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1978 MICHIGAN AT OHIO STATE PLAY-BY-PLAY LOG

SITE: Ohio Stadium
DATE: November 25th, 1978
ATTENDANCE: 88,358
TEMP: 40 degrees
WIND: SW 5-10 mph
SKIES: Began as overcast, but became sunny in 2nd quarter

FIRST QUARTER

Michigan won the toss and elected to receive
Ohio State elected to defend the South Goal

Tony Jackson received Atha’s kickoff at the M1 and returned it 20 yards (tackle made by Laughlan)

MICHIGAN (14:56)
1st & 10 on M21 – Russell Davis, on first option give, went over LG for 4 (Cousineau)
2nd & 6 on M25 – Butch Woolfolk, on counter play, ran over LG for 3
3rd & 3 on M28 – Rick Leach kept on wishbone option for 3
1st & 10 on M31 – Woolfolk up the middle for 13
1st & 10 on M44 – Davis was stopped at center for 1 (Sullivan)
2nd & 9 on M45 – Woolfolk took pitch at LE for 1
3rd & 8 on M46 – Leach, back to pass, avoided two defenders and scrambled up the middle for –1 (Dansler)
4th & 9 on M45 – Gregg Willner punted to the O27 where it was downed by Roosevelt Smith

OHIO STATE (11:26)
1st & 10 on O27 – Schlichter kept on reverse option around LE for 4
2nd & 6 on O31 – Volley, on first option give, went over RT for 3
3rd & 3 on O34 – Volley, on first option give, went over LT for 6 (Ben Needham)
1st & 10 on O40 – Schlichter rolled right and passed to Springs for 5
2nd & 5 on O45 – Springs took pitch over RT for 4 (Andy Cannavino)
3rd & 1 on O49 – Volley over LT for 3 (Needham)
1st & 10 on M48 – Volley, on first option give, ran over RT for 2 (Cannavino)
2nd & 8 on M46 – Springs took option pitch around RE for 8 (Mike Harden)
1st & 10 on M38 – Springs took pitch over RE for 2 (Jerry Meter)
2nd & 8 on M36 – Schlichter rolled left and under pressure gained 7 (Ron Simpkins)
3rd & 1 on M29 – Campbell, from full house T, ran over RT for 3 (Simpkins)
1st & 10 on M26 – Schlichter, on option keeper, gained 3 over LT (Meter)
2nd & 7 on M23 – Schlichter rolled right and was chased out of bounds by Mike Trgovac for –6
3rd & 13 on M29 – Volley gained 8 on draw play up the middle (Simpkins)
4th & 5 on M21 – Atha’s 38-yard field goal attempt was no good, wide left

MICHIGAN (4:58)
1st & 10 on M21 – Woolfolk took option pitch around LE for 6
2nd & 4 on M27 – Woolfolk was stopped at RG by Sullivan & Henson for no gain
3rd & 4 on M27 – Davis on draw play for 3
4th & 1 on M30 – Guess received Willner’s punt at the O39 and returned it 11 yards (Needham)

OHIO STATE (3:25)
1st & 10 on M50 – Volley over LG for 21 yards (Harden)
1st & 10 on M29 – Springs took option pitch around LE for 11 (Curtis Greer)
1st & 10 on M18 – Schlichter, on option keeper, cut over RT for 6 (Trgovac, Simpkins)
2nd & 4 on M12 – Schlichter, on option keeper, slipped for –1
3rd & 5 on M13 – Springs, on pitch sweep, slipped down for a gain of only 1
4th & 4 on M12 – Atha kicked a 29-yard FIELD GOAL

SCORE: OHIO STATE 3 - MICHIGAN 0

Atha kicked off out of bounds
PENALTY: ILLEGAL PROCEDURE – OHIO STATE - 5 YARDS
Jackson received Atha’s kick at the M3 and returned it to the M30

MICHIGAN (1:08)
1st & 10 on M30 – Woolfolk, on sweep left, went for no gain (Cato)
2nd & 10 on M30 – Leach, on play action pass, threw complete to Doug Marsh for 26 yards (Guess)
1st & 10 on O44 – Leach, on play action pass, threw complete to Woolfolk over the middle for 14 yards
1st & 10 on O30 – Leach, on play action pass, threw complete to Rodney Feaster cutting over the middle for the TOUCHDOWN
Willner kicked the extra point

SCORE: MICHIGAN 7 - OHIO STATE 3

Bryan Virgil kicked off out of bounds
PENALTY: ILLEGAL PROCEDURE – MICHIGAN - 5 YARDS
Bryan Virgil kicked off out of bounds again
PENALTY: ILLEGAL PROCEDURE – MICHIGAN - 5 YARDS
Murray received Virgil’s kick at the O18 and returned it to the O31

OHIO STATE (0:06)
1st & 10 on O31 – Schlichter, back to pass, scrambled right for 12 yards (Simpkins)

END OF FIRST QUARTER

SCORE: MICHIGAN 7 - OHIO STATE 3

SECOND QUARTER

OHIO STATE (15:00)
1st & 10 on O43 – Volley, on first option give, went over LG for 2 (Trgovac)
2nd & 8 on O45 – Springs over RE on reverse option pitch for 3 (Meter)
3rd & 5 on O48 – Schlichter, back to pass, scrambled and was sacked by Dale Keitz for a loss of 1
4th & 6 on O47 – Orosz’s punt was downed at the M21

MICHIGAN (13:19)
1st & 10 on M21 – Davis, on first option give, went over RT for 2 (Washington, Cousineau)
2nd & 8 on M23 – Leach kept inside on reverse option for 4
3rd & 4 on M27 – Leach passed complete to Davis for 10
1st & 10 on M37 – Woolfolk, on pitch sweep, ran around RE for 1
2nd & 9 on M38 – Leach, back to pass and under pressure, scrambled out of the pocket and threw deep to nobody down the sideline, incomplete
3rd & 9 on M38 – Woolfolk took option pitch for no gain
4th & 9 on M38 – Guess received Willner’s punt at the O29 and returned it 2 yards (Cannavino, Gary Weber)

OHIO STATE (10:01)
1st & 10 on O31 – Volley, on first option give, went over LT for 3 (Cannavino)
2nd & 7 on O34 – Springs was stopped at RT for 1 (Trgovac, Weber, Meter)
3rd & 6 on O35 – Schlichter, rolling left and under pressure, threw incomplete for Gerald
4th & 6 on O35 – Mike Jolly received Orosz’s punt at the M14 and lost 1

MICHIGAN (8:45)
1st & 10 on M13 – Woolfolk on counter play at RT for 6 – Woolfolk was injured on play and helped off field (Bell)
2nd & 4 on M19 – Davis, on option give, went through RT for 14
1st & 10 on M33 – Davis, on option give, went over LG for 1 (Sullivan, Henson, Ross)
2nd & 9 on M34 – Leach, on play action pass, threw deep for Marsh, but play was broken up by Bell, incomplete
3rd & 9 on M34 – Leach, back to pass and under pressure, scrambled and was sacked by Cousineau and Sullivan for a loss of 11
4th & 20 on M23 – Guess received Willner’s punt at the O31 and returned it 8 yards

OHIO STATE (6:56)
1st & 10 on O39 – Schlichter, back to pass, scrambled up the middle, and was sacked by Trgovac for –3
2nd & 13 on O36 – Springs took option pitch around LE for 12 (Gene Bell)
3rd & 1 on O48 – Schlichter, from full house T, kept around LT for 4 (Mark Braman)
1st & 10 on M48 – Schlichter, on option keeper, ran around RE for 8 (Bell, Harden)
2nd & 2 on M40 – Schlichter, on option keeper, ran inside LE for 4 (Harden)
1st & 10 on M36 – Schlichter’s pass for Moore was deflected by Ron Simpkins, incomplete
2nd & 10 on M36 – Springs took option pitch around RE for 11 (Bell)
1st & 10 on M25 – Schlichter, on option keeper, ran inside LE for 4 (Trgovac)
2nd & 6 on M21 – PENALTY: ILLEGAL PROCEDURE – OHIO STATE - 5 YARDS
2nd & 11 on M26 – Volley, on first option give, ran over RT for 2 (Cannavino)
3rd & 9 on M24 – Schlichter, back to pass, was hit by Meter, fumbled, and Cannavino recovered for Michigan at the M32

MICHIGAN (3:20)
1st & 10 on M32 – Smith ran for 16 through left side (Bell)
1st & 10 on M48 – Leach, on play action option pass, threw deep for Feaster, but Guess knocked down pass, incomplete
2nd & 10 on M48 – Smith, on delayed handoff, ran over RG for 4 (Washington)
3rd & 6 on O48 – Leach, on play action pass, threw complete to Ralph Clayton over the middle for 15
1st & 10 on O33 – Davis, on first option, went over RG for 5
TIMEOUT: MICHIGAN (1:36 remaining in first half)
2nd & 5 on O28 – Leach, back to pass, scrambled up the middle for 5
1st & 10 on O23 – Leach, on play action pass, overthrew Feaster, incomplete
2nd & 10 on O23 – Leach threw complete to Smith on swing pass for 9 (Bell)
TIMEOUT: MICHIGAN (0:52 remaining in first half)
3rd & 1 on O14 – Leach, on play action pass, threw complete to Gene Johnson over the middle. Johnson was hit by Skillings at the goal line and fumbled into the endzone where Skillings recovered for the TOUCHBACK

OHIO STATE (0:43)
1st & 10 on O20 – Schlichter fell on ball for –2
2nd & 12 on O18 – Schlichter again fell on ball for –2

END OF FIRST HALF

SCORE: MICHIGAN 7 - OHIO STATE 3

THIRD QUARTER

Ohio State elected to receive
Michigan elected to defend the South Goal

Hicks received Virgil’s kick at the O1 and returned it 30 yards (Mark DeSantis)

OHIO STATE (14:54)
1st & 10 on O31 – Volley hit center for 3 (Keitz)
2nd & 7 on O34 – Volley, on first option, went over LG for 5 (Greer)
3rd & 2 on O39 – Schlichter, on option keeper, ran inside RE for (measurement) 1 (Simpkins)
4th & 1 on O40 – Jolly called for a fair catch of Orosz’s punt at M17

MICHIGAN (13:26)
1st & 10 on M17 – Davis, on first option give, ran over LT for 4 (Sullivan, Cato)
2nd & 6 on M21 – Leach, on option keeper, ran inside RE for 7
1st & 10 on M28 – Smith went around RT for 13
1st & 10 on M41 – Lawrence Reid went up the middle for 2 (Sullivan, Cato, Dansler)
2nd & 8 on M43 – Leach, on play action pass, threw incomplete for Clayton down the sideline
3rd & 8 on M43 – Clayton dropped Leach’s low pass over the middle, incomplete
4th & 8 on M43 – Guess received Willner’s punt at the O12 and returned it 8 yards (Needham)

OHIO STATE (11:21)
1st & 10 on O20 – Schlichter, on reverse option, was stopped for –3 (Greer)
2nd & 13 on O17 – Springs on draw play for 10 (Cannavino)
3rd & 3 on O27 – PENALTY: ILLEGAL PROCEDURE – OHIO STATE - 5 YARDS
3rd & 8 on O22 – Springs on draw play for 4 (Cannavino, Meter)
4th & 4 on O26 – Jolly received Orosz’s punt at the M24 and returned it 7 yards

MICHIGAN (9:31)
1st & 10 on M31 – Smith took option pitch around RE for 5
2nd & 5 on M36 – Smith on counter play went around RT for 3
3rd & 2 on M39 – Reid, on first option give, went over RT for 4
1st & 10 on M43 – Leach, on option keeper, ran inside LE for 5
2nd & 5 on M48 – Smith took deep handoff and ran over LT for 14
1st & 10 on O38 – Reid, on first option, went over LG for 4 (Sullivan, Cousineau)
2nd & 6 on O34 – Leach, on play action pass, threw complete to Marsh for 13
1st & 10 on O21 – Woolfolk took deep handoff and ran over RG for 2 (Ross)
2nd & 8 on O19 – Leach, back to pass, pump faked twice and threw over the middle for Clayton at the goal line, incomplete (broken up by Skillings)
3rd & 8 on O19 – Leach faked to the fullback, rolled left and passed right to Reid on screen play for 11
1st & Goal on O8 – Leach, on option keeper, ran inside RE for 4
2nd & Goal on O4 – Leach, on option keeper, rolled left and kept for –1 (Mills)
3rd & Goal on O5 – PENALTY: DELAY OF GAME – MICHIGAN - 5 YARDS (stepped off a little long)
3rd & Goal on O11 – Leach dropped back to pass, rolled left and threw complete to Smith for the TOUCHDOWN
Willner kicked the extra point

SCORE: MICHIGAN 14 - OHIO STATE 3

Murray received Virgil’s kick at the O3 and returned it 19 yards (Needham)

OHIO STATE (4:07)
1st & 10 on O22 – Schlichter, on play action pass, threw complete to Moore for 8 (Cannavino)
2nd & 2 on O30 – Springs took option pitch at RE for –4 (Bell)
3rd & 6 on O26 – Schlichter went back to pass and scrambled around LE for 4 (Needham)
4th & 2 on O30 – Jolly received Orosz’s punt at the M25 and lost three yards

MICHIGAN (2:06)
1st & 10 on M22 – Leach, on option keeper, gained 8 around RE as he was knocked out of bounds (Leach injured leg on play but stayed in game)
2nd & 2 on M30 – Davis, from wishbone, gained 1 over RG
3rd & 1 on M31 – Woolfolk, from wishbone, gained 5 over RT
1st & 10 on M36 – Woolfolk took deep handoff and ran over LT for 2
2nd & 8 on M38 – Davis, on first option give, went over RT for 2

END OF THIRD QUARTER

SCORE: MICHIGAN 14 - OHIO STATE 3

FOURTH QUARTER

MICHIGAN (15:00)
3rd & 6 on M40 – Leach, on play action pass, threw complete to Clayton for 13
1st & 10 on O47 – Smith took deep handoff and ran up the middle for 2 (Cato, Sullivan, Bell)
2nd & 8 on O45 – Davis, on first option give, went over LT for 6
3rd & 2 on O39 – Davis, from wishbone, ran over LG for (measurement) 2
1st & 10 on O37 – Davis ran up the middle for 3
2nd & 7 on O34 – Leach, on play action pass, threw behind Clayton over the middle, incomplete
3rd & 7 on O34 – Leach passed low and short for Feaster, incomplete
4th & 7 on O34 – Willner’s punt was downed at the O1

OHIO STATE (11:52)
1st & 10 on O1 – (Gerald in at QB) Gerald, on option keeper, ran over RT for 2
2nd & 8 on O3 – Johnson over RT for 3
3rd & 5 on O6 – Volley, on option give, went over LG for 2
4th & 3 on O8 – Jolly received Orosz’s punt at the O45 and returned it 2 yards

MICHIGAN (10:09)
1st & 10 on O43 – Smith took deep handoff and ran up the middle for 5
2nd & 5 on O38 – Reid, on first option give, ran up the middle for 2
3rd & 3 on O36 – Smith took deep handoff and ran over RT for (measurement) 3
1st & 10 on O33 – Clayton, from wishbone, ran inside LT for 5
2nd & 5 on O28 – Smith, from wishbone, ran around RE for 2 (Smith hurt – helped off field)
TIMEOUT: MICHIGAN (7:25 remaining in game)
3rd & 3 on O26 – Leach, on wishbone play action pass, overthrew Feaster in the endzone badly, incomplete
4th & 3 on O26 – Willner’s 43-yard field goal try was short and wide left

OHIO STATE (7:16)
1st & 10 on O26 – Gerald, on option keeper, ran for no gain (Greer)
2nd & 10 on O26 – PENALTY: ILLEGAL PROCEDURE – OHIO STATE - 5 YARDS
2nd & 15 on O21 – Gerald, back to pass, scrambled out of bounds around RE for 5 yards
3rd & 10 on O26 – Gerald passed to Springs on delay over middle for 5 (Greer)
4th & 5 on O31 – Payton, on direct snap from punt formation, ran over right side for no gain

MICHIGAN (5:51)
1st & 10 on O31 – (B.J. Dickey in at QB) Reid, from wishbone, went over RG for 4 (Cousineau, Bell)
2nd & 6 on O27 – Woolfolk, from wishbone, ran over RT for 3
3rd & 3 on O24 – Dickey on wishbone option keeper lost 2 (Cato)
4th & 5 on O26 – Woolfolk took deep handoff and ran over RT for no gain (Hornik)

OHIO STATE (3:44)
1st & 10 on O26 – (Schlichter in at QB) Schlichter passed to Gerald over the middle for 25 (Bell)
1st & 10 on M49 – Schlichter passed short for Volley, incomplete
2nd & 10 on M49 – Schlichter’s pass for Gerald was intercepted by Jolly at the M41 and returned 7 yards

MICHIGAN (3:15)
1st & 10 on M48 – Dickey, on play action pass, threw too high for Clayton over the middle, incomplete
PENALTY: PERSONAL FOUL – OHIO STATE - 15 YARDS
1st & 10 on O37 – Dickey on option keeper for –1 (Dulin)
2nd & 11 on O38 – Reid, on option give, ran over LT for 3
3rd & 8 on O35 – Woolfolk took deep handoff and went over LG for –1 (Henson)
TIMEOUT: OHIO STATE (1:43 remaining in game)
4th & 9 on O36 – Willner’s punt was downed at the O5 by Woolfolk

OHIO STATE (1:36)
1st & 10 on O5 – Schlichter, back to pass, scrambled over right side for 4 (Needham)
2nd & 6 on O9 – Schlichter passed complete to Hunter for 5 (Bell)
3rd & 1 on O14 – Schlichter, back to pass, stepped up in the pocket and slipped down for –3
4th & 4 on O11 – Schlichter passed short for Volley, incomplete

MICHIGAN (0:20)
1st & 10 on O11 – Dickey fell on ball for –2

END OF GAME

FINAL SCORE: MICHIGAN 14 - OHIO STATE 3