Wildcats Upend No. 7 Buckeyes In Overtime

Saturday, October 2

Evanston, Ill.

8 p.m.

Northwestern

2-3 , 1-1

Ohio State (LaSalle Bank Day)

3-1 , 0-1

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Ohio State

Northwestern

Wildcats Upend No. 7 Buckeyes In Overtime

10/3/2004 12:00:00 AM | Football

Box Score

Oct. 2, 2004

NU-OSU Post-Game Notes
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Final Stats | Photo Gallery | (audio) |
(Fastpass is a condensed version of the game broadcast featuring only scoring drives)

By NANCY ARMOUR
AP Sports Writer

EVANSTON, Ill. (AP) - The Northwestern players piled on top of each other in the corner of the end zone while students rushed the field, turning it into a purple mosh pit.

They partied into the night long after Noah Herron's 1-yard touchdown run gave Northwestern a 33-27 upset of No. 7 Ohio State on Saturday night, not even caring when the north goal post held firm. This party was 33 years in the making, and they weren't about to go home early.

"It's hard to put into words," said safety Jeff Backes, a Columbus, Ohio native. "I came here with a dream to beat the Buckeyes and it's been 33 years. This is one I will never forget."

Herron scored three touchdowns, including the winner in overtime, and Northwestern (2-3, 1-1 Big Ten) backed up its pregame trash talk with its first victory over Ohio State (3-1, 0-1) since 1971. The win snapped the Buckeyes' 24-game winning streak in the series, and handed them their first loss in Evanston since 1958.

"Thirty-three years was long enough," said Northwestern coach Randy Walker, an Ohio native.

It also was Northwestern's first victory over a top-10 team since beating then-No. 7 Wisconsin in double overtime in Madison on Sept. 23, 2000.

Ohio State has made it a habit of pulling out the close wins, winning 13 of its last 15 games that were decided by seven points or less. The Buckeyes beat Marshall earlier this season on Mike Nugent's field goal as time expired, and Nugent tied a school record with five field goals to beat North Carolina State two weeks ago.

It looked as if the Buckeyes' luck might hold again Saturday after they rallied to score 10 points in the final nine minutes and force overtime. But the normally automatic Nugent misfired, with his 40-yard field-goal attempt sailing wide right on the first overtime possession.

"It was probably one of the best balls I hit tonight," Nugent said. "I thought it was going to be dead-center."

Instead, the Wildcats got a second chance to put the Buckeyes away and they made the most of it. On the second play, quarterback Brett Basanez scrambled to the left and up the sideline for a 21-yard gain. Two plays later, Herron bulldozed his way into the end zone for the winning score, setting off pandemonium at the stadium.

"I wouldn't have requested to be at the end of [the streak]," Ohio State coach Jim Tressel said. "But we are. Unfortunately, that's the case. We have to start trying to get better, starting tomorrow."

Herron ran for 113 yards, rushed for two 1-yard scores and also caught a 12-yard TD pass. Mark Philmore had 134 yards receiving and a touchdown, the first of his career. Brett Basanez was 24-of-44 for 278 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.

Ohio State's offense had another shaky night, not finding its groove until the fourth quarter. Justin Zwick was 18-of-38 for 211 yards, but 90 yards came in the final period. Santonio Holmes had 99 yards receiving and a score.

But the Buckeyes had just 97 yards rushing. Lydell Ross had 31 yards on 11 carries.

Northwestern defensive tackle Luis Castillo had set bulletin boards aflame all over Columbus earlier in the week when he said Ohio State had a "mediocre" offense. And Philmore -- an Ohio native -- said the Buckeyes were "kids just like you out there."

The Wildcats showed they can do more than yap, though, controlling the game almost the entire night. They outgained the Buckeyes 444-308, and the defense came up with big plays time and again in the final quarter.

"It sure didn't hurt," Castillo said of his boast. "[Winning] was the greatest feeling in the world."

But there's a reason the Buckeyes are one of the country's top teams. They rallied in the fourth quarter, with Zwick moving them to the Northwestern 4 on their first drive. On third-and-goal, though, Nick Roach and John Pickens swarmed Zwick, taking him down for a 7-yard loss and forcing Ohio State to settle for Nugent's 29-yard field goal. The Buckeyes' defense gave Zwick another chance when linebacker Bobby Carpenter picked off Basanez's pass at the Northwestern 28 and returned it 6 yards.

Zwick connected with Bam Childress on a 15-yard pass, putting Ohio State at the Northwestern 4. But Antonio Pittman was stopped for a 3-yard loss, and Pickens chased Zwick deep into the backfield, sacking him for a 13-yard loss on second down.

Jeff Backes then picked off what would have been the game-tying pass, intercepting Zwick in the end zone.

But the Buckeyes finally got it right on their third try. Moving 69 yards in just five plays and 90 seconds, Zwick rushed for 18 yards, then had completions of 11 yards and 19 yards before finding Holmes deep in the end zone for the 21-yard score to force overtime.

"I thought we had it," offensive tackle Rob Sims said. "Around here we just feel when it's close like that, we feel like we can pull it out. I guess today we were wrong."

Northwestern hosts Indiana next Saturday at 11 a.m. (ESPN Plus). The Wildcats are seeking their third straight home victory.

Ohio State at Northwestern
Oct. 2, 2004
Post-Game Notes

Northwestern Notes
• With the victory, Northwestern improved to 2-3 overall and 1-1 in the Big Ten. Northwestern won its second straight home game.

• Northwestern defeated Ohio State for the first time since the 1971 season, a 14-10 win in Columbus. The win is the first for Northwestern against OSU in Evanston since 1958. NU's victory snaps a 24-game losing streak against the Buckeyes. The closest the Wildcats came to beating the Buckeyes since 1971 was a 17-15 loss in 1994 in Evanston.

• Northwestern's 33 points were the most it has ever scored against Ohio State in 70 all-time meetings. The previous single-game high was 28 points (40-28 loss in 1982).

• The number "33" was certainly magical for Northwestern on Saturday night. The victory ended a 33-year drought, the Wildcats scored 33 points and Noah Herron, who wears No. 33, carried the football 33 times, with the last carry (his 33rd)--a 1-yarder--producing the game-winning TD in overtime.

• The win is Northwestern's first over a top-10 ranked team since defeating No. 7 Wisconsin in two overtimes in 2000. It is the Wildcats first win over a ranked team since beating Wisconsin at home last year.

• Northwestern is now 3-6 all-time in night games (6 p.m. or later start) at Ryan Field and 1-1 vs. OSU (the first game a 27-16 loss in 2002).

• The game was the first Ryan Field sellout (47,130) since Northwestern's 54-51 victory over Michigan on Nov. 4, 2000.

• This was the Wildcats' fifth all-time overtime game and their first at home. NU is now 4-1 all-time in extra-session games. Earlier this season, NU lost its only overtime contest, a 48-45 double overtime decision at TCU.

• Northwestern's 33 points, 166 rushing yards, 278 passing yards and 444 total yards are the most allowed by Ohio State this season. NU's 33 points were the most allowed by OSU since falling 35-21 to Michigan on Nov. 22, 2003.

• Randy Walker is just the sixth Northwestern football coach to own victories over both Michigan and Ohio State, while serving as the Wildcats' head mentor. The first five coaches to accomplish the feat were Dick Hanley, Pappy Waldorf, Bob Voigts, Ara Parseghian and Alex Agase.

• Northwestern is now 19-3 under Randy Walker when leading after three quarters. In 15 years as a head coach, Walker's teams are 68-4-1 when leading at the start of the fourth quarter.

• Northwestern held a 13-10 lead at halftime--its first lead after two stanzas this season. OSU, meanwhile, faced its first halftime deficit this season.

• Noah Herron's 113 rushing yards upped his career total to 1,618, which places him in NU's top 10, in ninth place. Herron passed Adrian Autry (1,588, 1995-97) and Art Murakowski (1,599, 1946-49). It was Herron's second 100-yard game of the season and the first player to run for 100-plus yards against OSU this season.

• Mark Philmore led NU with 11 receptions and a career-best 134 yards. His eighth catch of the game--and the 92nd of his career--resulted in his first career TD. Philmore's 27-yard TD reception gave NU a 20-10 lead early in the third quarter. Philmore has caught a pass in all 25 career games played. His 100-yard receiving game was his third of the year.

• Brett Basanez notched his third 200-yard passing performance of the season and the 11th of his career. Basanez completed 24-of-44 passes for 278 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. The 278-yard performance was fourth best of his career. "Baz" now has 469 career completions (fifth all-time), 5,452 career passing yards (sixth all-time) and 5,907 career total offensive yards (fourth all-time).

• Noah Herron moved into an eighth-place tie with Art Murakowski on NU's rushing TD list. He now has 17.

• Place-kicker Brian Huffman converted both of his field goal attempts and all three PAT attempts. He had field goals of 41 and 40 yards, with the 41-yarder equaling a career long. Huffman leads the Big Ten in PAT kicks with a perfect 16-of-16 mark.

• Cornerback Jeff Backes, in his second year as a defensive player, notched his first career interception in the fourth quarter in the end zone, thwarting an OSU scoring threat.

• Making his first start at linebacker this season, John Pickens notched nine tackles, including 2.5 pass sacks. He also forced a key fumble and had a quarterback hurry.

• Mark Philmore's 11 receptions (one shy of his single-game best) gives him 95 for his career. He is 10 catches shy of moving into 10th place on NU's all-time reception list. He leads NU with 41 catches this season.