Actually, the Spartans never really got as close as the score would seem to indicate:
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -Comfortable was not quite comfortable enough for No. 1 Ohio State.
After building what seemed like an insurmountable cushion, the Buckeyes had a hard time holding on for a 24-17 win over Michigan State on Saturday.
Ohio State (8-0, 4-0 Big Ten) was ahead 24-0 late in the third quarter when in the span of four plays, Michigan State made it a 10-point game.
”When your foot is on that jugular, you have to kill that fool,” Buckeyes offensive tackle Kirk Barton said. ”You don’t just back off, let him stand up and punch you a couple of times and then knock him back down.”
The comeback started when Todd Boeckman flipped a pass under pressure that Otis Wiley picked off and returned 54 yards to put the Spartans on the board.
On the next series, a short run and two penalties gave the Buckeyes a first down at their own 15. Boeckman was sacked by Jonal Saint-Dic and fumbled, with linebacker SirDarean Adams swooping in to scoop up the ball and run 25 yards to make it 24-14.
Suddenly, a crowd of 105,287 was so silent you could hear a national championship trophy drop.
”It’s disappointing when you’re going along and your defense is pitching a shutout and you give up 14 points,” coach Jim Tressel said. ”I’m not happy that those 14 points count against our defense, the way it looks.”
But for those two defensive touchdowns by Michigan State, the score would’ve been 24-3 and it would’ve been another Ohio State blowout. But, it’s good enough for the Buckeyes to stay at No. 1 this week.
Next, up Penn State on the road next week.
