TUCSON, Ariz. -- There won't be any talk about a defense-offense
imbalance this week at Ohio State practices.
Steve Bellisari saw to that as he passed for two touchdowns, including a
60-yarder to Chad Cacchio, to lead the 18th-ranked Buckeyes to a 27-17 win over
Arizona on Saturday night.
Nate Clements set up another score with a 47-yard punt return late in the
third quarter, and Dan Stultz kicked two field goals as the Buckeyes (2-0) won
in their first visit to Arizona Stadium.
"Anytime you can win a game in (Arizona coach) Dick Tomey's backyard, it's
an accomplishment," said Buckeyes coach John Cooper. "You have to be grateful
for it, especially when you made as many mistakes as we did."
Ortege Jenkins ran for one TD and passed to Bobby Wade for another as
Arizona (1-1) took a 17-10 halftime lead.
But Ohio State's defense, which scored four times in a rout of Fresno State
the week before, was virtually impenetrable again, sacking Jenkins eight times
for 55 yards, holding the Wildcats to 194 yards and forcing them to punt 12
times.
"It's a great feat, and that's the type of pressure we want to bring,"
defensive end Rodney Bailey said. "Our defensive front went to battle."
The outcome swung on back-to-back possessions by the Buckeyes in the third
quarter.
They were having difficulty moving until Bellisari took to the air, hitting
Ken-Yon Rambo for 8- and 11-yard completions to the 40. On the next play, he
went downfield to Cacchio, who ran under the ball at the 8 and cruised into the
end zone, tying the score at 17 midway through the third quarter.
Ohio State held, and Bellisari set up a 1-yard scoring run by Jonathan Wells
with a 46-yard pass to Reggie Germany to the Arizona 2.
"It was going to take some big plays in the second half for us to come out
on top," Bellisari said. "We did that, and it feels good."
Bellisari was 12-of-20 for 240 yards, throwing one interception. He also had
a 1-yard scoring throw to Tim Cheatwood in the second quarter.
Most of the action in the second quarter revolved around Wade.
The sophomore hurt his left knee fielding a punt 4:39 into the quarter, and
was on the grass for minutes before finally limping off.
But he was back to return the next punt 85 yards for a score that was wiped
out by a holding call against the Wildcats.
After two plays gained 3 yards, Jenkins passed to Wade in the left flat.
Wade stepped upfield to dodge a tackler, ran across the field to evade another
six Buckeyes who were within arm's length and raced down the right side to
complete a 60-yard scoring play.
Jenkins ran in a 2-point conversion, giving Arizona 10 points in 1½ minutes
and a 17-10 lead with 6:11 left in the half.
The Buckeyes led 10-7 until Bellisari's pitch went past an unsuspecting
Derek Combs, who had to outrun Arizona defenders to cover it in the end zone
for a safety with 7:29 to play.
But Jenkins started 0-for-6 and then completed 11 of 17 for 137 yards. But
he was held to 4 yards on 19 carries and was under continual pressure.
"The blame should be placed on the offensive line," center Bruce Wiggins
said. "The offensive line could not protect OJ, could not run the ball, could
not protect the ball, could not get first downs."
Each team got its first score after a muffed punt.
Malosi Leonard was waiting when Ohio State's Nate Clements dropped a punt.
Leonard recovered on the 9-yard line, and Jenkins scored from the 10 on the
second snap, rolling left and splitting a seam with 6:41 left in the first
quarter.
The Buckeyes scored on a 26-yard field goal by Stultz 3:32 later after Wade
muffed a punt and Curtis Crosby recovered, and went ahead at 10-7 after a
74-yard drive late in the quarter.
Bellisari capped the drive with a 1-yard flip to Cheatwood 49 seconds into
the second quarter. But the key plays in the 74-yard march were his 13-yard
pass to Rambo and a 44-yard grab by Vanness Provitt, who reached behind
cornerback David Hinton to pull in the ball as both sprawled to the field at
the 8.
"Both teams became better, and the best team won," Tomey said.
AP NEWS
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