'Fortunate' win gives OSU hope

The Buckeyes' 35-24 win over MSU kept them in the thick of the Big Ten race.
COLUMBUS (AP) -- Michigan State did its part to help Ohio State. The Buckeyes did the rest.
The Spartans made a mess of a field-goal attempt late in the first half, leading to a momentum-swinging Ohio State touchdown in the Buckeyes' 35-24 win on Saturday.
"We are kind of fortunate," said Ohio State quarterback Troy Smith, who threw three long touchdown passes and ran for the clinching score. "But within the team concept I think we can only worry about working hard and getting a win."
The victory kept Ohio State in the thick of the Big Ten race. Unbeaten Penn State's last-second loss at Michigan clogged the top of the standings. The Nittany Lions (6-1, 3-1), Wisconsin (6-1, 3-1), Iowa (5-2, 3-1), Northwestern (4-2, 2-1) and the Buckeyes (4-2, 2-1) are in a virtual dead heat for the lead. Minnesota (5-2, 2-2), Michigan (4-3, 2-2) and Michigan State (4-2, 1-2) need help to remain in the title mix.
"Today was a big, big win for us," wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr. said.
Botched FG opens door
Michigan State, leading 17-7 and in control, botched a 35-yard field goal attempt in the waning seconds of the first half, opening the door for the Buckeyes. Some of the Spartans thought John Goss was coming on to kick a field goal, some thought the Spartans were going to spike the ball to kill the clock so they could take more time to set up for the kick.
"Nobody knew what was going on," quarterback Drew Stanton said. "That was part of the problem. Our left side of the offensive line thought we were spiking the ball so they just stood there."
Ohio State safety Nate Salley skirted the end unimpeded and blocked Goss' kick. Cornerback Ashton Youboty raced in to pick up the loose ball and then sprinted untouched for a 72-yard touchdown as the half ended.
The game tilted in Ohio State's direction.
"We're only three points down and we probably don't deserve it," Ohio State coach Jim Tressel said.
Spartans coach John L. Smith said his coaching staff was to blame for the confusion.
"It was a mess -- a total mess," he said. "That's a coaching blunder."
The Buckeyes went into the locker room trailing 17-14 and didn't let the gift touchdown go to waste.
Smith connects for TDs
Ohio State's Smith, who had earlier hit Santonio Holmes for a 51-yard score, tossed TD passes of 57 yards to Ginn and 46 yards to Holmes in the second half as the Buckeyes took a 28-24 lead. Smith added a late 1-yard touchdown run to lock up the win.
Smith's 46-yarder to Holmes -- Holmes caught the ball at the 30 and squirmed out of a tackle before bolting down the sideline for the score -- came with 4:56 left. Incredibly, it was Ohio State's first play in Michigan State territory.
Ohio State's defense set a school record by sacking Stanton 12 times for 58 yards in losses. Bobby Carpenter led the way with four sacks and 27 yards in losses, with David Patterson adding three sacks. All-American linebacker A.J. Hawk finished with 19 tackles.
"Our defense just kept coming after them," Tressel said.
Stanton completed 26 of 36 passes for 340 yards and a touchdown, despite all that harassment.
The Buckeyes defense came up big when needed. The Spartans finished with 27 first downs and 456 total yards, but mustered just four first downs and 70 yards in the fourth quarter.
Erasing the pain of a 17-10 loss at Penn State a week earlier, the Buckeyes are looking ahead.