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Valley's Smith, Toussaint on the run for the Wolverines
By ED PUSKAS
Ann Arbor, Mich.
Michigan had done this before.
The Ohio State Buckeyes took unblemished records into its 1995 and ’96 games against their biggest rival and each time the Wolverines ruined their plans for perfection.
In 1995, Michigan running back Tshimanga “Tim” Biakabutuka had the game of his life, rushing 37 times for 313 yards — the most ever gained against Ohio State by one rusher — and the Wolverines upset the second-ranked Buckeyes, 31-23, in Ann Arbor.
A year later, Ohio State again entered The Game unbeaten and No. 2 in the nation. This time, Brian Griese and Tai Streets hooked up for a 68-yard touchdown strike early in the second half and Michigan did it again, this time 13-9.
Those games were a long time ago. The Wolverines couldn’t ruin another season for the Buckeyes, who entered Saturday’s game No. 3 in the BCS standings and with national championship hopes, could they?
Not with Ohio State a 14-point favorite, right?
“That’s why it’s a rivalry,” said Buckeyes starting center and Boardman High graduate Corey Linsley. “Everybody plays hard.”
Michigan almost did it again, thanks to a monster game from quarterback Devin Gardner and a solid, if not spectacular, supporting cast that included Mahoning Valley graduates Fitzgerald Toussaint and De’Veon Smith.
Gardner was 32 of 45 for 451 yards and four touchdowns — one each to Jeremy Gallon, Jake Butt, Drew Dileo and Devin Funches — and Toussaint and Smith had strong performances as part of the Wolverines’ backfield rotation, but this time Ohio State survived, 42-41.
The game came down to a two-point conversion attempt by Michigan (7-5, 3-5 Big Ten Conference) wth 32 seconds to play. Buckeyes defensive back Tyvis Powell stepped in front of Gardner’s pass — intended for Dileo — and made a game-saving interception.
There was no solace in almost pulling off another upset.
“I threw an interception that cost us the win,” said, Gardner, who also ran for a TD. “That’s what I will remember.”
Ohio State quarterback Braxton Miller, who ran for 153 yards and three touchdowns, will remember something else.”
“They never let up,” said Miller, who led the Buckeyes on a late touchdown drive that was capped by a 1-yard scoring run by Carlos Hyde.
Hyde ran for 226 yards on 27 carries. His late TD atoned for an earlier fumble that allowed Michigan to tie it at 35 on a Gardner-to-Butt touchdown pass with 5:01 to play.
Smith, a Howland High graduate and true freshman, led Michigan with 57 yards on seven carries. He had a 38-yard run to Ohio State’s 22-yard line in the third quarter, but the drive stalled and the Wolverines turned the ball over on downs at the 14. Smith was named the 2012 Trumbull County Player of the Year after his final season at Howland.
Toussaint, a fifth-year senior and the 2008 Trumbull County Player of the Year at Liberty High, played at the Big House for the last time. He rushed for 33 yards on five carries, including a 4-yard touchdown in the first half. Toussaint also caught four passes for 48 yards, including a 29-yard catch and run on a screen to set up the Wolverines’ final score.
Smith and Toussaint were not made available for postgame interviews.