Final
Miami 24, Ohio St. 36
Sep 12, 2010 - 12:54 AM By RUSTY MILLER AP Sports WriterCOLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- Miami quarterback Jacory Harris and the 12th-ranked Hurricanes came into their showdown with No. 2 Ohio State confident and comfortable.
Four interceptions later, they were deflated and defeated.
Terrelle Pryor ran for 113 yards and a touchdown and passed for another score Saturday as the Buckeyes took advantage of Miami's miscues to hang a 36-24 loss on the 'Canes.
"Feeling good doesn't always end up good," Harris said.
Eight seasons after the Buckeyes and Hurricanes played a classic game for the 2002 national championship, the rematch wasn't nearly as close. In the 2003 Fiesta Bowl, the Buckeyes earned a dramatic and controversial 31-24 victory in double-overtime against a Miami team trying to repeat as national champs.
This one was no work of art, with numerous sloppy plays and bad tackling. But it kept the Buckeyes (2-0) perfect and prevented the Hurricanes (1-1) from making a case they belonged back among the nation's elite.
It all came down to the mistakes.
"When you can create four takeaways, you're going to have a chance," Ohio State coach Jim Tressel said. "And when you have zero giveaways, you're going to have a real good chance."
In what was billed as a Heisman Trophy showcase, Pryor completed just 12 of 27 passes for 233 yards but kept alive drives with many of his 20 carries and scored on a 13-yard run. Harris was 22 of 39 passing for 232 yards and a touchdown but had the four interceptions - three of which could easily have been caught.
"Two of them the receivers ran the wrong route," Miami coach Randy Shannon said. "But, still, if the receiver runs the wrong route then throw the ball out of bounds."
It was the last interception which proved to be particularly costly for the 'Canes.
Trailing 26-17 at the half, Miami took the kickoff and drove to a first down at the Ohio State 6. But on third-and-goal, Harris' pass over the middle was wide of the mark and intercepted by burly Buckeyes defensive end Cameron Heyward, who had dropped back into pass coverage. He rumbled 80 yards with the ball.
"I was trying to take it to the house," said the 6-foot-5, 288-pound Heyward, the son of former NFL running back Craig "Ironhead" Heyward. "They caught me. That shows they didn't give up, and shows I'm not that fast."
That was OK with his coach.
"They were going to bring it down to a one-score game," Tressel said. "I was shocked how far he got. I kept thinking that someone was going to catch up to him and strip the ball. Oh, man I was petrified. That was a long run for a big guy."
It set up Pryor's touchdown run. He rolled right, looking to pass, then reversed field and scored untouched.
The Hurricanes, whose earlier TDs both came on kick returns, scored on Harris' 9-yard pass to Chase Ford on the first play of the fourth quarter, cutting the lead to 36-24.
Miami got the ball just once more, marching down the field only to lose it on downs at the Ohio State 39 with 7 1/2 minutes left. The Buckeyes, with Pryor picking up big yardage on runs, then played keep-a-way the rest of the game.
Devin Barclay tied an Ohio State record with five field goals.
The first half had to leave both coaches exasperated.
The Buckeyes dominated, piling up 260 yards to just 104 with three turnovers for the Hurricanes. But Miami twice returned kicks for long scores. The first was Lamar Miller's 88-yard kickoff return.
After Ohio State seemed to grab control at 20-10 on Dan Herron's 4-yard touchdown run midway through the second quarter, Travis Benjamin brought a punt back 79 yards for another score.
It was the first time in 121 years of football that the Buckeyes surrendered a touchdown on punt and kickoff returns in the same game.
The first interception Harris threw was tipped by Ohio State's C.J. Barnett, into the hands of Nathan Williams, setting up Barclay's field goal.
The second was a result of receiver Benjamin not even looking for the ball, with Chimdi Chekwa grabbing it to set up Herron's TD run. Then Harris hit Benjamin with a pass along the right sideline, but he bobbled the ball into Chekwa's hands to set up yet another Barclay field goal.
Three times in the half, Miami defenders got their hands on one of Pryor's passes but none of them were intercepted.
"Today was the most calm I've ever been," Pryor said. "I was really comfortable. I feel like I made good decisions and I was thinking about not making turnovers - and I got that done."
Harris couldn't say the same.
- NCAAF FINAL
1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
MIAMI FL (12) 7 10 0 7 24
OHIO ST (2) 3 23 10 0 36 FINAL
SCORING SUMMARY
1ST QUARTER: OHIO ST - FG, DEVIN BARCLAY 24 YD, 9:03.
OHIO ST 3-0
MIAMI FL - TD, LAMAR MILLER 88 YD KICKOFF
RETURN (MATT BOSHER KICK),
9:15. MIAMI FL 7-3
2ND QUARTER: MIAMI FL - FG, MATT BOSHER 5
Sep 11 7:09 PM - NCAAF
MIAMI FL (12) 24
OHIO ST (2) 36 0:00 LEFT, 4TH QTR
Sep 11 7:09 PM
TD MIAMI FL CHASE FORD 9 YD PASS FROM JACORY HARRIS (MATT BOSHER KICK)
Miami(12) 24, Ohio State(2) 36 4th - 14:52Sep 11 6:35 PM
TD MIAMI FL CHASE FORD 9 YD PASS FROM JACORY HARRIS (MATT BOSHER KICK)
Miami(12) 24, Ohio State(2) 36 4th - 14:52Sep 11 6:35 PM
TD MIAMI FL CHASE FORD 9 YD PASS FROM JACORY HARRIS (MATT BOSHER KICK)
Miami(12) 24, Ohio State(2) 36 4th - 14:52Sep 11 6:35 PM- NCAAF
MIAMI FL (12) 24
OHIO ST (2) 36 14:52 LEFT, 4TH QTR
Miami(12) 24, Ohio State(2) 36 4th - 14:52Sep 11 6:35 PM - NCAAF
MIAMI FL (12) 17
OHIO ST (2) 36 0:00 LEFT, 3RD QTR
Sep 11 6:31 PM - NCAAF
MIAMI FL (12) 17
OHIO ST (2) 36 1:29 LEFT, 3RD QTR
Miami(12) 17, Ohio State(2) 36 3rd - 1:29Sep 11 6:22 PM
TD OHIO ST TERRELLE PRYOR 13 YD RUN (DEVIN BARCLAY KICK)
Miami(12) 17, Ohio State(2) 33 3rd - 10:16Sep 11 5:59 PM
TD OHIO ST TERRELLE PRYOR 13 YD RUN (DEVIN BARCLAY KICK)
Miami(12) 17, Ohio State(2) 33 3rd - 10:16Sep 11 5:59 PM- NCAAF
MIAMI FL (12) 17
OHIO ST (2) 33 10:16 LEFT, 3RD QTR
Miami(12) 17, Ohio State(2) 33 3rd - 10:16Sep 11 5:59 PM - NCAAF
MIAMI FL (12) 17
OHIO ST (2) 26 0:00 LEFT, 2ND QTR
Miami(12) 17, Ohio State(2) 26 HalfSep 11 5:29 PM - NCAAF
MIAMI FL (12) 17
OHIO ST (2) 23 1:01 LEFT, 2ND QTR
Miami(12) 17, Ohio State(2) 23 2nd - 1:01Sep 11 5:20 PM
TD MIAMI FL TRAVIS BENJAMIN 79 YD PUNT RETURN (MATT BOSHER KICK)
Miami(12) 17, Ohio State(2) 20 2nd - 3:04Sep 11 5:06 PM
TD MIAMI FL TRAVIS BENJAMIN 79 YD PUNT RETURN (MATT BOSHER KICK)
Miami(12) 17, Ohio State(2) 20 2nd - 3:04Sep 11 5:06 PM- NCAAF
MIAMI FL (12) 17
OHIO ST (2) 20 3:04 LEFT, 2ND QTR
Miami(12) 17, Ohio State(2) 20 2nd - 3:04Sep 11 5:06 PM - NCAAF
MIAMI FL (12) 16
OHIO ST (2) 20 3:04 LEFT, 2ND QTR
Miami(12) 16, Ohio State(2) 20 2nd - 3:04Sep 11 5:06 PM
TD OHIO ST DANIEL HERRON 4 YD RUN (DEVIN BARCLAY KICK)
Miami(12) 10, Ohio State(2) 20 2nd - 6:17Sep 11 4:58 PM
TD OHIO ST DANIEL HERRON 4 YD RUN (DEVIN BARCLAY KICK)
Miami(12) 10, Ohio State(2) 20 2nd - 6:17Sep 11 4:58 PM- NCAAF
MIAMI FL (12) 10
OHIO ST (2) 20 6:17 LEFT, 2ND QTR
Miami(12) 10, Ohio State(2) 20 2nd - 6:17Sep 11 4:58 PM - NCAAF
MIAMI FL (12) 10
OHIO ST (2) 13 7:03 LEFT, 2ND QTR
Miami(12) 10, Ohio State(2) 13 2nd - 7:03Sep 11 4:51 PM
TD OHIO ST BRANDON SAINE 18 YD PASS FROM TERRELLE PRYOR (DEVIN BARCLAY KICK)
Miami(12) 10, Ohio State(2) 10 2nd - 12:23Sep 11 4:36 PM
TD OHIO ST BRANDON SAINE 18 YD PASS FROM TERRELLE PRYOR (DEVIN BARCLAY KICK)
Miami(12) 10, Ohio State(2) 10 2nd - 12:23Sep 11 4:36 PM
TD OHIO ST BRANDON SAINE 18 YD PASS FROM TERRELLE PRYOR (DEVIN BARCLAY KICK)
Miami(12) 10, Ohio State(2) 10 2nd - 12:23Sep 11 4:36 PM- NCAAF
MIAMI FL (12) 10
OHIO ST (2) 10 12:23 LEFT, 2ND QTR
Miami(12) 10, Ohio State(2) 10 2nd - 12:23Sep 11 4:36 PM - NCAAF
MIAMI FL (12) 10
OHIO ST (2) 3 13:05 LEFT, 2ND QTR
Miami(12) 10, Ohio State(2) 3 2nd - 13:05Sep 11 4:29 PM - NCAAF
MIAMI FL (12) 7
OHIO ST (2) 3 0:00 LEFT, 1ST QTR
Sep 11 4:21 PM
TD MIAMI FL LAMAR MILLER 88 YD KICKOFF RETURN (MATT BOSHER KICK)
Miami(12) 7, Ohio State(2) 3 1st - 5:45Sep 11 4:05 PM
TD MIAMI FL LAMAR MILLER 88 YD KICKOFF RETURN (MATT BOSHER KICK)
Miami(12) 7, Ohio State(2) 3 1st - 5:45Sep 11 4:05 PM- NCAAF
MIAMI FL (12) 7
OHIO ST (2) 3 5:45 LEFT, 1ST QTR
Miami(12) 7, Ohio State(2) 3 1st - 5:45Sep 11 4:05 PM - NCAAF
MIAMI FL (12) 6
OHIO ST (2) 3 5:45 LEFT, 1ST QTR
Miami(12) 6, Ohio State(2) 3 1st - 5:45Sep 11 4:05 PM - NCAAF
MIAMI FL (12) 0
OHIO ST (2) 3 5:57 LEFT, 1ST QTR
Miami(12) 0, Ohio State(2) 3 1st - 5:57Sep 11 4:01 PM
Related News
- Ohio State trending for 2026 five-star QB Dec 26
- Ohio State’s Cotton Bowl history by the numbers Dec 25
- You’re Nuts: Which holiday movie best sums up this Ohio State football season? Dec 25
- You’re Nuts: Where would be your most surprising transfer portal destination? Dec 24
- Buckeye fans are expecting big things from Devin Brown in the Cotton Bowl Dec 24
- MC&J: The Big Ten starts to get into college football’s bowl mix Dec 22
- Buckeyes still active in the 2024 class, remain just as active in the portal Dec 22
- Ohio State may not be done recruiting defensive linemen in 2024 Dec 22
- A debrief on what turned out to be a wild, but successful signing day for Ohio State Dec 21
- Even though things haven’t been going well for Ohio State, it’s not time to panic... but it might be soon Dec 20
- Who is OSU’s offensive star in the Cotton Bowl, what do you think the outcome is? Dec 20
- Hangout in the Holy Land Podcast: Is Ryan Day asleep at the wheel, or does he have a few tricks up his sleeve? Dec 20