NCAA Football Recap (Arizona-Ohio St)
Posted: Sat September 20, 1997 at 9:50 p.m. EDT
Stanley Jackson threw for one touchdown and ran for another and
linebacker Andy Katzenmoyer returned an interception for a score
as Ohio State hung on to defeat Arizona, 28-20.
Ohio State (3-0) took the lead six minutes into the first
quarter when Jackson connected with David Boston for a six-yard
score and extended it just 13 seconds later when Katzenmoyer
picked off Keith Smith and returned it 20 yards for the
touchdown.
Pepe Pearson's one-yard run with 45 seconds remaining in the
first half gave the Buckeyes a 21-0 lead. Jackson capped the
Ohio State scoring midway through the third quarter with a
24-yard TD run.
Boston had seven catches for 131 yards. Pearson was limited to
39 yards on 19 carries while Jackson was 7-of-11 for just 104
yards.
Smith led a fourth-quarter comeback as the Wildcats (1-2) cut
the deficit to 28-20. Smith scored on a nine-yard run and
connected with Brad Brennan for a two-yard score to make it
28-13 with 6:59 to play. Less than five minutes later, Smith
found Jeff Nadeau for a 17-yard TD strike.
Down eight, the Wildcats tried an onside kick that the Buckeyes
recovered on their own 48-yardline. After a two-yard gain by
Pearson, Arizona called their final timeout, stopping the clock
with 2:19 remaining. Two more runs by Pearson, for seven and
three yards, gave Ohio State the first down and they were able
to run out the clock.
"The only thing I am happy about is we won the game," said Ohio
State coach John Cooper. "We made a lot of mistakes and missed
a lot of tackles. We had too many turnovers (3) and gave up
some big plays. We have a lot of work to do if we are going to
be the football team I expect.
"We got them up 28-0 and turn the ball over, make some stupid
plays, get a field goal blocked and they are back into it. They
got some momentum and took it from there and we just played real
sloppy football."
Trung Candidate needed 26 carries to gain 85 yards for Arizona
and Brad Brennan caught six passes for 106 yards. Smith
finished 18-of-37 for 210 yards as Arizona outgained Ohio State
on the ground, 170-70.
"I think it's a team effort," said Arizona coach Dick Tomey. "I
don't think you can say the defense is playing great. We gave a
couple of big plays on defense. We win as a team, we lose as a
team. I like our fight, but that's about it."
It was the third meeting between the schools, all in Columbus.
Arizona won the initial meeting, 14-7, in 1967, while Ohio State
posted a 38-14 victory in 1991.
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