’Eye of the needle
Ohio State hangs on in OT as Maryland misses 2-point try
COLLEGE PARK, Md. — Relentlessly zipping up and down the field, No. 9 Ohio State and upstart Maryland were racking up yards and points at a dizzying pace.
Finally, the Terrapins were presented with the chance to end it — one way or another.
A gutsy decision by Maryland interim coach Matt Canada did not achieve the desired results, and the Buckeyes avoided one of the most stunning upsets in this college football season by squeezing out a 52-51, overtime victory Saturday.
After a 5-yard touchdown run by Dwayne Haskins on the first overtime possession gave the Buckeyes a sevenpoint, Tayon Fleet-Davis scored for the Terrapins. Canada opted to keep his offense on the field to attempt a 2point conversion, and Tyrrell Pigrome’s pass to Jeshaun Jones was off target.
Pigrome, who went 6-of-13 for 181 yards, was making his first start of the season after Kasim Hill sustained a season-ending knee injury last week.
“It was a gut call,” Canada said. “I felt like they were scoring, we were scoring. We had the ball, we had to make one play to win. Obviously it didn’t work. I wasn’t trying to be aggressive. I was just trying to win.”
After watching his defense allow 535 yards and seven touchdowns, Ohio State coach Urban Meyer understood why Canada opted to win it right there.
“I would have probably done the same thing if I was their coach, the way they were gaining yards on us,” Meyer said. “I’m relieved we won.”
Ohio State (10-1, 7-1 Big Ten, No. 10 CFP) came in favored by 14¹/ 2 points, but trailed by two touchdowns in the third quarter and by 45-38 with under two minutes left before rallying.
Haskins ran for three touchdowns and was 28-for-38 for 405 yards and three TDs. Ohio State finished with a whopping 688 yards, including 203 on the ground by J.K. Dobbins.
The victory kept the Buckeyes in the hunt for the Big Ten title and a spot in the College Football Playoff. Ohio State concludes the regular season next week in a game against Michigan that will decide the Big Ten East winner.
After describing the performance of his defense as “alarming,” Meyer said, “But we won. Let’s go back to work and get ready for next week.”
The Buckeyes never led until overtime against the gritty Terrapins (5-6, 3-5), who have made the most of a season dedicated to teammate Jordan McNair, who died of heatstroke in June. The players teamed together under the guidance of Canada, who maintained his role of offensive coordinator after taking over for head coach DJ Durkin, who was placed on administrative leave in August, reinstated on Oct. 30 and fired on Oct. 31.
On this day, the Terps traded blows with one of the best teams in the nation, and stuck in it to the end.
“I wish we had been a little bit better on the last play,” Canada said. “It’s a tough day. We put a lot into this.” —
OHIO ST. 52 MARYLAND 51