By Neil Schmidt
The Cincinnati Enquirer

COLUMBUS - B.J. Sander had done his time at Ohio State. Five years, in fact, during which he won the punting job, lost it for two years, then seized it back in time for a super final season.

Never was the Roger Bacon grad better - nor his role more critical - than Saturday in his final game in Ohio Stadium. Sander's 10 punts, seven of which were downed inside the 20, helped the Buckeyes in a crucial field-position battle with Purdue.

He averaged 41.3 yards, and his last six punts were downed inside the 15.

"B.J. Sander has been the key all year," coach Jim Tressel said, "the way he's been dropping them in the corner, putting (opponents) in tough situations."

One of Tressel's most oft-repeated phrases is that the punt is the most important play in football. Sander has been named one of 10 semifinalists for the Ray Guy Award, presented to the nation's top punter.

Thirty-three of his 66 punts this season have been downed inside the 20. His net punting average of 41.1 yards entering play Saturday ranked seventh in the nation.

"So many emotions are going through me," Sander said of his final home game. "I felt great kicking today. To go out on that kind of game is unbelievable."

SPECIAL SENIORS: There are 26 OSU seniors, 13 of them starters, and they could finish their four-year careers with more victories than all but one class in school history.

They are 39-10 with two games left, including a bowl game. OSU went 43-7 from 1995-98, 40-5-1 from '72-75 and 40-5-2 from '73-76.

This is the 13th team in OSU history to win 10 or more games.

"A couple of us stayed on the field a little longer to let (the final home game) soak in," senior quarterback Craig Krenzel said.

BUCKS NUGGETS: Michael Jenkins' 60-yard catch in the first quarter was OSU's longest play of the year. ... Ryan Hamby, a sophomore tight end from Moeller, caught a 27-yard pass in the fourth quarter. ... Purdue has lost its last six games in Ohio Stadium and 13 of its last 14 here. ... The attendance of 105,286 was the second-largest in Ohio Stadium history. The record is 105,539, set last year against Michigan.

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E-mail nschmidt@enquirer.com