SportsDirect Inc. staff
Oct 5, 2013
No. 3 Ohio State 40, No. 15 Northwestern 30: Carlos Hyde rushed for a career-best 168 yards and scored three touchdowns as the Buckeyes overcame a 10-point, second-half deficit to slay the host Wildcats.
Hyde scored all his touchdowns in the second half, including a 7-yard jaunt with 5:22 to play, as Ohio State (6-0, 2-0 Big Ten Leaders) stretched the nation’s longest winning streak to 18 games. The Buckeyes have won 29 of their last 30 meetings against Northwestern.
The Wildcats (4-1, 0-1 Big Ten Legends) tried to rally after Hyde’s final touchdown but failed to pick up a first down on fourth-and-1 with 2:43 remaining. Northwestern got the ball back with 21 seconds left and its last-second lateral play ended with Ohio State’s Joey Bosa falling on the ball in the end zone for a touchdown.
The Wildcats had a 23-13 lead after Jeff Budzien connected from 32 yards out for his third field goal of the contest with 10:40 remaining in the third quarter. Hyde scored on a 4-yard scamper nearly seven minutes later to pull Ohio State within three and his 2-yard scoring run with 11:29 remaining gave the Buckeyes a 27-23 advantage before Trevor Siemian threw a 12-yard scoring pass to Cameron Dickerson to give Northwestern a three-point lead with 9:12 to play.
Ohio State took a 10-7 lead late in the first quarter when Bradley Roby blocked Brandon Williams’ punt in the end zone and recovered for a touchdown. Northwestern went back ahead on Kain Colter’s 2-yard run with 13:19 remaining in the first half and used two field goals from Budzien to take a 20-13 halftime advantage.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Northwestern QBs passed for 343 yards with Siemian going 13-for-18 for 245 yards and Kolter hitting all 12 of his attempts for 98 yards. … Ohio State QB Braxton Miller had 203 passing yards and 68 on the ground but also committed three turnovers on an interception and two lost fumbles. … Wildcats RB Venric Mark had 60 yards on 17 carries after missing the previous three games with a leg injury.