The Drive That Won The Rose Bowl

The Drive

Joe Germaine, the Ohio State quarterback from Mesa, Ariz., of all places, didn’t even start the Rose Bowl game, but he was entrusted with the final drive, which began at his 35-yard line with 1:33 to play.

He rewarded that trust by immediately throwing two incompletions, the second a dropped ball.

An 11-yard completion to Dimitrious Stanley got him a first down, though two more incompletions warmed the spirits in his home state. But he calmly found Stanley over the middle for 13 yards and found him again on the left sideline for 12 more to the Arizona State 29.

A false-start penalty pushed the Buckeyes back to the 34, but a pass-interference call against Jason Simmons gave the Buckeyes a first down at the 19.

Germaine went over the middle looking for Stanley again and missed. But another pass interference penalty, this one against Marcus Soward, gave the Buckeyes the ball at the Arizona five-yard line.

On first down, Germaine found David Boston in the right flat for the game-winning touchdown.

The Play

Ohio State isolated receiver David Boston (9) against defensive back Courtney Jackson (23) on “240 smash,” the game-winning play. The Buckeyes lined up two receivers on the right side, with Boston on the outside. He broke to the inside as if running a slant pattern, but stopped and cut to the right. Jackson began to backpedal as if playing zone, allowing Germaine to get Boston the ball in the right flat. Boston then turned and beat Jackson into the end zone.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

Play by Play

Arizona State’s Anderson kicks off from Arizona 35 to Keller, returns 14 yards to Ohio State 35 (T. Simmons tackle).

BUCKEYE BALL (1:40)

*1-10-O35

Germaine pass incomplete over middle, intended for Jones (Van der Ahe pass defense).

*2-10-O35

Germaine pass incomplete over middle, intended for Jones (Burnstein).

*3-10-O35

Germaine pass complete to button-hooking Stanley in right flat for 11 (J. Simmons).

*1-10-O46

Germaine pass incomplete. PENALTY--illegal receiver downfield declined.

*2-10-O46

Germaine pass incomplete, intended down left sideline.

*3-10-O46

Germaine pass complete to Stanley over the middle for 13 (Soward).

*1-10-A41

Germaine pass complete to Stanley on left sideline for 12 (Soward).

*1-10-A29

PENALTY--false start against Buckeyes at 0:46.

*1-10-A34

PENALTY--pass interference against Sun Devils inside A5.

*1-10-A19

Germaine pass lobbed incomplete, intended for Keller on right side.

*1-10-A19

(0:33) Germaine pass over middle incomplete, intended for Stanley (C. Jackson).

*1-10-A19

(0:28) PENALTY--pass interference inside A5.

*1-10-A5

(0:24) Germaine pass complete to Boston on right side at A2, turns into goal for TOUCHDOWN at (0:19).

Josh Jackson PAT (Bartholomew hold) is NO GOOD blocked by Burnstein.

65 yards, 12 plays, 1:21 time of possession.

OHIO STATE 20, ARIZONA STATE 17