Stanley’s Spin Saves Ohio State

Second-ranked Ohio State was facing its biggest crisis of the season when Dimitrious Stanley’s spin move lifted the Buckeyes out of danger.

“I was thinking I wanted to do something to make a difference in this game,” Stanley said after turning a short hitch pattern into a 48-yard, go-ahead touchdown midway through the fourth quarter of Saturday’s 17-14 Big Ten victory over Wisconsin.

“Dimitrious Stanley is a winner,” Ohio State Coach John Cooper said. “He’s one of the most underrated players around. His play today won the football game.”

Stanley took a short toss from Joe Germaine near the left sideline, spun away from defender LaMar Campbell, followed a block by tight end D.J. Jones and broke two tackles on his way to the end zone with 8:51 left.

“The defensive guy wasn’t going to let me go outside,” Stanley said. “So I cut inside and D.J. Jones made a crushing block. I followed it and saw the opening.”

Even after Stanley’s catch and run, the Buckeyes still had to weather three Wisconsin possessions. The defense came up with interceptions by Antoine Winfield and Damon Moore, and the third drive ended as time expired with the Badgers’ Troy Simmons catching a pass at the Ohio State 42.

Ohio State, 5-0 overall and 2-0 in the Big Ten, had only two turnovers in its first four games, but made three against Wisconsin, which came in as a 27-point underdog.

The biggest turnover was a Buster Tillman fumble, which Kevin Huntley recovered and ran back 36 yards for a touchdown that gave the Badgers a 14-10 lead early in the final quarter. The Buckeyes also had a field goal blocked.

Wisconsin (3-2, 0-2) held the upper hand in first downs (20-18) and plays (74-59) and had the ball almost seven minutes longer. The Buckeyes came into the game averaging 310 yards rushing per game but were limited to 78.

“Ohio State has the best offensive line in college football and I didn’t see them gashing us,” Badger Coach Barry Alvarez said.

After two blowouts and two surprisingly easy victories over No. 5 Notre Dame and No. 4 Penn State, the Buckeyes struggled.

“I told the team, I’m proud of the way they battled back. A lot of teams would have found a way to lose that game,” Cooper said.