Smith comes to the rescue

By Charles Farmer
Contributing Columnist
Columbus Post

Watching the first half of the 102nd meeting between Ohio State and Michigan, which the Buckeyes led 12-7, reminded me of having a hot hand at a craps table in a Las Vegas casino. While you enjoy the moment in the back of your mind there’s always the thought of when will the good fortune end?
The history of the greatest rivalry in sports has shown that early leads usually don’t last in “The Game” which is why I wasn’t surprised to see Michigan mount a comeback and take a 21-12 lead in the fourth quarter. The question that loomed was would Ohio State have what it takes to overcome such a deficit on the road in the biggest game of the year?
While the Buckeye defense contained the Wolverine offense in the final quarter and created opportunities for their teammates on the other side of the ball, Ohio State was in desperate need of leadership, someone to step up and make big plays.
Enter quarterback Troy Smith who proved his worth once again to the Ohio State football team by throwing a 26 yard touchdown pass to Santonio Holmes and leading a 12 play, 88-yard final drive to secure a monumental 25-21 win over Michigan. The junior compiled an impressive 348 yards of total offense including completing 27 of 37 passes for 300 yards and two touchdowns.
“We needed to keep plugging away and tried to stay within the game. I want to give all the credit to the guys up front, without them none of this is possible,” Smith said.
In the true fashion of a leader, Smith gave the initial credit for the victory to his offensive line, which provided the protection that allowed him to make plays.
When he’s on his game, this type of effort seems routine for Smith, who is no stranger to making plays in crucial situations, particularly in “The Game.”

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