Fiesta Bowl

First Quarter in Review

RUSHING LEADERS

Ohio State

C. Krenzel...3 carries, 19 yards

Miami

W. McGahee...6 carries, -2 yards

RECEIVING LEADERS

Ohio State

M. Jenkins...1 catch, 12 yards

Miami

A. Johnson...3 catches, 45 yards

PASSING LEADERS

Ohio State

C. Krenzel...1-4, 12 yards

Miami

K. Dorsey...8-10, 119 yards

Lowdown: Miami had the ball for 9:34 to Ohio State’s 5:26, had five first downs to one and also had much better field position. The Hurricanes began their scoring drive at their 48 after forcing the Buckeyes to punt from their own one.

Big play: Miami’s Ken Dorsey showed why he is one of the nation’s best quarterbacks on a third-and-12 play when he eluded a blitz by free safety Donnie Nickey and threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to flanker Roscoe Parrish, who ran a perfect post pattern and beat strong safety Michael Doss.

Unanswered question: What happened to the anticipated rushing duel between Miami’s Willis McGahee and Ohio State’s Maurice Clarett? Well, McGahee netted minus two yards in six carries and Clarett gained two yards in three carries.

Did you notice? Ohio State didn’t get a first down until Craig Krenzel threw 12 yards to Michael Jenkins to the Buckeye 32 with only 39 seconds left.

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Second Quarter in Review

RUSHING LEADERS

Ohio State

Craig Krenzel...5 carries, 26 yards

Miami

W. McGahee...6 carries, 27 yards

RECEIVING LEADERS

Ohio State

Chris Vance...1 catch, 8 yards

Miami

Ethenic Sands...1 catch, 14 yards

PASSING LEADERS

Ohio State

Craig Krenzel...1-2, 8 yards

Miami

Ken Dorsey...3-7, 23 yards

Lowdown: The Buckeyes converted two turnovers by Dorsey into touchdowns in a 78-second span to take a 14-7 lead. The Buckeyes held the Hurricanes to their lowest-scoring first half of the season.

Big play: There were several. Dorsey threw hard and high off the hands of Andre Johnson and Doss intercepted. He returned it 35 yards to the Hurricane 17. On fourth and goal from the one, Krenzel scored on a sneak with 2:28 left. After a Dorsey fumble on Miami’s next play, Clarett scored on a seven-yard run up the middle with 1:10 left to put the Buckeyes ahead.

Unanswered question: Why didn’t Miami utilize McGahee more often? He carried only six times and gained 27 yards.

Did you notice? Dorsey had three turnovers in the quarter -- a fumble and two interceptions. He had thrown only 10 interceptions all season in 350 attempts.

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Third Quarter in Review

RUSHING LEADERS

Ohio State

M. Clarett...5 carries, 15 yards

Miami

W. McGahee...5 carries, 29 yards

RECEIVING LEADERS

Ohio State

Chris Gamble...1 catch, 57 yards

Miami

K. Winslow...4 catches, 42 yards

PASSING LEADERS

Ohio State

Craig Krenzel...1-5, 57 yards

Miami

Ken Dorsey...6-8, 48 yards

Lowdown: Ohio State continued to capitalize on Miami mistakes. The Hurricanes’ fourth turnover of the night led to Mike Nugent’s 44-yard field goal that gave the Buckeyes a 17-7 lead with 8:33 left.

Big play: More like a freak one. The Hurricanes appeared to get out of trouble when Sean Taylor intercepted Krenzel’s pass in the end zone. Taylor returned it to the Miami 28, where Clarett wrestled the ball away from him. Three plays later Nugent kicked the field goal.

Unanswered question: What took the Hurricanes so long to find tight end Kellen Winslow? They finally turned to him to get back within striking distance at 17-14. He caught passes of 23, five and seven yards in a 45-yard scoring drive.

Did you notice? Krenzel completed only his third pass of the game, a 57-yarder to Chris Gamble on third and 15. In all, he had completed only three of 11 for 77 yards.

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Fourth Quarter and Overtime in Review

FOURTH-QUARTER LEADERS

Ohio State

M. Clarett...6 carries, 19 yards

C. Gamble...1 catch, 12 yards

C. Krenzel...2-5, 22 yards

Miami

W. McGahee...3 carries, 13 yards

K. Winslow...3 catches, 32 yards

K. Dorsey...8-12, 83 yards

OVERTIME LEADERS

Ohio State

C. Krenzel...5 carries, 14 yards

M. Jenkins...2 catches, 23 yards

C. Krenzel...2-5, 23 yards

Miami

J. Payton...5 carries, 9 yards

K. Winslow...2 catches, 14 yards

K. Dorsey...3-6, 23 yards

Fourth-quarter lowdown: Miami’s offense took a hit when McGahee had to leave the game because of an injured left knee with 11:39 left.

Fourth-quarter big play: Todd Sievers kicked the tying 40-yard field goal as regulation ended. It was set up by a 50-yard punt return by Roscoe Parrish.

Overtime lowdown: Miami nearly had its 35th consecutive victory in the first overtime after scoring a touchdown on its first possession, but then the Ohio State defense got tough. On the final play, Cie Grant blitzed and forced Dorsey to throw a desperation pass that linebacker Matt Wilhelm batted to the ground.

Overtime big play: The delayed pass-interference call by field judge Terry Porter on Glenn Sharpe at the end of the first overtime on a fourth down -- which came with Miami players already celebrating an apparent championship.

-- Bob Cuomo