The time Ohio State’s Keith Byars stole the soul from Illinois

It was Saturday, Oct. 13, 1984 and the 4-1 Ohio State Buckeyes have been coming off a 28-23 loss at Purdue when the Combating Illini got here to Ohio Stadium for what was then the annual Illibuck sport.

The Buckeyes have been the higher crew many of the day in opposition to the Boilermakers, however couldn’t cease Purdue quarterback Jim Everett within the second half of a expensive street loss. That Purdue loss produced a hangover that threatened to sink Ohio State at dwelling the subsequent week in opposition to Illinois.

It was the fourth sport I attended as a scholar at Ohio State. I wasn’t imagined to be in Columbus, as a result of everybody who labored on the Arby’s that stood on the nook of Lane Avenue and Excessive Avenue was anticipated to work on soccer Saturdays. I had made up some idiotic lie about being “anticipated” to report dwelling on the weekends by overprotective mother and father, however I truly simply had a scholar season ticket and I’d be damned if I used to be going to overlook being within the Shoe on sport day. So far as I used to be involved, that was the first purpose I had gone to high school there.

However I digress.

The Buckeyes’ hangover was obvious early. The protection might do little to cease Illinois quarterback Jack Trudeau, working again Thomas Rooks, and remainder of the Combating Illini offense. The Illini jumped throughout Ohio State, racing out to a 24-0 lead simply seconds after the second quarter started. Ohio Stadium was stressed and a few people have been both heading for the exits already or questioning if they need to no less than wait till halftime.

Those that opted to remain — the overwhelming majority, if we’re being sincere about it — have been handled to a legendary comeback efficiency.

Wedged into my seat within the Block “O” part, which was about midway up A Deck within the closed finish of the Horseshoe in these days, I watched in horror for greater than 1 / 4 because the Buckeyes performed like a crew that needed to be wherever however on the artificial floor of Ohio Stadium. OSU turnovers had been straight answerable for greater than half of that Illini lead.

However the Buckeyes began to seek out some rhythm. There was a false begin to the comeback as Ohio State drove deep into Illini territory, solely to show the ball over on downs. However then the protection stepped up and received the ball again — with the assistance of a important clipping name on the Illini offense.

Quarterback Mike Tomczak drove the Buckeyes from the shadow of their very own goalpost to their first factors of the afternoon, with one of many key moments being an enormous chunk play on a go to Cris Carter, who confirmed his excellence by holding onto the ball regardless of taking an enormous hit because the ball arrived. Tailback Keith Byars carried the rock the ultimate 16 yards to cease the bleeding.

Security Craig Swoope dedicated a dead-ball private foul after the play, and that appeared to mild the spark the Buckeyes wanted.

The cheers for Byars’ landing was extra a sigh of aid than a typical post-score roar. The gang had hope at that time however the prevailing thought was nonetheless that the outlet was nonetheless a bit too deep for the Buckeyes to climb out of it. However that feeling within the stadium modified rapidly.

Trailing 24-7 with lower than 5 minutes remaining till halftime, Earle Bruce dialed up an onside kick. There was little danger in doing so after Swoope’s penalty allowed Wealthy Spangler to kick off from the Illini facet of the sector.

The Buckeyes got here up with the soccer and two performs later, they scored once more.

Underneath strain, Tomczak threw a soar ball to Carter between three receivers. Carter out-leaped everybody and got here down with it, tumbling into the top zone for the crew’s second landing in simply 50 seconds. Out of the blue, the deficit was simply 24-14 with greater than half the sport nonetheless remaining. This time, the roar was extra typical of an Ohio State crowd and there was true perception that the Buckeyes have been again within the sport.

Illinois began to maneuver the ball once more on the following drive, taking it close to midfield in just some performs, however Sonny Gordon put a cease to it with an interception on the OSU 35-yard line.

It appeared Ohio State’s ultimate possession of the primary half would stall, however a holding penalty on the Combating Illini gave the Buckeyes new life they usually made probably the most of it. Carter made a outstanding catch on a low go to maintain the drive alive, and a throw to Mike Lanese arrange Ohio State with first-and-goal with half a minute remaining. Byars took a pitch from 4 yards out and raced to the left, leaping over the past defender on the purpose line to cap the drive and pulling the Buckeyes to inside 24-21 on the break.

Ohio Stadium was going nuts after watching the Buckeyes come again from the useless with 21 factors in lower than 4 minutes. We have been prepared for the second half.

So have been the Buckeyes.

Ohio State kicked off to start out the second half and Ray Wilson opted to return it from just a few yards deep in his finish zone. That turned out to be a mistake, as a result of he misplaced the soccer. William White jumped on it and earlier than people had even returned from the restroom, the Buckeyes have been again on offense deep in Illini territory.

The following 26-yard drive was all Byars, because the tailback lined the gap between the beginning of the drive and the top zone in simply 4 carries. He rushed for 17 yards on the primary play, then picked up two modest positive aspects earlier than diving into the top zone from one yard out to finish the drive. No person in Ohio State historical past dove into the top zone like Byars. He was unstoppable as soon as the ball received contained in the 3-yard line. His third landing of the sport gave the Buckeyes the lead at 28-24, which had appeared inconceivable about 45 minutes earlier.

The Combating Illini tried to re-establish their management of the sport, driving into OSU territory with Trudeau alternating quick passes with runs by Rooks. Ohio State lastly received a cease and Chris White hit a 46-yard area purpose to chop the deficit to a single level, 28-27.

Then Byars stole the Illini’s souls.

The Buckeyes picked up a primary down on their subsequent drive however a false begin pushed them right into a 2nd-and-11 scenario at their very own 33-yard line. Tomczak dropped again and handed the ball to Byars on a draw play. The tailback lower inside a go rusher who was compelled extensive up the sector and located the precise sideline. He then reduce towards the center of the sector and misplaced his left shoe however nonetheless outran your complete Illinois protection for a 67-yard landing that has change into legendary not solely amongst Ohio State followers however in school soccer lore.

It was Byars’ fourth dashing landing of the afternoon and he wanted only one extra to tie Pete Johnson’s faculty report.

To their credit score, the Combating Illini didn’t hand over. After the groups exchanged punts, Illinois drove down the sector and Trudeau hit Wilson for a 9-yard landing. The Illinois quarterback carried it in for the two-point conversion on a scramble that the Buckeyes over-pursued, and the sport was tied at 35-35.

A protracted landing run by John Woolridge that may have put the Buckeyes proper again on high was referred to as again on account of an unlawful shift penalty late within the third quarter. Within the ultimate interval, Byars continued to choose up chunks on the bottom and, already with greater than 200 dashing yards, he was spelled at instances by Woolridge, who did the identical.

Nonetheless, the Buckeye drive stalled and Spangler needed to kick a 47-yard area purpose to revive Ohio State’s lead. Illinois answered, driving deep into Ohio State territory earlier than a goal-line stand on the OSU 1-yard line compelled the Illini to decide. These days, most groups would doubtless have gone for it on fourth down. As an alternative, White kicked a 16-yard area purpose to tie the sport at 38-38 with simply 3:18 remaining to play — and bear in mind, there have been ties in school soccer again then.

With Byars over 200 yards dashing and Carter already over 100 yards receiving on the day, I wasn’t frightened that the Buckeyes might get into scoring place, however there was a nagging worry of an premature turnover giving the sport away.

A touchback on the following kickoff gave the Buckeyes the ball on their very own 20 and from there, the Buckeyes went to work. Byars ripped off a 23-yard run to get the ball close to midfield and the ball got here out however he was dominated down.

Tomczak continued to offer the ball to Byars and Woolridge, and the 2 working backs have been selecting up yardage in about 5-yard chunks. A superb run of 18 yards by Woolridge set the Bucks up with first-and-goal after which it was Byars time.

Keith roared up the center for 5 yards on first down, however — in a rarity — was stopped for no acquire on second down. On third-and-goal, the Buckeyes went again to the toss sweep to the left. Tomczak pitched to Byars, who sprinted towards the left sideline. Illinois lower off his lane to the sideline, so the large again lower inside and spun into the top zone for his fifth rating of the day, tying Johnson’s faculty report and setting a single-game dashing mark of 274 yards on 39 carries.

Spangler’s PAT put Ohio State forward, 45-38 with 36 seconds to play. A failure on that third down doubtless would have resulted in Spangler establishing for a tying kick on fourth down. Hey, it was a special period.

Trudeau managed a primary down on a deep out however from there, the Buckeye secondary shut down the subsequent 4 performs and Ohio State had accomplished its comeback.

That 1984 Ohio State crew gained the Massive Ten with a 7-2 report — shedding two video games later at Wisconsin — after which misplaced to USC within the Rose Bowl by a area purpose. Nevertheless it was that vast comeback win over Illinois, and Byars’ five-touchdown, 274-yard efficiency was a sport for the ages.