On Enemy Turf, Pryor Makes Ohio State Believe

Paul Smith - View From the Midwest

Thursday, 25 November 2010 22:48

So, yes, this would be a true away game. Just as it was in Madison, where the Bucks suffered their only 2010 loss, 31-18, to the now No. 5 Badgers. Just as it was Oct. 16, 2004, when the Buckeyes suffered their worst Big Ten loss in the Jim Tressel Decade — 33-7... at Iowa.

The fact that No. 24 Iowa was 7-3 was immaterial. The Hawkeyes have had their 2010 highlight-reel moments — the 24-3 crunching of Penn State, an overwhelming 37-6 win three weeks back against previously unbeaten Michigan State (still 10-1 and smarting from the beatdown that knocked Sparty out of the BCS/national-title conversation).

And of course, when the Hawks (7-4 overall, 4-3 in Big Ten play) slammed the door on the Ohio State offense in the game's opening series, then stomped their way downfield to an early 7-0 lead running through the Bucks' almost-impregnable defense, the warning flags were up from Conneaut to Cincy. The early touchdown came on a Ricky Stanzi to wide-open Marvin McNutt 19-yarder. Too easy?

“This is Iowa — c’mon...” Tressel admonished the news media.

From that point, the No. 8 Bucks' collective alarm system was up and running, but despite a Devin Barclay field goal and Terrelle Pryor's 5-yard flip to Rick Fragel that gave the Bucks a 10-7 lead in the early-mid second quarter, the Hawks earned a halftime tie with a 31-yard Michael Meyer field goal with 3:30 to play.

The fact that Iowa continued to turn the game into a built-for-Hawkeyes grindout that included countless Iowa blitzers and regular pass-rushers chasing Pryor from sideline-to-sideline didn't help the Bucks' efforts to stay in the Big Ten title chase with No. 5 Wisconsin (10-1, 6-1, same record as Ohio State).

Marcus Coker slammed in from one yard out early in the fourth quarter for a 17-10 lead and Pryor's competitive juices began flowing. The Bucks managed a 48-yard Barclay field goal, but as the minutes dwindled, the scoreboard seemed locked into position, Ohio State's 17-13 fate seemingly sealed by Iowa's grudging defense.

But this, time tells us, is where Pryor can be at his best.

"They looked in my eyes; I looked in their eyes and I was 'Let's go, let's go get this!' " Pryor told AOL online college sports writer Brett McMurphy. "I could definitely lead them and they know that. That was it. They knew I was going to lead them back. I don't want to be denied. I hate losing."

And so, with the clock an unforgiving enemy, the Bucks grimly took their one last shot in the game's final minutes.

They drove to midfield and, facing third-and-10, Pryor seemed to have staged a heroic that would have even given Shakespeare pause. DeVier Posey broke wide open behind Iowa's talented secondary and Pryor lofted the quintessentially perfect rainbow to his deepest threat.

Dropped.

On many a sideline from Chestnut Hill to Corvallis, jaws would have sagged. "Was I pissed?" Pryor repeated a question. "Yes, I was mad.

"I went to the sideline and coach (Tressel) saw me," Pryor told Columbus Dispatch columnist Bob Hunter. "Nothing against DeVier. He's one of my best friends and I love him to death, but when you see a drop, I'm so competitive."

He is also one of the best advice-takers anywhere.

After Tressel's father-and-sonly encouragement, Pryor didn't need reminded he still had one last shot. Fourth-and-10. The Iowa fans reaching epic decibels. And...

"I was going to run the whole time," he told McMurphy. "I found running room, had some good blocking and cut it up."

The 14-yard scamper gave the Bucks a fresh shot of adrenaline and Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz's unending admiration. "I don't know how many guys in the conference or in the country could have made that play," he said.

Two running plays got the Bucks to the Iowa 26 and suddenly Pryor became Head Coach du Moment, telling Tressel what he'd run.

A 24-yard completion to Dane Sanzenbacher resulted and Daniel "Boom" Herron's game-winning one-yard smash was almost a mere formality.

"I might not have the best stats or be the best quarterback," Pryor acknowledged, "but I guarantee you I can bring my team back and make them believe they can come back."

Sort of a latter-day Tug McGraw "Ya Gotta Believe" statement. Last Saturday, it was just enough.

About Paul Smith

Paul Smith covers the Big Ten, Notre Dame and the rest of the national college football scene with his View From the Midwest.

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