Early in the fourth quarter on third down with 13 yards to go it looked as though the Oregon Duck defense was about to force an Ohio State punt.
But then sophomore quarterback Terrelle Pryor made the biggest play of his young Buckeye career. Pryor eluded multiple Oregon defenders in the pocket before scrambling out to his right and putting up a prayer.
The hands of 6-foot-6inch, 256-pound senior tight end Jake Ballard answered that prayer as he skied above the Oregon secondary to come down with the 24-yard reception. The catch was Ballard’s only of the game, but it could not have been timelier, and just five plays later the Buckeyes reached the end zone to put themselves up by nine.
“That was unbelievable,” senior offensive tackle Jim Cordle said of the grab. “First of all it was a great play by Terrelle throwing it up and giving him a chance. He went up, it looked like he was in the air for 10 seconds, wanted it, got it, and we won.”
Pryor, whose passing ability was heavily questioned prior to the game, had an outstanding day for Ohio State as he finished 23-of-37 passing for 266 yards and two touchdowns. In the Buckeyes previous three games Pryor had not attempted more than 17 passes, but right out of the gate it was clear they were going to establish the passing game.
The Buckeyes came out throwing on five of their first six plays from scrimmage, while the sixth play Pryor scampered for 24 yards on third and six to prolong the drive. Part of his inspiration today was the doubts people were having heading into the match up.
“That was probably a motivational factor for No. 2,” sophomore receiver DeVier Posey said. “He knows how good he is and we know how good he can be, we just wanted to support him.”
His knee injury, which was kept quiet for the latter half of the season, was not an issue as far as Pryor’s mobility was concerned. He finished the night with a team-high 72 yards rushing on 20 carries.
Posey, Pryor’s favorite target on the year pulled down eight receptions for 101 yards and the game-sealing touchdown with seven minutes remaining in the final quarter. That same play had gotten Posey open several times on the night, but Pryor hadn’t been able to make the throw.
“It was the same play,” Posey said. “It’s just a fade, but we’ve been working on the back shoulder and Terrelle just put it right on the money.”
Oregon kicker Morgan Flint was then unable to connect on the ensuing 44-yard field goal attempt and the Buckeyes were able to run out the remaining minutes on the clock to seal their 26-17 victory. The win gave head coach Jim Tressel and his senior class their first bowl win in the past four years after losing the previous three.
“It’s a spring board,” defensive end Cameron Heyward said. “It says a lot about our leadership and the seniors and it just shows that you can’t ever count us out because we’re going to keep fighting.”
After the game Ohio State was presented with the Rose Bowl trophy and Pryor was named the Offensive Most Valuable Player.
“It was huge for us to get over that hump and win this game,” Pryor said. “And we’ve just got to keep on winning.”
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