Monday, October 31, 2005
Ohio State's offense came alive at the right time. MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Ohio State's offense has been a bit of a work in progress this season, but the Buckeyes have found their rhythm at the right time. Whether it was Antonio Pittman racing through the line, Troy Smith throwing pinpoint passes or Santonio Holmes, Ted Ginn Jr. and Anthony Gonzalez catching them and speeding up the field, Ohio State was too much for Minnesota to handle on Saturday in a 45-31 victory. "We felt going into the Big Ten season if we could evolve to the fact where we always had a 100-yard back, then we could probably spread the ball around enough to have a good offense," Buckeyes coach Jim Tressel said. "We're starting to get consistent with that." Runner's best game Pittman rushed for a career-high 186 yards and scored his first two touchdowns of the year, both in the second half. Smith completed 14 of 20 passes for 233 yards and three scores, two to Holmes and one to Gonzalez. Ginn's big contribution was a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. The Buckeyes (6-2, 4-1), who moved up to No. 12 in the latest Associated Press poll, stayed in step with Penn State and Wisconsin in the crowded conference race. The Badgers and Nittany Lions play next week in Happy Valley, and Ohio State hosts lowly Illinois. Suddenly, that 17-10 loss to Penn State on Oct. 8 doesn't look so devastating. "Coming into this week, we felt real good," Gonzalez said. "Our spirits were high, and we knew that if we win out we can still be co-Big Ten champions. Everyone is focused on that goal." A concern If there's something to be concerned about, it's the defense. Minnesota totaled 578 yards against what was the conference leader -- not to mention the best unit in the nation against the run -- coming into the game. That was the second-most yards allowed in Buckeyes history. But Ohio State came through when it had to. Laurence Maroney, the Big Ten's leading rusher, was limited to 13 second-half yards and a lost fumble. He was stopped on fourth-and-2 by Mike Kudla in the third quarter with the Buckeyes clinging to a 24-17 lead -- the turning point in this wild game. The fans wearing scarlet and gray in the northwest corner of the upper deck began chanting, "Let's go, Bucks!" Pittman and Smith then led a drive for the clinching score -- a 27-yard pass from Smith to Gonzalez.