OSU-Michigan Game 3: Buckeyes Survive Injury Scare, win 28-7
This is a continuation of my friend, crazed-OSU fan THEbenbowser's, simulation of the OSU-Michigan match up (this weekend) on NCAA 2007 on his Xbox 360. We will be bringing you daily updates of each game, filled with highlights. Check back every day, for new games.
You can see the first game, second game and all the other games using the tag: 2006 OSU-Michigan.
Columbus, OH. – If there was ever a time to hear a pin drop amongst 106,000 people, it was during the second quarter at Ohio Stadium on Saturday. The throng of Buckeye faithful watched Ted Ginn slowly get up and leave the field after a kickoff return with what we'd later find was a bruised sternum. Troy Smith wouldn't let that affect him however, as he began marching his team down the field. On the 5th play of that drive Troy would scramble from a broken-down pocket and scamper 8 yards into Michigan territory before being tattooed by Michigan end Lamar Woodley. Smith laid on the field for several minutes before being helped to the locker room, while the Buckeye fans held their breath.
Brian Robiskie about to grab a touchdown pass.
It turns out the Buckeyes needn't worry as 5th year senior Justin Zwick came in and finished Troy's work, leading his team the rest of the way down the field to put the Buckeyes up 14-7. Tressel simplified the game plan without his Heisman front-runner, and Zwick handed off 3 times and Chris Wells broke 3 tackles on his way to a 20 yard score.
Troy Smith would return to open the 3rd quarter to a standing ovation. The emotion did little to shake off the cobwebs as the Buckeyes went 3-and-out to open the second half. Michigan would also go 3-and-out before the Buckeyes embarked on a clock-eating, ground-chewing drive for their final score. On the drive Antonio Pittman and Chris Wells split the duties, moving the chains repeatedly. Wells would end up with 42 yards on 9 carries and Pittman added 41 yards on 16 carries. Neither back was spectacular, but with the Buckeye line paving the way a little at a time, their efforts were monumental against the nation's best run defense.
"I'm disappointed," said Michigan defensive tackle Alan Branch, who finished with 3 tackles and a sack. "It didn't seem like they ever broke through on any one play, but they got just what they needed, when they needed it." Shawn Crable echoed the sentiment, "I'm not sure what we could have done better, except get a little more pressure on 10, he came up big on 3rd downs."
Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel was pleased with his star quarterback's performance. "I think Troy did a heck of a job out there. He took care of the football. He found his second and third receivers repeatedly. And when the protection broke down, he didn't panic." Smith would finish 7 of 12 with 154 yards passing and a touchdown. It was not his best day statistically, but it was perhaps his most satisfying victory during a storied career. "Any time you can go out and beat the number 2 team in the nation, you have to be happy," intoned Smith. When asked what he though of his Heisman chances Smith responded, "I can't worry about stuff like that when I'm in the huddle. I have to keep everyone loose. I have to make sure we're on the same page. So, I didn't throw for 300 yards, but we beat a great team and if that's important in the voters' minds, then maybe I'll do okay."
Mario Manningham goes over top of Malcolm Jenkins in the
In most people's minds, that trophy already has Smith's name on it. One person who would be glad to give it to him is Wolverine coach, Lloyd Carr. "Troy displays tremendous command on the field. I've never seen a quarterback so confident out there. No matter what we threw at him, we didn't seem to rattle him." When asked if he were happy that this was Smith's last game against the Wolverines, Carr couldn't help smiling a little as he answered, "Any time you see a young kid come so far, you want to wish him the best, especially at the next level."
Chris Wells breaks a tackle on the way to a score.
While much of the praise is heaped upon Smith, the young Buckeye defense continued their opportunistic efforts, adding another interception by Marcus Freeman, which he returned 25 yards for a score to close out the 1st half. "They've run those screens to Hart all year, I recognized it developing and put myself in position to make the play," said Freeman of his highlight. Being in position is a common theme for this Buckeye defense and it seems like its two leaders, Quinn Pitcock and James Laurinaitis were always in position to stop the Wolverine attack. Laurinaitis finished with 5 tackles, 2 tackles-for-loss and 1 pass defended, while Pitcock got in the backfield repeatedly with 2 tackles-for-loss, and 1 sack.
Marcus Freeman steps in front of Mike Hart for an interception.
The Buckeye depth helped them avoid a nightmare scenario when its most electric offensive stars went down in the second quarter. Fortunately, both returned and will help Ohio State on its quest to help the 5th year seniors bring a bookend national championship (though they didn't play, they were on the team in 2002) to Columbus.
Quinn Pitcock goes airborne for the sack on Chad Henne.
Comments
arno says:
these wins are so one sided, I refuse to believe there is any validity in this scenario at all - above and beyond it being a super gay time. Is Ben actually partaking in these games or simply setting it up and letting it loose? Did anyone see the Notre Dame/Mich game?
maybe its cause the UMich away uni's blow hard that "OSU" is handing it to them in such a manner.
Posted by: arno at November 15, 2006 5:05 PM #
susan says:
watch it there ARNO! You should never doubt OSU!! They are going big this weekend - one should never doubt our boy Troy!!
National Championship here we come!
Posted by: susan at November 15, 2006 5:09 PM #
sweetchuck says:
Yeah, I'm curious what settings thebenbowser is using when playing these, and how different it would be if he played against someone instead of the computer.
Posted by: sweetchuck at November 15, 2006 5:51 PM #
Brutus B says:
I farted on a Wolverine's head once.
Posted by: Brutus B at November 15, 2006 5:52 PM #
the grubbykid says:
Yeah - I wonder if he could do a computer-computer match up and see what would happen.
Posted by: the grubbykid at November 15, 2006 5:57 PM #
bigspang says:
For a "fair" analysis, check this out:
http://www.whatifsports.com/partners/fsn/osu_um.html
Looking bad for the blue...
Posted by: bigspang at November 15, 2006 6:10 PM #
Thebenbowser says:
I will not reveal my highly scientific computer simulation settings and formulas. I did actually spend the worst 2 hours of my life altering their depth chart to reflect scUM's actual personnel and defensive scheme.
Posted by: Thebenbowser at November 15, 2006 7:55 PM #
Brutus B says:
Wolverine cheerleaders are ugly.
Posted by: Brutus B at November 16, 2006 9:31 AM #
arno says:
Hey Susan, I wasn't cheering against OSU, just trying to remind other readers of how Mich has proven they are far better than what this video game is showing.
gosh
Posted by: arno at November 16, 2006 9:45 AM #
Brutus B says:
What kind of car does Jim Tressel drive?
A Lloyd Carr!!!!
Posted by: Brutus B at November 16, 2006 4:16 PM #
susan says:
BOOOOOO!!!! that joke sucked.
Posted by: susan at November 16, 2006 7:11 PM #
arno says:
BO SCHEMBECHLER DIED THIS MORNING
Posted by: arno at November 17, 2006 1:43 PM #
sweetchuck says:
Punk band The Dead Schembechlers have a concert in Columbus tonight. Start your conspiracy theories.
Posted by: sweetchuck at November 17, 2006 2:08 PM #
Post a comment
This is the permanent home of OSU-Michigan Game 3: Buckeyes Survive Injury Scare, win 28-7. I wrote this post at 16:21 on November 15, 2006. This post is part of grubbykid.com, a weblog. If you liked this entry, why don't you read some other posts such as OSU-Michigan Game 2: Wolverines Cannot Sustain Early Success in 31-7 final or Goodbye old Friend? Or you could go to the site archives or return home. All are good choices.
Remember this post with del.icio.us
Some descriptive tags for this entry are: OSU Michigan XBox games 2006OSU-Michigan simulation college football.
Mommy... what's a tag?
Some descriptive tags for this entry are: 2006 OSU-Michigan Game, college, football, games, Michigan, OSU, simulation, XBox.
Mommy... what's a tag?
