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RECAP
TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) --There won't be any talk about a defense-offense imbalance this week at Ohio State practices.
Steve Bellisari saw to that as he passed for two touchdowns,
including a 60-yarder to Chad Cacchio, to lead the Buckeyes (No. 16 ESPN/USA Today, No. 18 AP) to a 27-17 win over Arizona on Saturday night.
Nate Clements set up another score with a 47-yard punt return
late in the third quarter, and Dan Stultz kicked two field goals as
the Buckeyes (2-0) won in their first visit to Arizona Stadium.
"Any time you can win a game in (Arizona coach) Dick Tomey's
backyard, it's an accomplishment," said Buckeyes coach John
Cooper. "You have to be grateful for it, especially when you made
as many mistakes as we did."
Ortege Jenkins ran for one TD and passed to Bobby Wade for another as Arizona (1-1) took a 17-10 halftime lead.
But Ohio State's defense, which scored four times in a rout of
Fresno State the week before, was virtually impenetrable again,
sacking Jenkins eight times for 55 yards, holding the Wildcats to
194 yards and forcing them to punt 12 times.
"It's a great feat, and that's the type of pressure we want to bring," defensive end Rodney Bailey said. "Our defensive front went to battle."
The outcome swung on back-to-back possessions by the Buckeyes in
the third quarter.
Ohio State was having difficulty moving until Bellisari took to the air, hitting Ken-Yon Rambo for 8- and 11-yard completions to the 40. On the next play, he went downfield to Cacchio, who ran under the ball at the 8 and cruised into the end zone, tying the score at
17 midway through the third quarter.
Ohio State held, and Bellisari set up a 1-yard scoring run by
Jonathan Wells with a 46-yard pass to Reggie Germany to the Arizona
2.
"It was going to take some big plays in the second half for us to come out on top," Bellisari said. "We did that, and it feels good."
Bellisari was 12-of-20 for 240 yards, throwing one interception. He also had a 1-yard scoring throw to Tim Cheatwood in the second quarter.
Most of the action in the second quarter revolved around Wade.
The sophomore hurt his left knee fielding a punt 4:39 into the
quarter, and was on the grass for minutes before finally limping
off.
But he was back to return the next punt 85 yards for a score
that was wiped out by a holding call against the Wildcats.
After two plays gained 3 yards, Jenkins passed to Wade in the
left flat. Wade stepped upfield to dodge a tackler, ran across the
field to evade another six Buckeyes who were within arm's length
and raced down the right side to complete a 60-yard scoring play.
Jenkins ran in a 2-point conversion, giving Arizona 10 points in
1½ minutes and a 17-10 lead with 6:11 left in the half.
The Buckeyes led 10-7 until Bellisari's pitch went past an
unsuspecting Derek Combs, who had to outrun Arizona defenders to
cover it in the end zone for a safety with 7:29 to play.
But Jenkins started 0-for-6 and then completed 11 of 17 for 137 yards. But he was held to 4 yards on 19 carries and was under continual pressure.
"The blame should be placed on the offensive line," center
Bruce Wiggins said. "The offensive line could not protect O.J.,
could not run the ball, could not protect the ball, could not get
first downs."
Each team got its first score after a muffed punt.
Malosi Leonard was waiting when Ohio State's Nate Clements
dropped a punt. Leonard recovered on the 9-yard line, and Jenkins
scored from the 10 on the second snap, rolling left and splitting a
seam with 6:41 left in the first quarter.
The Buckeyes scored on a 26-yard field goal by Stultz 3:32 later
after Wade muffed a punt and Curtis Crosby recovered, and went
ahead at 10-7 after a 74-yard drive late in the quarter.
Bellisari capped the drive with a 1-yard flip to Cheatwood 49
seconds into the second quarter. But the key plays in the 74-yard
march were his 13-yard pass to Rambo and a 44-yard grab by Vanness
Provitt, who reached behind cornerback David Hinton to pull in the
ball as both sprawled to the field at the 8.
"Both teams became better, and the best team won," Tomey said.
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ALSO SEE
COLLEGE FOOTBALL Scoreboard
Ohio State Clubhouse
Arizona Clubhouse
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