Michigan
7-4 , 5-3
Ohio State
9-2 , 7-1
Michigan Knocked Out of Title Picture by Buckeyes Rally
11/19/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The 17th-ranked University of Michigan football team fell short in the final minutes Saturday (Nov. 19) against the No. 9 Ohio State Buckeyes, falling 25-21 in front of 111,591 fans at Michigan Stadium. On its final possession, Ohio State drove 88 yards on 12 plays for the game-winning score, a three-yard touchdown run by Antonio Pittman with 24 seconds remaining. The Wolverines could not come back in the waning seconds of the game as time ran out with Michigan at its own 42-yard line.
| | Gabe Watson's recovery of a second-quarter fumble forced by Pierre Woods (99) set up Michigan's first touchdown. |
Defensively for the Wolverines, junior linebacker LaMarr Woodley (Saginaw, Mich./Saginaw HS) forced a fumble and made four tackles, and junior linebacker Prescott Burgess (Warren, Ohio/Warren G. Harding HS) added 10 stops for the Maize and Blue. Fifth-year cornerback Grant Mason (Pontiac, Mich./Orchard Lake St. Mary's) and junior cornerback Leon Hall (Vista, Calif./Vista HS) combined for 14 tackles in the secondary.
Ohio State gained an early 6-0 lead at 8:44 in the first quarter as quarterback Troy Smith rumbled into the end zone from four yards out. The Buckeyes drove 80 yards in 13 plays, with tailback Pittman rushing five times for 24 yards. Receiver Ted Ginn Jr. added two receptions for 27 yards as Smith completed 5-of-6 passes on the drive for 61 yards. Kicker Josh Huston failed to convert the extra point attempt.
The Wolverines' unsuccessful fourth-and-one attempt killed an 11-play, 57-yard drive following the OSU score. Henne connected with five different receivers for 56 yards, including a 13-yard completion to freshman wide receiver Mario Manningham (Warren, Ohio/Warren G. Harding HS) on third-and-six that sparked Michigan's opening possession.
The Buckeyes extended their lead to 9-0 on the foot of Huston, who connected on a 47-yard field goal with 12:49 left in the second quarter. Smith went 5-of-6 on the drive, but Marcel Frost was stopped short on third-and-nine by junior safety Brandent Englemon (Covington, Ky./Holmes HS), forcing the field goal attempt.
Michigan capitalized on Ohio State's first turnover of the afternoon, as Henne connected with Avant for a two-yard touchdown pass with 5:18 remaining in the first half. The Wolverines gained excellent field position on the Buckeyes' 36-yard line following a fumble recovery by senior defensive lineman Gabe Watson (Novi, Mich./Southfield HS). Henne found Breaston on consecutive third downs to keep the chains moving during the drive. Breaston produced three catches for 16 yards in total.
OSU threatened late in the half but failed to convert a third-and-six from the U-M eight-yard line. The Buckeyes had to settle for a 25-yard Huston field goal with just 25 seconds remaining in the first half. Ohio State kept the drive alive as Smith completed a 23-yard pass to Ginn on third-and-nine from the OSU 47, but Smith failed to convert on a third-and-six pass later in the drive to Anthony Gonzalez. The score was the last of the first half, as Michigan entered the locker room down 12-7.
For the second time in the game Michigan started with excellent field position following a Buckeye fumble, which resulted in a 27-yard field goal by junior kicker Garrett Rivas (Tampa, Fla./Jesuit). The field goal cut the Ohio State lead to 12-10 five minutes into the second half (10:01). The Wolverines gained possession on a Smith fumble, forced by Woodley and recovered by sophomore Alan Branch (Rio Rancho, N.M./Cibola HS) at the OSU 20-yard line. Following the fumble, Henne found fifth-year tight end Tim Massaquoi (Allenstown, Pa./Parkland HS) on first down for 13 yards.
After a drive by both teams, the Wolverines were forced to punt, but Ginn's mishandling of senior Ross Ryan's (Franklin, Mich./Brother Rice) kick forced the Buckeyes back to their 13-yard line. Ginn fielded two punt returns on the day for a total of -26 yards. The Buckeyes failed to move the ball, forcing them to punt, but A.J. Trapasso's punt went just 18 yards to the Ohio State 37-yard line.
Following the punt, the Wolverines took their first lead of the ballgame on a two-yard touchdown run by Grady. Henne completed the two-point conversion on a quarterback draw, snaring an 18-12 lead with 1:20 left in the third quarter. With two catches, Breaston accounted for 20 yards on the drive.
The Buckeyes failed to trim the Michigan lead, missing a 46-yard field goal attempt with 12:02 remaining in the contest. The drive began at Ohio State's 26-yard line and ended at the U-M 29, where Huston was forced into his field goal attempt.
Michigan responded and increased its lead to 21-12 on a 19-yard Rivas field goal. Two key plays contributed to the 11-play, 69-yard drive -- a Henne two-yard sneak on fourth-and-one, and a 38-yard reception by Manningham that placed the ball at the OSU nine-yard line.
The Buckeyes pulled to within two, 21-19, with 6:40 left in the game on a 26-yard touchdown pass from Smith to receiver Santonio Holmes. The drive, which started at the Ohio State 33-yard line, was aided by a 27-yard completion from Smith to Gonzalez matched with a 14-yard Smith scramble.
Ohio State was able to contain the Michigan offense on the Wolverines' next possession, with only two plays gaining positive yardage. The Buckeyes received the ball with 4:17 left, setting up the deciding scoring drive.
Contact: David Ablauf, Jim Schneider (734) 763-4423
Team Stats
OSU 6, MICH 0
OSU - Smith, Troy 4 yd run (Huston, Josh kickfailed), 13 plays, 80 yards, TOP 6:16
OSU 9, MICH 0
OSU - Huston, Josh 47 yd field goal 11 plays, 42 yards, TOP 5:12
OSU 9, MICH 7
MICH - Avant, Jason 2 yd pass from Henne, Chad (Rivas, Garrett kick) 9 plays, 36 yards, TOP 3:25
OSU 12, MICH 7
OSU - Huston, Josh 25 yd field goal 12 plays, 72 yards, TOP 4:55
OSU 12, MICH 10
MICH - Rivas, Garrett 27 yd field goal 5 plays, 10 yards, TOP 2:19
OSU 12, MICH 18
MICH - Grady, Kevin 2 yd run (Henne, Chad rush), 4 plays, 37 yards, TOP 1:46
OSU 12, MICH 21
MICH - Rivas, Garrett 19 yd field goal 11 plays, 69 yards, TOP 4:13
OSU 19, MICH 21
OSU - Holmes, S 26 yd pass from Smith, Troy (Huston, Josh kick) 5 plays, 67 yards, TOP 1:09
OSU 25, MICH 21
OSU - Pittman, A 3 yd run (Smith, Troy passintercepted), 12 plays, 88 yards, TOP 3:54
