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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- The formula for success at Ohio
State (No. 19 ESPN/USA Today, No. 16 AP) remains quite simple.
"We're 7-2 right now because we're not turning the ball over
and we're getting turnovers," Buckeyes coach John Cooper said.
"Our kicking game's been pretty sound. We're playing pretty good
defense. That's how you win."
|  | | Ohio State quarterback Steve Bellisari went 9-for-20 for 132 yards and threw two interceptions Saturday. |
Safety Michael Doss jump-started the lethargic Buckeyes with a
73-yard fumble return and the defense shut down Michigan State in
the last three quarters as Ohio State beat the Spartans 27-13 on
Saturday.
Derek Combs helped the Buckeyes play keepaway with the ball in
the second half, running for 153 yards and a touchdown.
Michigan State (4-5, 1-5 Big Ten) couldn't sustain a 13-3 lead,
turning the ball over four times and surrendering seven sacks.
"Seventeen points on turnovers. You take that away and it's a
whole different ball game," Spartans coach Bobby Williams said.
"It's not what they did. It's what we did."
Michigan State actually ran more plays in Ohio State territory
than its own, 40-35. In the first half alone, 33 of the Spartans'
44 snaps took place in the Buckeyes' half of the field.
The Buckeyes (7-2, 4-2), after giving up 115 yards in the first
quarter, allowed only 96 yards in the final three periods.
"We started well. We moved the ball up and down the field. The
defense created turnovers and they gave us the ball in good
position," said Michigan State running back T.J. Duckett, who had
76 rushing yards at halftime but only seven in the second half.
"But we couldn't put the ball in the end zone. That's been the
story all year long."
Tied at 13 at halftime, the Buckeyes took their first lead on
Steve Bellisari's 1-yard dive. The drive started at the 17 after
Nate Clements returned Craig Jarrett's punt 20 yards and 15 yards
were tacked on when Clements was hit after he stepped out of
bounds.
The teams traded punts, but Michigan State's Ziehl Kavanaght
muffed the kick at his own 15 and Ohio State's Robert Reynolds
recovered.
Combs, who carried 31 times, then covered the distance in two
attempts, including the last nine yards on the next-to-last play of
the third quarter to end the scoring.
After building the 10-point lead on touchdown runs of 1 yard by
Little John Flowers and 6 yards by quarterback Jeff Smoker, the
Spartans had first downs at the Ohio State 39, 22, 42 and 46 in the
second quarter but didn't score on any of them.
Early in the fourth quarter, Michigan State's Jace Sayler
recovered a fumbled snap by Bellisari at the Buckeyes' 29.
After a first down aided by a facemask penalty, the Spartans
netted 3 yards on two runs and an incompletion. David Schaefer, who
earlier missed an extra-point kick, then came on and missed the
20-yard field-goal attempt.
It wasn't just the Spartans' offense that had problems.
Bellisari, who was 9-for-20 for 132 yards passing, was
intercepted twice and several other passes could have been picked
off or were nowhere near an Ohio State receiver.
Smoker, who completed 10-of-18 passes for 77 yards with an
interception, also turned over the ball on two key plays that kept
the Buckeyes in the game.
On third-and-4 from the Ohio State 16 midway through the second
period, Smoker sustained a blindside hit from Buckeye defensive end
Brent Johnson. The ball popped loose, Doss scooped it up and outran
everyone.
"I just looked down, saw the ball, picked it up and was on my
way," Doss said.
With a minute left in the half, Ohio State was forced to punt
but the snap sailed over punter Dan Stultz's head by at least 4
feet. He eventually picked up the ball and tossed a pass to
linebacker Joe Cooper, who dropped it.
Michigan State took over at the Ohio State 46 and on first down
Smoker's pass in the left flat was intercepted -- by Cooper. Behind
Bellisari's 40-yard bomb to Ken-Yon Rambo, the Buckeyes drove to
the Michigan State 13 before settling for Stultz's 38-yard field
goal.
Michigan State had dealt the Buckeyes memorable losses each of
the last two years. Two years ago, Ohio State was ranked No. 1 in
the nation but the four-touchdown underdog Spartans scored the last
19 points in a 28-24 upset at Ohio State's Horseshoe.
Last year, the Spartans limited Ohio State to zero rushing yards
in a 23-7 win.
"They've owned us. They came in here in '98 and took over our
house, then pounded us last year," defensive back Donnie Nickey
said. "It's good to take back the 'Shoe.'"
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ALSO SEE
College Football Scoreboard
Michigan State Clubhouse
Ohio State Clubhouse
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Brent Johnson sacks Jeff Smoker to set up Michael Doss' fumble recovery for a 73-yard TD.
avi: 1157 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Little John Flowers spins out of a tackle on his way to a TD.
avi: 1319 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Derek Combs races in for a nine-yard TD.
avi: 819 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Jeff Smoker takes it up the middle for a TD on the quarterback keeper.
avi: 609 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
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