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TAMPA, Fla. | South Carolina 31, Ohio State 28




Bellisari will play for Buckeyes in Outback -- but where?
 
OSU linemen working together despite differences, lawsuit
 
Gamecocks snap four-game losing streak vs. Clemson
 
Ohio State's win stops Michigan from winning Big Ten
 

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Outback Bowl
The Gamecocks' Daniel Weaver wins the game with this 42-yard field goal.
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Outback Bowl
The Buckeyes' Steve Bellisari connects with Darnell Sanders to tie the game at 28.
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Wild in the Outback
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S. Carolina's Daniel Weaver is mobbed after his game-winning kick.
 
Steve Bellisari had already rallied Ohio State from four TDs down and looked ready to complete the greatest comeback in Outback Bowl history. But South Carolina's Sheldon Brown had other plans. Brown's late interception set up Daniel Weaver's 42-yard last-second field goal to give the Gamecocks a 31-28 win over Ohio State.
 

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICAL LEADERS
  OHIO STATE YDS SOUTH CAROLINA YDS
Passing Steve Bellisari 1599 Phil Petty 1699
Rushing Jonathan Wells 1257 Derek Watson 591
Receiving Michael Jenkins 836 Brian Scott 647

TEAM STATISTICAL COMPARISON
 
Total Offense
   338.2  
   330.6  

Passing Yards
  163.8  
   159.5  

Passing completion %
   50.6  
   56.4  

Completions
   126  
   159  

Attempts
   249  
   282  
Scoring Offense
   26  
   25.8  

Scoring Defense
   20.3  
   19.2  

Rushing Yards
   174.4  
   171.1  

Rushing attempts
   513  
   451  

Key:
 Ohio State
 South Carolina


"Steve Bellisari showed a lot of poise and almost got the Buckeyes the win. Maybe he learned something from his off the field problems. Too bad he didn't play like this all season. Who knows what might have been."


Big Ten notebook
As the season draws to a close, it's time to look back at the highs and lows as well as salute the best coach and players in the Big Ten.
 
SEC notebook
As the season draws to a close, it's time to look back at the highs and lows as well as salute the best coach and players in the SEC.
 
Looking back at the experts' preseason picks
Looking back at the experts' preseason picks
 
More News & Features
Final
Ohio State (23)28
South Carolina (14)31
Recap  | Box Score  | GameCast



WITH ROD GILMORE   

The official made a terrible call late in the game when he gave Ohio State an unsportsmanlike penalty based on a celebration after the Buckeyes intercepted a pass. That changed the end of the game. It put Ohio State in the shadow of its own goal posts and prevented the Buckeyes from running their offense the way they would have. I was shocked when Steve Bellisari threw the ball down the field as almost as a give-up play. Sheldon Brown intercepted the pass and, after a great return, put South Carolina in field-goal range. With 14 seconds to go, the Gamecocks did the right thing running the ball inside just to get them in good position to kick the 42-yard field goal. Getting the extra few yards turned out to be the difference because Daniel Weaver's kick barely made it.

IT WAS OVER WHEN
Daniel Weaver's 42-yard field goal went through the uprights as time expired to give the Gamecocks the win. While it may have seemed over much earlier, Ohio State's Steve Bellisari rallied the Buckeyes before a late interception set up Weaver's game-winning kick.
GAME BALL GOES TO
South Carolina's Phil Petty deserves a game ball for throwing a pair of TDs and 270 yards, but we also give one to Bellisari. Humbled by a DUI, he only recently rejoined the team. But Bellisari came off the bench to rally the Buckeyes from a 28-0 deficit and had them in position to win the game late.


OHIO STATE CLUBHOUSE
Steve Bellisari returned to the field in the Outback Bowl and nearly pulled off a miraculous comeback.

SOUTH CAROLINA CLUBHOUSE
Daniel Weaver saved his best kick for last on New Year's Day in the Outback Bowl.



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OHIO STATE
Outback Foes High Off Rivalries (12/31)
C. Gaddis / Tampa Tribune
Outback Notebook (12/31)
D. Norrie / Tampa Tribune
Bentley wants to finish on winning note (12/31)
B. Hooley / Cleveland Plain Dealer
Plus 66 more Site Lines on Insider.

SOUTH CAROLINA
Outback Foes High Off Rivalries (12/31)
C. Gaddis / Tampa Tribune
Outback Notebook (12/31)
D. Norrie / Tampa Tribune
Bentley wants to finish on winning note (12/31)
B. Hooley / Cleveland Plain Dealer
Plus 64 more Site Lines on Insider.



OHIO STATE VS. SOUTH CAROLINA