By Neil Schmidt
The Cincinnati Enquirer

COLUMBUS - However it slogged its way to November, at times wading waist-deep through unwanted drama, Ohio State has picked a good time to pick up speed.

Ohio State flanker Santonio Holmes pulls in a pass in front of Michigan State corner back Darren Barnett (22) for a touchdown in the second quarter. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

Overshadowed early by Maurice Clarett's suspension, the Buckeye offense looked lost for most of seven games. Yet its recent resurgence, marked by 395 total yards Saturday in a 33-23 victory over No. 14 Michigan State, suggests OSU is ready for its finest play in fall's fading days.

"November performance is what everyone remembers," quarterback Craig Krenzel said. "There's a sense of urgency in everything we're doing now."

The seventh-ranked Buckeyes quieted a QB controversy and flashed ideal balance in their third straight strong offensive showing. A team that ranked 114th of 117 Division I-A teams in total offense after October has averaged 433 yards in three games since.

"It's good to keep progressing," tight end Ben Hartsock said. "We're peaking at the right time, and we need to."

OSU (9-1, 5-1 Big Ten) will face No. 16 Purdue (8-2, 5-1) and No. 8 Michigan (8-2, 5-1) in its final two weeks, and would win the league outright with two victories.

The key development Saturday was learning Krenzel will lead that charge. Though coach Jim Tressel had promised backup Scott McMullen time, fueling talk that McMullen could soon unseat the starter, Krenzel threw three touchdown passes to cease speculation.

He was 12-of-23 for 213 yards, intercepted once when he was hit as he threw. Krenzel is 21-1 in games he has started and finished.

"Any time you have a quarterback who's lost only one game in his career, you can't help but feel confidence in him," said tight end Ryan Hamby (Moeller), who caught one of Krenzel's TD passes. "People may get down on him, but Craig keeps his head up and does the job."

MSU (7-3, 4-2) led 7-3 early in the second quarter, and Krenzel was just 3-of-8 at that point. But on third-and-16, he pinballed out of traffic in the pocket and hit Hartsock for a 17-yard TD pass for OSU's first lead.

Two big passes on his next drive, the latter a 37-yard TD to Santonio Holmes, put OSU up 17-7 and in control. Krenzel would go 8-of-9 for 151 yards during the heart of the game.

"He's under a huge amount of pressure, and he's dealt with it," Hartsock said of Krenzel. "It's a huge credit to him that he handled that pressure and played that well."

Tressel didn't insert McMullen until 9:52 remained to play. McMullen missed his only pass attempt. Tressel said Krenzel was the clear starter but hinted McMullen would still get some time next week.

Said Krenzel: "Obviously, I want to start and I want to play; that's the type of person I am. Coach Tressel does a great job of deciding . . . what's best for the team, and I'm just going to do whatever I can do."

OSU rushed for 182 yards, 140 of those in the second half when it held a 21:07 to 8:53 edge in time of possession. Lydell Ross, with 125 yards on 24 carries , had his third consecutive 100-yard game. Though OSU had to settle for four field goals, only Minnesota - which lost 44-38 to MSU - has scored more points on the Spartans.

MSU's Jeff Smoker had school records of 35 completions and 55 attempts, passing for 351 yards. But OSU's Tyler Everett had a key 66-yard interception return, and the Buckeyes held MSU to 5 rushing yards on 17 attempts. The past three weeks, OSU's opponents have averaged just 8.7 yards rushing.

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E-mail nschmidt@enquirer.com

Michigan St.	7	3	7	6-23
Ohio St.	3	14	10	6-33

First Quarter

MSU-Shabaj 22 pass from Smoker (Rayner kick), 6:21.

OSU-FG Nugent 44, 2:20.

Second Quarter

OSU-Hartsock 17 pass from Krenzel (Nugent kick), 10:53.

OSU-Holmes 37 pass from Krenzel (Nugent kick), 6:28.

MSU-FG Rayner 48, 3:13.

Third Quarter

OSU-Hamby 2 pass from Krenzel (Nugent kick), 11:42.

MSU-Cobb 93 kickoff return (Rayner kick), 11:30.

OSU-FG Nugent 24, 6:14.

Fourth Quarter

OSU-FG Nugent 42, 12:57.

OSU-FG Nugent 18, 5:18.

MSU-Alexander 19 pass from Smoker (pass failed), 3:21.

	MSU	OSU
First downs	20	23
Rushes-yards	17-5	49-182
Passing	373	213
Comp-Att-Int	36-56-2	12-24-1
Return Yards	213	127
Punts-Avg.	4-37.5	4-39.5
Fumbles-Lost	5-0	0-0
Penalties-Yards	12-89	2-14
Time of Possession	26:04	33:56

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING-Michigan St., Teague 5-14, Shabaj 1-5, Hayes 4-(minus 5), Smoker 7-(minus 9). Ohio St., Ross 24-125, Krenzel 14-33, Joe 6-28, Guilford 3-(minus 1), team 2-(minus 3).

PASSING-Michigan St., Smoker 35-55-2-351, Alexander 1-1-0-22. Ohio St., Krenzel 12-23-1-213, McMullen 0-1-0-0.

RECEIVING-Michigan St., Shabaj 9-78, Alexander 4-47, Knott 4-36, Teague 4-33, Trannon 4-19, Hayes 3-31, Brown 2-23, Scott 2-12, Kavanaght 1-47, Smoker 1-22, Randall 1-19, Cobb 1-6. Ohio St., Hartsock 3-54, Holmes 2-51, Jenkins 2-50, Hamby 2-31, Hall 1-18, Gamble 1-7, Joe 1-2.