Ohio State at Michigan final score 42-41: Wolverines lose on failed 2-point conversion
By Mike Dyce
The Ohio State Buckeyes traveled to Ann Arbor to take on the Michigan Wolverines in their annual rivalry game. Ohio State came into the game ranked third in the country with an undefeated record and were looking for a win to stay in the National Championship conversation.
But in rivalry games, anything can happen and Michigan was playing well in the first half.
Michigan capped a 99-yard, five play, first quarter drive with a one-yard touchdown run from quarterback Devin Gardner. On the following drive, Ohio State quarterback Braxton Miller threw a 53-yard touchdown pass to Devin Smith.
On the next possession, Michigan marched 70 yards down the field and scored on a four-yard run from Fitzgerald Toussaint. On the following possession, Miller responded with another 53-yard touchdown. This time he ran 53-yards for the score. Again, on the following possession, Michigan marched 47 yards down the field and scored when Garner connected with Jeremy Gallon for a 17-yard touchdown pass.
On the kickoff following that score, things got chippy between the teams and that resulted in brawl. Three players were ejected as a result. Ohio State lost running back Dontre Wilson and offensive lineman Marcus Hall and Michigan lost linebacker Royce Jenkins-Stone.
The possession after that kick off Ohio State didn’t score, ending a streak of five consecutive touchdown drives between the two teams. Miller added a touchdown on a 21-yard run about a minute before the half to tie the game.
In the third quarter, Ohio State got back on track. Midway through the quarter Miller scored his third rushing touchdown, a three-yard run, to give the Buckeyes the lead. About five minutes later towards the end of the third quarter, Miller threw a 22-yard touchdown pass to Jeff Heuerman to give the Buckeyes a two touchdown lead.
Early in the fourth quarter, Devin Gardner pulled Michigan back into the game. As the pocket collapsed around him he stepped up and headed to his left and was thinking about scrambling. Instead he threw to a wide open Drew Dileo standing in the end zone for the touchdown to pull with in seven points.
About six minutes later, Gardner pulled Michigan even with Ohio State. Gardner threw a two-yard touchdown pass to Jake Butt to tie the game and set up an exciting finish.
With about 2:20 left in the game, Ohio State regained the lead. There was a big run from Miller early in the drive and then running back Carlos Hyde ran it in from about a yard out. On the play Hyde actually ran into Miller on the hand off, but still got into the end zone. It was disappointed that the Wolverines couldn’t take advantage of that mishap, but expecting them to score from there it might have been best to let him score and preserve the game clock to make a game-tying drive.
Gardner marched Michigan right back down the field and scored a touchdown with a two-yard pass to Devin Funchess. It looked like a game-tying score at the time but Michigan made a brave call and gamble and decided to go for the win and a two-point conversion.
Gardner threw a pass to a well covered receiver, and Ohio State intercepted the pass. That gave Ohio State a 42-41 win in a thrilling game.
GIFs of big plays and touchdowns from Zombie Prophet on the next page.