Northwestern ends futility
It was bad enough when Northwestern receiver Mark Philmore said Ohio State was no better than the Wildcats, conveniently overlooking all that tradition and those four national titles.
Then defensive end Luis Castillo piled on, brazenly calling Ohio State’s offense “mediocre.”
What nerve. What gall.
What a game.
The Wildcats and their fans partied into the wee hours, celebrating a stunning 33-27 overtime upset of the Buckeyes on Saturday night that ended generations of frustration and elated Northwestern fans across the country. It was the Wildcats’ first victory over Ohio State since 1971, ending a 24-game streak of ineptitude, and their first win at home in the series since 1958.
It also was Northwestern’s first victory over a top-10 team since beating then-No. 7 Wisconsin in double overtime in Madison on Sept. 23, 2000.
The loss dropped Ohio State (3-1) 11 spots in the poll with the loss, to No. 18.
“It was the greatest feeling in the world,” Castillo said. “What (were) they? No. 7? Ohio State? Thirty-three years? Saturday night lights? Prime-time TV? What else can you say?”
Nothing. Their play said it all.
“It’s an incredible feeling,” said Philmore, an Ohio native who had the first touchdown catch of his career. “To look up and just see the crowd, all I could say was, ‘Thank you.’ “
The Wildcats controlled the game almost the entire night, outgaining the Buckeyes 444-308, confusing their defense and making mediocre seem like a compliment for the Ohio State offense. Ohio State rallied for 10 points in the final nine minutes to force overtime, but a 40-yard field-goal attempt from the normally automatic Mike Nugent sailed wide right on the first overtime possession.
Northwestern quickly made the most of its second chance. On the second play, quarterback Brett Basanez scrambled to the left and up the sideline for a 21-yard gain. Two plays later, Noah Herron bulldozed his way into the end zone for the winning score, setting off pandemonium at the stadium.
Players piled on top of each other in the end zone, and students rushed the field, turning it into a purple mosh pit.
“It reminded me of two great heavyweights in the 15th round trading blows,” Northwestern coach Randy Walker said. “We got the last one in.”
More accolades for Chang
Hawaii’s Timmy Chang threw for 378 yards and three touchdowns and moved into second place on the NCAA’s career passing yardage list as the Warriors defeated Tulsa 44-16 late Saturday night in Honolulu.
Chad Owens had eight catches with two touchdowns and tied a career high with 182 receiving yards. He also returned a punt for a 66-yard score as the Warriors (1-2, 1-1 Western Athletic Conference) won for the first time this season.
Chang finished the night 22 of 43 and hasn’t thrown an interception in 159 pass attempts this season.
He needed just 6 yards to pass Philip Rivers’ mark of 13,484 yards, and passed the former North Carolina State star with a shovel pass that running back West Keliikipi turned into a 17-yard gain in the first offensive series against Tulsa (1-4, 0-1).
Big wins, upsets shake up poll
For the first time this season, the Associated Press poll received a serious shake-up — just not at the top.
Big wins by Auburn, Georgia, California and Purdue, combined with surprising losses by West Virginia, Ohio State and Fresno State helped to overhaul the media poll.
The top five remained the same for the third straight week, with No. 1 Southern California followed by Oklahoma, Georgia, Miami and Texas.
From there, changes were plentiful — including LSU’s 11-spot drop to No. 24.
Auburn’s 34-10 victory at Tennessee on Saturday moved the Tigers into national title contention and to No. 6 in the rankings. That’s where Auburn started last season, but 2003 didn’t work out as planned and the Tigers never lived up to the advanced billing.
Now, they are exceeding expectations.
Arizona State moved up to No. 19 and Boise State upped its ranking to 21st.