LSU Routs Ohio State In Championship Game

Buckeyes Stumble Again As Tigers Win 38-24 For Second BCS Crown In Five Seasons

(AP)  Too easy.

No. 2 LSU danced, dodged and darted its way into the end zone Monday night, turning the BCS national championship game into a horrible replay for No. 1 Ohio State. It was over early, with Matt Flynn throwing four touchdown passes in a 38-24 win.

Playing at their home-away-from-home in the Big Easy, LSU (12-2) became the first two-loss team to play for the title. Shouts of "SEC! SEC!" bounced around the Superdome as the Tigers won their second BCS crown in five seasons. They are the first school to win a second title since BCS rankings began with the 1998 season.

And in a season of surprises, this was hardly an upset: Ohio State once again fell apart in college football's biggest game. A year after the Buckeyes were routed by Tim Tebow and Florida 41-14 in the Arizona desert, they barely did better.

Jacob Hester bulled for a short touchdown, Early Doucet wiggled loose for a touchdown and All-American Glenn Dorsey led a unit that outplayed the top-ranked defense in the nation. Ohio State (11-2) had little to celebrate after Chris "Beanie" Wells broke loose for a 65-yard TD run on the fourth play of the game.

Yet while LSU got to hoist the $30,000 crystal trophy, certainly many fans around the country were peering into their crystal balls, wondering if someone else was worthy of the title. Southern California, Georgia, West Virginia, Kansas and Missouri all put on impressive shows in bowl games, and will be among the favorites in 2008.

The final Associated Press poll was to be released early Tuesday.

LSU became just the fourth favorite to win in 10 BCS championship games. Coach Les Miles probably got a little extra satisfaction, too. Though he turned down a chance to return home to Michigan, he did something his alma mater hasn't done recently - beat the Buckeyes.

The loss left Ohio State at 0-9 overall in bowl games against teams from the Southeastern Conference. The SEC delights in whipping Big Ten teams in what's become a rivalry that steams up fans on both sides.

The Tigers rallied from an early 10-0 deficit, taking a 24-10 lead that held up. Two big plays on special teams kept them ahead - they blocked a field goal, and later took advantage of a roughing-the-kicker penalty.

Flynn hit Doucet with a 4-yard toss with 9:04 left for a 31-10 lead and celebration was on in earnest. The Buckeyes made the score more respectable on Todd Boeckman's 5-yard TD pass on fourth down to Brian Robiskie, only to have Flynn come back and throw his second TD pass to Richard Dickson.

As the clocked down, Boeckman threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to Brian Hartline.

Ohio State was trying to win its second BCS title in six years, and add to the one that coach Jim Tressel captured by upsetting Miami 31-24 in double overtime for the 2002 championship.

For sure, the Buckeyes were perhaps the most-maligned No. 1 team in recent memory, with critics attacking them all season. Tressel gave his players a 10-minute DVD filled with insults hurled at them by television and radio announcers, hoping it would motivate his team.

Instead, the Tigers ravaged the nation's best defense and showed that maybe all those naysayers were right.

Known as a punishing runner, Wells got the game off to a quick start. On the fourth play from scrimmage, the Buckeyes' bruising back started left, made a nifty cut right and burst through the middle.

Wells was gone, off on the longest run of his career. And so much for SEC speed - Wells outran All-America safety Craig Steltz for a 65-yard TD.

Wells was welcomed by a familiar face once he got back to the sideline. Miami Dolphins receiver Ted Ginn Jr., wearing scarlet and gray Mardi Gras beads, knew all about early strikes. He provided Ohio State's only highlight in last year's BCS title game, returning the opening kickoff for a touchdown.

This time, Ohio State made it 10-0 on its next possession. Boeckman hit a wide-open Brandon Saine for 44 yards, setting up Ryan Pretorius' 25-yard field goal.

Only five minutes into the game, Ohio State and its all-brass band was blowing away the Tigers. LSU looked dazed and defensive coordinator Bo Pelini - who now becomes Nebraska's full-time coach

had few answers.

Fortunately for the Tigers, their offense started clicking. On a team full of flash, it was the steady ol' Hester who settled down LSU.

First, he barreled into All-America linebacker James Laurinaitis for a short gain. Both players are the rugged type and in a nice show of sportsmanship, Laurinaitis - whose dad, Joe, once starred as "Animal" in the "Legion of Doom" wrestling tag team - helped up Hester.

Hester broke off a 20-yard run on the next play, and LSU eventually got a 32-yard field goal from Colt David that made it 10-3.

That score late in the first quarter seemed to jazz everyone in purple and gold. The Tigers zoomed into fast motion, the band's Golden Girls suddenly put more bounce in their step and thousands of fans started screaming even louder.

Flynn also seemed to recognize exactly what Ohio State was trying to do. LSU quarterbacks spend a lot of time with an Xbox, playing a custom-made video game to read defenses. Apparently, what worked on the screen did even better on the field.

Two big penalties against Ohio State helped set up Flynn's 13-yard touchdown pass to Dickson, who somehow found himself uncovered. Flynn punctuated the strike by hollering, giving a wild fist pump and putting up both hands to signal TD.

Tied at 10, the Buckeyes counted on Wells. He delivered one of the season's best stiff-arms on a 29-yard romp, and Ohio State seemed poised to retake the lead.

Instead, LSU defensive end Ricky Jean-Francois crashed through the middle, swung his big right arm and blocked Pretorius' 38-yard field goal try.

As Ohio State trudged off the field and LSU sprung on, it was all over. It only took a while to confirm it.

LSU turned to another of its five dangerous tailbacks, and NCAA sprint star Trindon Holliday zigzagged closer to the goal line. Flynn's perfect pass to Brandon LaFell in the back left corner of the end zone put the Tigers ahead 17-10.

Then, it was time for LSU's defense to make the big play. Cornerback Chevis Jackson intercepted Boeckman's loss toss and streaked 34 yards down the right sideline.

The Tigers moved to a first-and-goal at 1. On third down, Hester plunged up the middle and it was 24-10 with four-plus minutes left in the first half.

No doubt, this was a replay the Buckeyes hoped to avoid. Last January, the top-ranked Buckeyes got blitzed in the BCS title game, falling behind 34-14 at halftime to Florida.

On this night, the Buckeyes were equally humbled. Done in the locker room, offensive coordinator Jim Bollman led a silent, single-file line of coaches through the press box and back to their booth for the second half.

[mnmtrscutr]

Now that was one bbborringg game. Got my checking account balanced, clothes washed, dried and folded, hair washed and blow dried, dishes washed, dried and put away, two magazines read and read all my spam before halftime. Now that Texas Tech game, that was a ball game worthy of the name. I got nothing done but watch the game.

[slim1h2o]

Where is singinrick that two years in a row for Ohio State trying to keep pace with G.W. evidently.

Posted by red164 at 05:42 PM : Jan 08, 2008

What''s the obsession with singinrick? He''s not even posting here!

If you guys have a problem with him,,, take it up with him,, on a another post,,,not here!

BTW,,, he''ll shred you guys in a debate.

[red164]

Where is singinrick that two years in a row for Ohio State trying to keep pace with G.W. evidently.

[simonsez40]

I''m with a Playoff system and a College Super Bowl - most of the Bowl games are to generate money - not to prove who the best team is...........when are they going to toss out this stupid Bowl system and get a real championship.

[rafterman1]

===I loved those Buffalo teams of the 90s with thurman thomas, don beebe, Bruce smith, Darrel Talley, cornelius bennet, jim kelley, frank reich, great teams loaded with allstars and great personalities.===

Ah, yes. The days before the salary cap. Keeping a team like that together now would be impossible, though the Pats are close.

[ov442]

yeah talk about getting to superbowls, the Detroit Lions have been to so many its getting boring now... not.

one of the oldest franchises in Football history, and no superbowls.
Look at the number of expansion franchises, or franchises that packed up and moved somewhere else that have made it or even won it.
Tampa bay, Tennessee, Atlanta, carolina, the baltimore ravens (used to be colts) St. Louis Rams, etc.
I loved those Buffalo teams of the 90s with thurman thomas, don beebe, Bruce smith, Darrel Talley, cornelius bennet, jim kelley, frank reich, great teams loaded with allstars and great personalities.

[slim1h2o]

Buffalo native here, and Bills fan. I would rather they have not made the Super Bowls than to lose like they did. Losing one Super Bowl is gutwrenching for a fan. Losing four in a row is indescribable.

Posted by Rafterman1 at 11:20 AM : Jan 08, 2008

I understand your frustration, and on a certain level I agree with you. They should have one at least 1!!

But,, However,,going to 4 straight, is an incredible feat, in and of it''s ownself,,and one that won''t be duplicated, , anytime soon.

Unless the Pats do it,,BTW,,,I''m a Bills fan too!

[rafterman1]

===Well, If they or anyone, thinks that going to a Super Bowl 4 straight yrs, is somehow, a loser!! I''''d take that record any day.===

Buffalo native here, and Bills fan. I would rather they have not made the Super Bowls than to lose like they did. Losing one Super Bowl is gutwrenching for a fan. Losing four in a row is indescribable.

[micma-2009]

singinrick


You either didn''t pray enough or God just doesn''t like the Buckeyes. The good news is that the Bible indicates this as a sure sign of the end of the world. Jesus is coming, look busy.

[keith.butler]

Ya gotta luv all these armchair quarterbacks! They''re all experts, commenting and criticizing a really meaningless event when children are starving, women and men are being cut up with machete''s like bush meat and the next murder-bomber is being told he can''t harvest his olive trees cuz they''re on the wrong side of the *** wall.

The glass is neither half full nor half empty.... it is broken.