Ohio State 21, Washington 12 -- Buckeyes Break Away From UW -- Running Game Ruins Husky Dream Of 11-0

COLUMBUS, Ohio - As the Washington Huskies left the field, the hometown fans here extended a hand and offered fives.

Not high-fives. Five-dollar bills. Not just fives. Tens and ones.

"Get some handcuffs!" a few shouted at the defeated Huskies.

It was evidence enough that in the eyes of the rest of America, the Huskies are known as the "team on probation." The taunting might be tolerable as long as the team is winning.

Last night, it was not tolerable. The 16th-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes defeated the 12th-ranked Huskies 21-12 before 94,109 at Ohio Stadium and a national television audience.

"This is in front of America!" reminded a fan holding a portable television.

Given perhaps their only chance to shine this season in front of the country, the Huskies flopped. Their Heisman hopeful slipped. Their comeback kid, Beno Bryant, was barely noticed. Their golden-armed quarterback was stuffed and intercepted. They made no big plays.

The Buckeyes outgained the Huskies 325-277, outrushed UW 231-124 and totaled 21 first downs to UW's 13. The Husky with the most spectacular stats was punter John Werdel, who had six punts for 275 yards.

Aggravating its offensive problems, Washington fumbled three times, losing two, and was intercepted once. Lucky for quarterback Damon Huard it wasn't three interceptions. Two balls came off the hands of Ohio State defenders.

Washington's defense, which valiantly rescued the offense after several turnovers and failed drives, also caused a tailback controversy at Ohio State, allowing starter Raymont Harris to gain 102 yards and his backup Butler By'not'e to gain 80.

Both scored touchdowns and gave performances reminiscent of the one Michigan's Tyrone Wheatley gave against Washington in the 1993 Rose Bowl. By'not'e's 49-yard run put the game away, giving Ohio State its final touchdown.

The Huskies have no trophies to win, no bowl committees to impress, and now no national championship to play for.

Deserved or not, accurate or not, the Huskies are crooks in the limited vision of the country's football fans.

"People will see the game in negative ways and positive ways," receiver Jason Shelley said. "I have no concern over how people perceive it."

Asked about what's left for the Huskies, a few talked about the only thing that can't be taken away.

"The guys still love to play," Huard said. "Big deal; we lost one. The true integrity of a man is how you bounce back from a loss after you're knocked down."

Huard was knocked dizzy, unable to remember his plays in the first half. Pass protection was just one of several problems Husky Coach Jim Lambright said were because of the domination by Ohio State's line.

"They controlled the line of scrimmage," Lambright said. "Both ways. If you don't establish the run, they can zero in on the throwing."

Tailback Napoleon Kaufman let slip away a precious opportunity to begin campaigning for the Heisman Trophy, gaining only 51 yards on 18 carries. The run he will be remembered most for in the game was one in which he ran the wrong way on an option with his team on OSU's 4-yard line, 1 yard from a first down.

"That was my fault. I'm not perfect," Kaufman said of the play that likely cost the Huskies a touchdown. A bewildered Huard improvised, scrambled and was caught from behind for no gain. The Huskies settled for a field goal.

"It was one of those percentage calls and I really felt we needed to go for the field goal," Lambright said of his decision to kick on fourth-and-one instead of going for the touchdown. Travis Hanson's 21-yard field goal cut Ohio State's lead to 14-12.

"The lead was five points and we needed to chip away at the lead to give ourselves a chance," Lambright said.

Last week against Stanford, facing fourth-and-goal but no deficit in the score, Lambright went for it and the Huskies scored.

A 20-yard penalty - illegal use of the hands by guard Frank Garcia, who stuck his hand into a facemask - in the first quarter had a similar effect, nullifying what would have been a 14-yard touchdown pass from Huard to Joe Kralik. Again the Huskies had to settle for a field goal.

Total cost of those squandered opportunities: eight points, in a nine-point loss. In addition, the Huskies failed on a two-point conversion they would not have had to try had Kralik's TD not been nullified.

Washington was vulnerable from the first series of the game. Ohio State's first drive went 80 yards in 10 plays, as Harris and quarterback Hoying had their way.

"The defense looked so cautious," Lambright said. "I was surprised they seemed so careful. It's not like us at all."

Galloway found gaps and seams in Washington's conservative coverage.

"We let it go," cornerback Russell Hairston said.

Harris got the ball seven times during that game-opening drive. He rushed for 26 yards and caught a 12-yard screen pass, leading the Buckeyes to their first touchdown.

Hoying's favorite target split end Joey Galloway - he was the only receiver to catch any passes in the first half - caught three passes for 72 yards.

The Husky offense lacked continuity, largely because its line couldn't keep the defense out of the backfield. Kaufman never became a factor, rushing for 28 yards in the first half. He lost 13 yards rushing.

Protection didn't improve in the second half. Huard was sacked on the opening drive, losing the ball while attempting to throw. The apparent pass was ruled a fumble as OSU recovered. Rover Louis Jones intercepted Hoying two plays later.