After Buckeyes Dig In, Gophers Buried, 45-0

Andy Katzenmoyer’s 42-yard interception return for a touchdown early in the third quarter helped No. 2 Ohio State rebound from a bad first half in a 45-0 victory over Minnesota in a Big Ten game Saturday at Columbus, Ohio.

The Buckeyes, 8-0 overall and 5-0 at Big Ten, had four turnovers and lost two key players in the first half, yet still led, 10-0, over the Golden Gophers (3-5, 0-5).

Quarterback Stanley Jackson was intercepted on Ohio State’s first two possessions, then sprained an ankle and was helped off the field. Backup tailback Joe Montgomery, who gained 160 yards in last week’s 38-26 victory at Iowa, tore knee ligaments trying to avoid a tackle and will be lost for the season.

Ohio State had a 231-33 yardage advantage at the half after outgaining Minnesota, 168-0, in the first quarter. The Golden Gophers (3-5, 0-5 and 12 consecutive Big Ten losses) finished with 104 yards.

Pepe Pearson rushed for 123 yards and two touchdowns in 23 carries for Ohio State, which won its 14th consecutive home game.

No. 9 Michigan 45, Michigan State 29--Scott Dreisbach had four touchdown passes as the Wolverines (7-1, 4-1) took advantage of five turnovers by the Spartans (5-4, 4-2) at Ann Arbor, Mich.

The Michigan defense held Michigan State--which had rushed for more than 200 yards five consecutive games--to 98 yards on the ground and had four interceptions.

Wisconsin 33, Purdue 25--Freshman Ron Dayne had 244 yards and two touchdowns in 30 carries at Madison, Wis. as the Badgers (4-4, 1-4) ended their losing streak at four games,

Dayne broke Alan Ameche’s freshman rushing record of 200 set in 1951. He also had the second-highest rushing total ever by a Wisconsin player, exceeded only by Billy Marek’s 304 yards against Minnesota in 1974.

Purdue (2-6, 1-4) rallied after starting quarterback John Reeves was replaced by Rick Trefzger, who completed 33 of 52 passes for 328 yards and a touchdown. His desperation pass in the end zone with five seconds left was intercepted by Kevin Hundley.

No. 25 Iowa 31, Illinois 21--Vernon Rollins returned an interception for a touchdown as the Hawkeyes (6-2, 4-1) converted three turnovers into 17 points at Champaign, Ill.

Illinois (2-6, 1-4) became the first team to score a fourth-quarter touchdown against Iowa this season on Ty Douthard’s one-yard run with 2:54 left.