Ohio State Football: Buckeyes Survive in Champaign

10 - 2 - 10     at Illinois     W, 24 - 13     5 - 0

     It has been said many times that adversity makes a football team better.
     Ohio State definitely hopes that is the case because in their conference opener at Illinois, adversity hit them from all angles.  First, they had to deal with poor weather and a road crowd for the first time this season.  Then, as OSU was beginning to pull away, Terrelle Pryor mildly strained his left quad on a running play.  Pryor missed the majority of the 3rd quarter, and after returning to the game, he did little more than hand the football off to Daniel "Boom" Herron. 
     Despite all those setbacks, Ohio State was still able to produce a victory, even though it was less than perfect.

     The story of the day was obviously Pryor's injury.  It occurred early in the 3rd period with the Buckeyes looking to build on a 14 - 10 advantage.  On a 2nd - and - 8 from his own 19 - yard line, Pryor scrambled for the 1st down.  However, after he crossed the 30, Pryor awkwardly fell to the ground in obvious pain.  T.P. was eventually taken off the field in order to receive treatment in the locker room.  Upon making his return, Pryor simply kept the Illini defense honest with the threat that he might take off and run.  Pryor, though, later told reporters that there was no way he could have been counted on to do anything productive besides feeding the ball to Herron.
     There is little doubt that Pryor will play next week, but the question of how effective he will be remains unanswered.
     Unfortunately, Pryor was not the only Buckeye who was injured in this game.  Tyler Moeller, Ohio State's linebacker/safety hybrid, tore his pectoral muscle, and he will miss the rest of the season.

     Early in the opening quarter the Illinois offense, led by QB Nathan Scheelhaase, roared to life.  A 23 - yard pass from Jarrey Fayson to Scheelhaase sparked a 9 play, 55 - yard drive that was capped off by Scheelhaase's 3 - yard run into the end zone.
     A 66 - yard run courtesy of Terrelle Pryor enabled Ohio State to quickly retaliate.  Shortly after Pryor's career - long rumble, he found a wide - open Brandon Saine on a short touchdown pass.  Devin Barclay's extra point was blocked, but a holding penalty on the Illini gave Barclay a second chance.  This time he was perfect, and the game was tied at 7.
     The contest remained that way until Pryor made a crucial mistake mid - way through the 2nd quarter.  Attempting to fit the football into a tight window, Pryor was intercepted by Trulon Henry.
     That turnover set up Illinois in great field position, and even though they accumulated just one 1st down, Derek Dimke knocked home a go - ahead, 27 - yard field goal.  The kick achieved a dose of redemption for Dimke because he had previously missed a short kick.
     Prior to the intermission Pryor and the Buckeyes regained the lead.  T.P. scampered for 35 yards which set up his 11 - yard toss to a diving Dane Sanzenbacher.
     Neither offense had any success during the 3rd quarter as Ohio State's defense began to dominate, and Pryor's injury rendered the Buckeyes' attack helpless.  The only excitement of the quarter was generated when the teams traded interceptions.  Jermale Hines picked off Scheelhaase before Joe Bauserman threw a pass to Henry, who gladly collected his second INT of the afternoon.
     Pryor's triumphant return failed to change Jim Tressel's play calling.  With the wind beginning to pick up, Tressel decided not to test the hurt leg of his star quarterback.  And so, Ohio State kept it on the ground in a drive that resulted in a Barclay 32 - yard field goal.
     Illinois then drove deep into OSU territory as they tried to even up the score.  The Bucks' defense held tough, though, and the Illini were forced to settle for 3 points.  Dimke was able to trim the Buckeyes' lead to 4, but time was running out.
     Following a costly personal foul penalty on the Illini, Ohio State took over near midfield and proceeded to seal the home team's fate.  "Boom" Herron's powerful running carried the Buckeyes down the field, and his 6 - yard TD run brought an end to Illinois' upset hopes.

     It was far from routine, but Ohio State kept their national title hopes alive.  Now the Buckeyes have to hope Pryor can still lead them to Glendale.

Player of the Game
Dan Herron: 23 carries, 95 yards, 1 touchdown
The man known as "Boom" enabled Pryor to rest his ailing thigh in the 2nd half.  Herron piled up more than half his yards in the game's final quarter, and his late touchdown wrapped up Ohio State's 11th consecutive victory.

Play of the Game
Terrelle Pryor's return from a quad injury in the 3rd quarter
Ok, this is not really a play, but there probably won't be a bigger moment in the Buckeyes' 2010 season.  Pryor's comeback seemed to ignite Ohio State, and it preserved OSU's undefeated record.