Rose Bowl: Oregon vs. Ohio State in-game report

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Ohio State 26, Oregon 17 (final)

The drought is over for Ohio State and the Big Ten Conference.

The eighth-ranked Buckeyes have defeated seventh-ranked Oregon in the 96th Rose Bowl, ending a string of three consecutive losses in Bowl Championship Series bowl games and giving the Big Ten its first win at Pasadena since Wisconsin beat Stanford in 2000.

Ohio State finishes with a record of 11-2. Oregon falls to 10-3.

The Ducks’ loss means the Pacific 10 Conference went 2-5 in bowl games this season, a year after conference teams went 5-0.

Big Ten representatives had lost six straight Rose Bowls.

Sophomore quarterback Terrelle Pryor was the most valuable player of the game. He completed 23 of 37 passes for 266 yards and two touchdowns with one interception. He also rushed for a game-high 72 yards in 20 carries.

Ohio State’s defense never allowed Oregon to get untracked, and Ducks dual-threat quarterback Jeremiah Masoli passed for only 81 yards and ran for nine.

Ohio State 26, Oregon 17 (late in fourth quarter)

The Buckeyes appear to have this one under control.

Oregon’s Morgan Flint missed a 44-yard field goal attempt with 5 minutes 10 seconds to play, and Ohio State and quarterback Terrelle Pryor are taking the ball back down the field late in the game.

Flint’s kick had plenty of leg, but it missed to the right.

It was a chancy (read: highly questionable) call by Oregon Coach Chip Kelly, who chose to try for the field goal on a fourth-and-one play.

--Mike Hiserman

Ohio State 26, Oregon 17 (fourth quarter)

Terrelle Pryor’s 17-yard touchdown pass to DeVier Posey gives the Buckeye’s some breathing room with 7:02 left in the game.

Pryor had key third-down completions to Dane Sanzenbacher and tight end Jake Ballard during the 13-play, 81-yard drive.

Pryor has completed 23 of 37 passes for 266 yards and two touchdowns. He has rushed for 48 yards in 17 carries.

Ohio State 19, Oregon 17 (end of third quarter)

Well, it’s going to come down to the end.

Ohio State forged its lead with a ball-control offense and four field goals.

The Buckeyes have outgained Oregon, 300 yards to 235, and have amassed 18 first downs.

Ohio State has the ball to start the fourth quarter with a third and five at its own 18.

Ohio State 19, Oregon 17 (third quarter)

Devin Barclay kicked his third field goal of the game, a 38-yarder with 6:36 left in the third quarter, to put the Buckeyes in the lead.

Terrelle Pryor’s 36-yard pass to receiver DeVier Posey was the key play in an 11-play, 59-yard drive that stalled at the Oregon 21.

Pryor has completed 18 of 29 passes for 198 yards and a touchdown.

Ohio State got a break on the ensuing possession.

Oregon drove from its 38 to the Ohio State 18, but running back LeGarrette Blount fumbled and the ball rolled out of the end zone for a touchback. It was Oregon’s 16th lost fumble this season.

Oregon 17, Ohio State 16 (third quarter) Ducks quarterback Jeremiah Masoli engineered a 12-play, 53-yard scoring drive and ended it with a one-yard touchdown run to put the Ducks ahead.

Masoli’s seven-yard completion to receiver Lavasier Tuinei on a fourth-and-three play at the Ohio State 27 kept alive the drive.

Masoli has completed seven of 16 passes for 69 yards.

Ohio State 16, Oregon 10 (halftime) Devin Barclay’s 30-yard field goal and Aaron Pettrey‘s 45-yard field goal, both within the final 1:05 of the second quarter, gave Ohio State the six-point halftime edge.

Barclay’s kick capped an exhausting 19-play drive that covered only 67 yards.

Ohio State linebacker Ross Homan’s interception with 25 seconds left set up the longer kick by Pettrey, who opened the season as the starting kicker, underwent knee surgery in November, and returned in time for the Rose Bowl.

Oregon was limited to 127 yards and held to its fewest points in the first half since UCLA shut out the Ducks. But quarterback Jeremiah Masoli did not play in that game.

And give Oregon credit.

Twice in the half the Ducks stopped Ohio State from reaching the end zone when the Buckeyes had a first-and-goal situation.

Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor has completed 14 of 21 passes for 131 yards and a touchdown. Running back Dan Herron has gained 27 yards in eight carries.

Masoli has completed five of 12 passes for 49 yards for Oregon, but Ohio State has limited him to only four yards rushing. LaMichael James has rushed for 21 yards in six carries. Kenjon Barner has gained 50 yards in three carries.

Ohio State 10, Oregon 10 (second quarter) LeGarrette Blount, suspended for throwing a punch after Oregon’s season-opening defeat at Boise State, scored on a three-yard run with 8:46 left in the second quarter to tie the score.

Blount received a huge ovation from Oregon fans when he ran onto the field for the play, which was originally ruled a two-yard run as he was brought down by Ohio State defenders at the one as he held the ball over the goal line. Replay officials ruled it was a touchdown since he was on top of a defender.

Blount also scored a touchdown in Oregon’s Rose Bowl-clinching victory over Oregon State.

Blount’s touchdown capped a 30-yard scoring drive that was set up by Kenjon Barner‘s 28-yard punt return.

Ohio State 10, Oregon 3 (second quarter)

Oregon’s Morgan Flint kicked a 24-yard field goal to cut the deficit to seven points with 14:24 left in the first half.

Kenjon Barner‘s 37-yard run in a fly sweep and quarterback Jeremiah Masoli’s 13-yard gain gave the Ducks a first and goal at the nine.

But an Ohio State defense that has given up only 11 touchdowns in 44 quarters stopped the Ducks, bringing on Flint.

Ohio State 10, Oregon 0 (end of first quarter)

Devin Barclay kicked a 19-yard field goal with 34 seconds left in the first quarter, but Oregon should consider it a moral victory.

Ohio State looked like it was going to score a touchdown after quarterback Terrelle Pryor made a beautiful touch pass on the run to running back Brandon Saine. The play went for 46 yards and gave Ohio State a first down at Oregon’s four-yard line.

But Pryor fumbled the snap on first down and two subsequent runs by Pryor came up short.

Pryor has completed seven of 11 passes for 95 yards and a touchdown. He has also rushed for 23 yards in five carries.

Oregon quarterback Jeremiah Masoli is one of three for 10 yards. Kenjon Barner has rushed for 50 yards in two carries, including a 37-yard gain that has the Ducks threatening at the start of the second quarter.

Ohio State 7, Oregon 0 Former Long Beach Poly High standout Kenny Rowe just helped quell an Ohio State threat.

The 6-foot-3, 232-pound junior sacked Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor on a second-and-five play at the Oregon 49.

On the next play, Rowe pressured Pryor, who threw an incomplete pass, forcing the Buckeyes to punt.

Ohio State 7, Oregon 0

Wait a minute, isn’t it Oregon that pushes the pace on offense?

Ohio State came out with a semi-no-huddle offense and marched down the field behind quarterback Terrelle Pryor.

Pryor completed five of eight passes for 39 yards, including a 13-yard touchdown pass to running back Brandon Saine. The play capped a 10-play, 74-yard drive.

On third-and-six from the Ohio State 30-yard-line, Pryor broke off a 24-yard run. Not bad for a guy with a bad knee.

-- Gary Klein

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