fiesta bowl texas 24, ohio state 21
Buckeyes rally, but Longhorns score with 16 seconds left
Tuesday, January 06, 2009
GLENDALE, Ariz. — Ohio State made good on its plan to play quarterbacks Todd Boeckman and Terrelle Pryor at the same time, and the strategy worked.
But OSU's two heads were not quite better than Texas' one Monday night, Jan. 5, at University of Phoenix Stadium.
Longhorns quarterback Colt McCoy set a Fiesta Bowl record with 41 completions, and his 26-yard touchdown pass to Quan Cosby with 16 seconds remaining gave No. 3 Texas a 24-21 victory, sending the Buckeyes to an excruciating loss, their third straight in a bowl game.
Cosby, who had 14 receptions for 171 yards, ran a quick slant from the left slot and squeezed past safety Anderson Russell before turning upfield for the winning score.
"When you have guys like Colt and Quan ... these guys are obviously one of the best teams in the country, if not the best," Texas coach Mack Brown said.
"It was a great game," Ohio State coach Jim Tressel said.
Texas (12-1) went 78 yards in less than two minutes for the winning touchdown, recapturing the lead after the Buckeyes scored the first 15 points of the fourth quarter.
Quarterbacks Boeckman and Pryor combined on a 5-yard scoring pass with 7:31 left, with Boeckman finding Pryor in the right corner of the end zone.
It was Pryor's first reception of the season — he lined up at wide receiver about a dozen times and at halfback once when Boeckman was used at quarterback.
That brought the Buckeyes within two, 17-15, before a 2-point conversion attempt failed.
Ohio State (10-3) needed only one more series to take the lead, however.
After forcing Texas to punt, Pryor and Boeckman drove the Buckeyes 73 yards in eight plays, with Boeckman making the key completion on a 22-yarder to Brian Robiskie to the Texas 23-yard line.
Dan Herron scored on a 15-yard run over left tackle two plays later, and OSU led 21-17 with 2:05 to play.

Texas quarterback Colt McCoy celebrates as he scores against Ohio State during the Fiesta Bowl in Glendale, Ariz., on Monday, Jan. 5.
McCoy was 41-of-58 passing and threw for 413 yards with two touchdowns.