NCAA Football Recap (Ohio St-Missouri)
Posted: Sat September 27, 1997 at 8:29 p.m. EDT
Joe Germaine came off the bench to throw two touchdown passes to
David Boston, sparking a listless attack and helping
Ohio State to a 31-10 victory over Missouri.
Replacing an ineffective Stanley Jackson, Germaine hooked up
with Boston on scoring passes of five and 28 yards for Ohio
State (4-0). The Buckeyes, who were playing their first road
game of the season, open their Big Ten Conference schedule with
number nine Iowa and then play at Penn State.
"I'm just happy to win the game," said Buckeyes coach John
Cooper, who beat coach Larry Smith for the first time in five
tries. "I thought Mizzou was an excellent team. With the
hostile crowd and the talent Mizzou has, I'm very happy with a
win."
Pepe Pearson had a three-yard touchdown run in the first quarter
and Michael Wiley bowled in from one yard late in the third
quarter for Ohio State, which had another scoring drive thwarted
by a fumble by Pearson at the goal line.
Quarterback Corby Jones had an eight-yard TD scamper for
Missouri (2-2), which was denied in its bid for its first 3-1
start in 17 years.
"I think our team played very hard, but Ohio State is a good
team... with speed," said Smith. "Field position hurt us, we
couldn't get out of the hole."
Ohio State, which played at Missouri for the first time in
school history, leads the all-time series 9-1-1. The schools
were meeting for the first time since 1976.
The Buckeyes looked like they were going to run away with it
early as Pearson dashed in from three yards out just 3:18 into
the game. But Missouri, running the option, began to found a
rhythm and eventually tied the game when Jones slashed inside on
the left and scored from eight yards out.
Missouri took its only lead of the game at 10-7 when Scott
Knickman booted a 27-yard field goal two seconds into the second
quarter, capping an eight-play, 61-yard drive.
But Germaine entered the game and began to extend Missouri's
defense. Boston, who finished with five receptions for 101
yards, caught a 30-yard pass to the Missouri 5. Germaine then
called for an out pattern in the end zone and somehow, Boston,
despite falling to his knees, was able to corral a tipped pass
for the touchdown that made it 14-10.
The duo bumped the lead to 21-10 as Germaine fired a pass down
the left sideline that Boston caught as he battled off a
cornerback in the end zone. As Ohio State's defense suffocated
the Tigers, the offense put the game out of reach as Wiley
powered in from one yard with 1:30 left in the third quarter.
"It felt really good," said Germaine. "It was good for my
confidence and really got us into the flow and gave us some
momentum. David Boston did a great job getting open."
Dan Stultz completed the scoring with a 28-yard field goal 5:04
into the fourth quarter.
Germaine completed 8-of-12 passes for 186 yards while Pearson
carried 10 times for 101 yards. Ohio State rolled up 367 yards
of total offense and converted 6-of-15 third-down plays.
Jones ran for 95 yards on 18 rushes but was only 9-of-25 for 140
yards with three interceptions for Missouri, which committed
four turnovers. Brock Olivo, who had 44 yards on 10 carries,
became the school's all-time leading rusher with 2,616 yards. He
surpassed Darrell Wallace, who had 2,607 yards from 1984-87.
"I don't even want to talk about it," said Olivo. "The credit
should be given to the o-line and the coaches for giving me the
opportunity. It took me enough carries for me to do it. I
should have done it a long time ago."
Olivo is only nine yards shot of reaching 3,000 all-purpose
yards.
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