Football
Buckeyes Hang on to Escape Illinois with Narrow 17-10 Win
By John Porentas

For a just over half the game the No. 1 Buckeyes (10-0, 6-0 Big Ten) played like a number one team, but when the fourth quarter rolled around, it was the fighting Illini of Illinois (2-8, 1-5 Big Ten) that looked like a dominant team. Illinois came within an eyelash of taking the Buckeyes to overtime, but in the end could not overcome a 17-0 first half deficit and OSU limped home to claim a 17-10 Big Ten road win to remain undefeated on the season with just two regular-season games left to play.

Through three quarters the Buckeyes were dominating on the scoreboard and on the stat sheet. OSU led 17-0 thanks to 17 first-half points and had outgained the Illini 204 total yards to just 100. Freshman tailback Chris Wells had scored on two yard run to cap an 80 yard, 14 play drive on the opening kickoff, and Antonio Pittman went one yard for a touchdown to score after an Illinois turnover had set up the OSU offense just 38 yards from paydirt. Buckeye kicker Aaron Pettry added a 50 yard field goal to put OSU up 17-0, but despite their lead and statistical dominance, the Buckeyes were showing some vulnerability. Freshman tailback Chris Wells fumbled the ball for a turnover on a play on which he did not appear to get hit. Wells simple dropped the football out in the open field ending what looked like a promising drive at the Illinois 36-yard line.

The Buckeyes seemed to pick up where they had left off when the second half began. The OSU defense forced a three-and-out on the first series of the half. On the ensuing possession OSU stalled at the Illinois 31, but punter A. J. Trapasso booted one out of bounds at the Illinois three-yard line to apparently put the Illini in world of hurt. The Illini, however, were not about to fold their tents.

Illinois was able to turn that field position around in the remainder of the third period and while doing so keep the Buckeyes off the scoreboard. The Illini, who had not crossed the 50-yard line all day, did so when a 31 yard A. J. Trapasso punt went out of bounds on the OSU 47-yard line. The Illini marched 37 yards to the OSU 10 where they finally ran out of downs and settled for a 27 yard field goal that not only put them on the scoreboard but was the first inclining that they were beginning to take command of the game.

"I thought we had the tempo of the game pretty well in hand through the first two series of the third quarter," said OSU Head Coach Jim Tressel.

The Buckeye offense had struggled in the third quarter, but had avoided the big mistake. Following the Illinois field goal however, OSU quarterback Troy Smith made the big mistake when he tossed an interception allowing Illinois to take possession on their own 35-yard line.

"We were up at halftime and came out and stopped them right away and moved the ball down the field and didn't finish that drive and really from that point on lost a grip on the momentum and didn't create any momentum," Tressel said.

Illinois could not capitalize immediately when on the very first play James Laurinaitis intercepted pass to give the ball back to the Buckeyes. That stemmed the tide, but the Illini were pumped up after creating the OSU turnover.

The Illinois defense came onto the field following that turnover to force a three-and-out, and following another Trapasso punt, the Illini drove 80 yards for a touchdown to cut OSU's lead to 17-10 with 1:40 remaining on the clock.

Illinois' only hope was an onside kick, and the Illini nearly got the play they needed. Their onside kick went through the hands of safety Brandon Mitchell and bounced around for the taking, but when the dust settled, OSU sophomore wide receiver ended up with the football to all but end the game. The Buckeyes were able to run three plays to run the game clock down under 30 seconds, then Trapasso punted for 55 yards down to the three-yard line with just four seconds left on the clock. A desperation pass completion ended the game with the Illini on their own 19-yard line.

"The first thing that I saw was that they were lining up to kick to our side," said Robiske.

"Brandon was right in front of me and I saw it bounce high and I saw it go right through his hand and bounce off somebody to the left of me. I saw it out of the corner of my eye and I reached out and grabbed it."

"Illinois is a good football team playing hard," said Tressel.

"What I'm impressed with is they just keep playing. What was particularly impressive was we were midway through the third quarter and really we're in decent command of the game and they're still playing. Not that our guys stopped, I don't think they did that at all, but the tide got turned a little," Tressel said.

In the fourth quarter, the Illini outgained the Buckeyes 133- 20 and outscored OSU 10-0 in the second half. Despite their narrow escape, the Buckeyes were pleased to get away with the win.

"We have an understanding that Big Ten road games are going to be a battle through and through, and it was just that today," said quarterback Troy Smith.

"Playing here in their environment and home stadium is really tough.

"A win is a win anyway you cut it, whether you score 50 points or you score 17. If it's not the way you want it who cares. We won today and we'll continue to grow," Smith said.

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