and I told him, 'Thanks,' " Nugent said of quarterback Justin Zwick. "He didn't know what I was talking about. I told him it was thanks for getting the ball down the field. I tell the guys, if you get us down the field and we don't get six out of it, at least we'll get three."
Out of timeouts and pushed back to the 37-yard line by an illegal shift penalty, Ohio State set up for its last-ditch try in regulation.
Solid contact
With Kyle Turano holding at Marshall's 45-yard line, the 5-foot-10, 180-pound Nugent said he made solid contact.
He said he watched the ball fade in, then out, then in again as the it cleared the left upright by inches.
"I think I wished it back inside," he said of the final direction along the kick's path.
It tied an Ohio Stadium record for longest field goal.
"I was confident," Coach Jim Tressel said of the game on the line with Nugent at bat.
"We've put him in that position many times in kick scrimmages."
Another win
For Tressel, it was another close call. The fourth-year coach is 16-5 in games decided by a touchdown or less.
Leading at the half, 21-14, Ohio State went scoreless in the third quarter while Marshall tied it, 21-21, with 8:40 remaining. A lost fumble and two interceptions gave the Buckye faithful reason to get antsy as the minutes ticked away.
As is customary, OSU dodged a bullet when Marshall kicker Ian O'Connor missed a 35-yard field goal try at 3:17. Although the Buckeyes didn't take advantage immediately, OSU eventually got the ball back when its defense stuffed the Thundering Herd. Plus, O'Connor had a 26-yard punt that gave the Buckeyes final possession at their own 45.
Marshall tied Ohio State twice in the first half at 7-7 and 14-14. The Buckeyes snapped the second tie after a quick series that concluded with Roy Hall's first career touchdown. The 6-3, 228-pound sophomore caught a 20-yard TD pass from Zwick with 3:13 remaining in the first half. The Buckeyes' drive covered 80 yards in eight plays with four of the passes going to Santonio Holmes, who picked up 53 yards. Holmes finished the half with seven catches for 199 yards and ended the game with 10 catches for 218. He was taken from the field with an injury early in the second half, but returned.
Holmes, a 5-11, 185 sophomore flanker, got the OSU on the scoreboard first when he hauled in an 80-yard touchdown pass from Zwick. The pass tied for third-longest for Ohio State. On the catch, Holmes looked over his shoulder and took it in at the Buckeyes' 49-yard line. He continued 51 more yards to the end zone. Nugent's point-after kick made it 7-0 until Marshall's Earl Charles knotted the score at 5:31 of the first quarter when he ran from 2 yards out.
Ohio State went ahead, 14-7, just before the first period concluded when Zwick, again, found Holmes darting downfield on a slant pattern. The touchdown pass covered 47 yards.
Defensive touchdown
The Thundering Herd got right back in the game when defensive end Jonathan Goddard recovered Lydell Ross' fumble and returned it 20 yards. O'Connor's PAT tied the score at 14-14 at 5:36 of the second quarter.
Roy Hall's touchdown gave OSU some breathing room headed into the locker room with a 21-14 advantage.
In the half, Ohio State had 255 yards in the air and 24 on the ground while Marshall had 83 passing and 58 rushing.
Zwick completed 10 of 18 with no interceptions, while his counterpart, Stan Hill, was 14 of 20.
Ross' 13 first-half carries netted 35 yards. The tailback finished with 97 yards on 24 tries.
For the game, Zwick had 318 yards on 18 of 30, but was picked off twice.
Marshall7707--21
Ohio St.14703--24
First Quarter
OSU--Holmes 80 pass from Zwick (Nugent kick), 9:52
Mar--Charles 2 run (O'Connor kick), 5:31
OSU--Holmes 47 pass from Zwick (Nugent kick), :18
Second Quarter
Mar--Goddard 27 fumble return (O'Connor kick), 5:36
OSU--R.Hall 20 pass from Zwick (Nugent kick), 3:13
Fourth Quarter
Mar--Bates 23 pass from Hill (O'Connor kick), 8:40
OSU--FG Nugent 55, :00
A--104,622.
MarOSU
First downs1915
Rushes-yards44-15026-79
Passing140318
Comp-Att-Int22-35-018-33-2
Return Yards10539
Punts-Avg.9-42.67-42.0
Fumbles-Lost1-02-2
Penalties-Yards7-436-38
Time of Possession35:4324:17
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING--Marshall, Bradshaw 17-77, Charles 16-72, Morris 1-15, Gochneaur 1-5, Fitzgerald 1-3, O'Connor 1-(minus 2), Team 2-(minus 3), Hill 5-(minus 17). Ohio St., Ross 24-90, T.Smith 1-0, Zwick 1-(minus 11).
PASSING--Marshall, Hill 22-34-0-140, Morris 0-1-0-0. Ohio St., Zwick 18-30-2-318, T.Smith 0-2-0-0, Team 0-1-0-0.
RECEIVING--Marshall, Spann 7-39, J.Davis 5-34, Bates 3-29, Charles 3-19, Fitzgerald 3-16, Deifel 1-3. Ohio St., Holmes 10-218, R.Hall 3-38, Ross 2-27, Childress 1-20, Ginn Jr. 1-10, Hamby 1-5.
bassetti@vindy.com