Ohio State Escapes Michigan State, 28-21 : Big Ten: Harris’ late touchdown helps the fifth-ranked Buckeyes improve to 6-0.

Raymont Harris scored on a seven-yard run with 1:06 remaining, lifting fifth-ranked Ohio State past No. 25 Michigan State, 28-21, on Saturday.

Michigan State’s Bill Stoyanovich missed four field goals for the Spartans (3-2, 1-1 Big Ten), who moved into Ohio State territory on all 12 of their possessions.

“It’s my loss,” Stoyanovich said. “I know it’s a team loss, but 12 points would have done it. . . . There’s no excuse. I’ll take the blame for this.”

Ohio State, 6-0 for the first time since 1979, shares the Big Ten lead with Wisconsin, each at 3-0.

The Buckeyes took a 21-10 lead through three quarters on three touchdown catches by Joey Galloway, who had nine receptions for 186 yards. He caught passes on scoring plays covering 22 and 14 yards from Bob Hoying and 64 yards from backup quarterback Bret Powers.

The Spartans got inside the Ohio State 20 four times in the first half but only had seven points to show for their efforts.

But Stoyanovich, who followed a 47-yard field goal with misses from 33, 34 and 20 yards, kicked a 21-yarder on the first play of the fourth quarter.

After Hoying threw his second interception, the Spartans drove to the Buckeyes’ 21, but again Stoyanovich missed, from 39 yards. The Buckeyes gave the ball back to Michigan State at the Ohio State 38 after a 14-yard punt. On the first play, Jim Miller (31 of 42, 360 yards) passed to fullback Scott Greene over the middle and he carried two defenders into the end zone to cut the lead to 21-19.

On the two-point conversion with 5:37 remaining, Miller made a high throw into the right corner of the end zone, where Mill Coleman outjumped defender Marlon Kerner to make the catch that tied the score.

Ohio State came right back, taking over at its 20. Led by Powers, who completed seven of 10 passes for 113 yards, the Buckeyes put together a 15-play drive that took 4:31.

Three times, the Buckeyes converted on third-and-one situations. Faced with third and 10 at the Michigan State 38 with 2:13 left, Powers passed to Galloway for 17 yards.

Harris then picked up 11, three and then the final seven yards for the touchdown.

“We just knew what we had to do and we made a vow to score a touchdown,” Harris said.

Miller, who completed 31 of 42 passes for 360 yards with no interceptions, completed four consecutive passes to get the ball to the Ohio State 46 with six seconds left, but his long pass for Nigea Carter near the goal line was batted down as time expired.

Harris finished with 103 yards in 22 carries. Hoying completed 14 of 31 passes for 181 yards and the two interceptions. He was pulled after the second interception.

Steve Holman, who had 52 yards in 17 carries, scored Michigan State’s first touchdown on a one-yard run in the second quarter. It was the first touchdown on the ground permitted by Ohio State this season.