OHIO STATE 14, WISCONSIN 14

Publish date: 2024-07-16

MADISON, WIS., NOV. 6 -- Here was Wisconsin, late on a snowy afternoon today, poised for its biggest victory in 31 years. But the Camp Randall Stadium announcer knew there was something even more important than beating third-ranked Ohio State, so he urged "a safe and sane celebration."

Talk about being premature. About the time the echo from that cautious optimism had disappeared, cornerback Marlon Kerner blocked a 32-yard Badgers field goal and preserved a 14-14 Big Ten Conference tie that benefits Ohio State.

And the crowd of 77,765, ready for what Wisconsin officials hoped would be sensible delirium, went limp. Unlike last week, when their storming the field led to a massive pileup and 69 persons being hospitalized, nearly all the students either stayed in their sections or walked toward the exits at game's end.

Junior walk-on Rick Schnetzky's kick could have moved 15th-ranked Wisconsin into position to win the league title -- and its first trip to the Rose Bowl since 1963 -- with victories in the final two games.

Instead, Ohio State (8-0-1) remained the only unbeaten team in the league and can win the championship by beating Indiana and Michigan. The Badgers (7-1-1) have a loss and a tie in league play.

There will be some second-guessing of Wisconsin Coach Barry Alvarez for not trying harder for a touchdown near the end, running the ball twice before stopping the clock at seven seconds.

Schnetzky made his debut only a month ago. However, he made two field goals and an extra point during Wisconsin's 13-10 victory over Michigan last week.

"There was no doubt in my mind that he was going to make it," Alvarez said. "I just said 'Don't pay attention to anything else.' He laughed and said that he dreamed about this last night."

The teams can feel both good and lousy about themselves. They combined for 750 yards, but also played stout defense at times. Two lost snaps from center by quarterback Darrell Bevell inside the Ohio State 20 hurt the Badgers; the Buckeyes were intercepted three times.

Ohio State went 99 yards in four plays to tie the game with 3:48 left. Quarterback Bret Powers, in his second relief appearance of the game, directed the drive and threw 26 yards to Joey Galloway for the touchdown.

Wisconsin's reply was nearly as impressive. From the 20, tailback Brent Moss (29 carries for 129 yards) and split end Lee DeRamus (four catches, 55 yards, one touchdown) put the ball into position for the winning field goal.

"We felt going in we could block a punt -- and we thought we had a good chance to block a field goal or an extra point," Ohio State Coach John Cooper said. Kerner, who blew around the outside blocker, swatted away a field goal last week in the Buckeyes' blowout of Penn State.

The Wisconsin student section filled early, and Tom Kujak of Alma Center, Wisc., said: "People might wonder about us being warped {for sitting up in the front row again}, but you don't miss something like this."

Before the game, at halftime and after the game, students pelted the Ohio State players and coaches with coin-loaded marshmallows -- and that angered Cooper.

"That should be stopped," he said.

Wisconsin gained significant momentum by stopping Ohio State on its first series of downs. None of the previous eight Buckeyes opponents had accomplished that.

On their second series, however, the Buckeyes drove 70 yards for a 7-0 lead. Unlike its first series, Ohio State stayed entirely on the ground, with tailbacks Raymont Harris (19-99) and Butler By'not'e gaining all the yards.

From the Badgers 31, Harris got a clearing block from his fullback and ran over free safety Scott Nelson during a 27-yard gain. Two plays later, Harris burst into the end zone from three yards.

The Buckeyes appeared ready to take a 14-0 lead early in the second quarter. Instead, they missed the 46-yard field goal that came after linebacker Yusef Burgess tackled Ohio State quarterback Bobby Hoying for a loss on third and six from the 24.

The Badgers missed a scoring chance midway through the second quarter when Bevell lost a fumble two plays and a penalty after getting the ball at the Ohio State 36.

They did not botch good field position on their next possession, going 42 yards for the tying points. DeRamus made the drive's two big plays. The first was a diving catch near the left sideline for 14 yards on third and three.

The second was in the end zone on third and four from the 8. Bevell was rushed and threw a high, soft pass that seemed certain to be either batted down or intercepted.

No Buckeye was in position to get to the ball, however, and DeRamus came a few steps back and caught it.

Keith Jackson returned the second-half kickoff 25 yards and Wisconsin moved to first and five on the Ohio State 23. However, defensive end Jason Simmons threw Bevell for a 10-yard loss. Soon, Bevell's hard pass went off DeRamus's hands and Ohio State's Walter Taylor intercepted at the 20.

The Badgers held, got the ball back at the Ohio State 34 and punched it in for a 14-7 lead. Fullback Mark Montgomery and Moss alternated carries most of the way, with Moss following guard Joe Rudolph and tight end Michael Roan into the end zone from the 3.

On the next series, Wisconsin was moving toward a possibly-commanding lead when the second bobbled snap from center by Bevell was recovered by Craig Powell at the Ohio State 17.

Immediately, Hoying and flanker Chris Sanders hooked up for a 38-yard gain. However, Hoying threw the ball into coverage on first and 10 from the Wisconsin 22 and the Badgers' Jeff Messenger intercepted.

ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7uK3SoaCnn6Sku7G70q1lnKedZK6zr8eirZ5no6W8s8DSaGhycWNkfnJ7j3BmqKCZpHq0wMCtnGZpZGLEqr%2FCqKWsoZ5ifnV7l21vm51gmLFusZedmWZskZl9boSPnG5mbmJsrqOEwJqabJ5gZA%3D%3D

ZingW

OHIO STATE 14, WISCONSIN 14