Buckeyes pull off another 4th quarter win

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Posted 7:18PM on Saturday, November 23, 2002

COLUMBUS, OHIO - Ohio State needed every last tick of the clock to keep its season perfect. Now the Buckeyes are ready to play for their first national championship since 1968. Maurice Hall scored on a 3-yard run with 4:55 left Saturday and the second-ranked Buckeyes survived two late drives by Michigan (No. 9 ESPN/USA Today, No. 12 AP) for a 14-9 win that propelled Ohio State into the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 3. Maurice Clarett scores the Buckeyes' first touchdown. Will Allen intercepted John Navarre's pass just short of the end zone with 0:00 showing on the clock for the Buckeyes (13-0, 8-0 Big Ten), who have won by seven points or fewer six times this season. But coming against the Wolverines (9-3, 6-2), this nail-biter was sweeter than the others. The Buckeyes, who weren't expected to contend for a national title this season, can now sit back and wait to see who they'll play in Tempe, Ariz., with No. 1 Miami the likely opponent if the Hurricanes win their final two games. The rest will also give many of the record 105,539 Ohio State fans time to recover from the final tense moments of yet another classic between the Buckeyes and Wolverines. With Michigan playing keepaway and clinging to a 9-7 lead after three quarters, Ohio State seemed destined for more heartbreak at the hands of Michigan. The Buckeyes had their national title hopes wiped out in 1995 and 1996 with losses to their bitter rival. But these Buckeyes, just as they did with an overtime win at Illinois last week and a fourth-quarter comeback at Purdue two weeks ago, found a way to win. "I'm glad it's over,'' safety Michael Doss said. Freshman tailback Maurice Clarett shook off a shoulder injury to run for 119 yards and caught a key 26-yard pass to set up Hall's TD. Taking an option pitch from quarterback Craig Krenzel, Hall swept into the right corner of the end zone for the only score of the second half. But Michigan, aided by a pass interference call, moved to Ohio State's 44. Navarre then completed a fourth-down pass to Ronald Bellamy before hitting Braylon Edwards to give Michigan a first down at the 30. That's when Ohio State's defense came up with yet another big play, this one by Darrion Scott, who knocked the ball loose from Navarre and the Buckeyes recovered with 2:02 left. Clarett only picked up 2 yards on three carries, and Michigan got the ball back with 58 seconds left at its 20. Out of time outs, Navarre (23-of-46 for 247 yards) drove the Wolverines to the 24. Navarre threw one pass out of the end zone with seven seconds left, and then Allen stepped in front of his final attempt, triggering a wild celebration by the Buckeyes. Ohio State's players danced in a circle as students lifted Krenzel, from Utica, Mich., onto their shoulders. Michigan's Adam Finley kicked three field goals in a first half dominated by the Wolverines, who converted eight of 11 third downs and didn't have to punt. Michigan closed the half with a 19-play drive that ate up 8:24 and ended with Finley's third field goal, a 22-yarder, that put the Wolverines up 9-7. Only a pass interference call against Edwards, who pushed Chris Gamble to the ground in the end zone, prevented Michigan from having a bigger lead. Navarre was 10-of-17 for 125 yards in the opening half, with four of his completions coming on third down. The Wolverines ran 44 offensive plays to Ohio State's 17. Clarett sat out two of Ohio State's previous three games hoping his shoulder would heal in time for Michigan. He didn't play on the Buckeyes' first series before making his entrance with eight minutes left in the first quarter. On his first play, he ran 9 yards with a screen pass, and then followed a 7-yard pickup by ripping off a 28-yard run. However, Clarett took a blow on his shoulder on his next carry and went to the sideline in pain clutching his left arm. But after the Buckeyes picked up a first down on an interference call at the 2, Clarett came back and scored on a sweep to put Ohio State ahead 7-3. Clarett accounted for 47 of 76 yards on the drive.