Pryor engagement: Bucks bounce Badgers

The freshman QB scored with less than 2 minutes left in the 20-17 win.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Terrelle Pryor ran for an 11-yard touchdown with 1:08 left and Chris “Beanie” Wells had 168 yards rushing and a score as Ohio State’s new double-threat backfield led the 14th-ranked Buckeyes to a 20-17 victory over No. 18 Wisconsin on Saturday.

The last time the Buckeyes (4-1, 2-0 Big Ten) played a marquee game under the lights, they got pounded by Southern California last month. Wells didn’t play in that game and Pryor, the talented freshman, wasn’t the starter.

With Wells healthy and Pryor getting comfortable at quarterback, Ohio State looks like a much different team.

The 19-year-old Pryor kept his poise, leading Ohio State on two fourth-quarter scoring drives, snapping Wisconsin’s 16-game home winning streak that evened coach Jim Tressel’s record to 3-3 against the Badgers (3-2, 0-2).

Pryor did it on the game-winning drive both through the air and on the ground.

Trailing 17-13, Pryor twice found trusted receiver Brian Hartline for big gains, even though Hartline fumbled on the second completion for 27 yards and needed teammate Brian Robiske’s recovery to keep possession at the Wisconsin 35.

Wells, who has been wearing a lineman’s shoe to protect his injured foot, gained 13 yards on three carries, and Pryor added another first down on a third-and-1 sneak from the 15 with under 2 minutes to play.

Pryor, who finished with 144 yards passing and 20 yards rushing, then ran an option with Wells flared out wide. But he chose to keep it himself and reached the end zone after Wisconsin’s defense looked confused by the formation.

Wisconsin quarterback Allan Evridge, who needed to play efficiently to give the Badgers a chance, committed his second turnover when Malcolm Jenkins intercepted his pass to seal the game with 53 seconds left.

Pryor, who made his share of head-scratching freshman plays and refused to throw a pass away when under duress, moved the Buckeyes in position to take its first lead since the first half, settling for Ryan Pretorius’ 34-yard field goal with just under 11 minutes to play to make it 13-10.