By Nancy Armour
The Associated Press

EVANSTON, Ill. - Noah Herron scored on a 1-yard run in overtime and had two other touchdowns, and Northwestern backed up its pregame trash talk with a 33-27 upset victory over No. 7 Ohio State on Saturday night.

Northwestern's fans join their football team in celebrating their victory over Ohio State Saturday in Evanston, Ill. (AP photo)

The victory was Northwestern's first over Ohio State (3-1, 0-1 Big Ten) since 1971, snapping the Buckeyes' 24-game winning streak in the series and handing them their first loss in Evanston since 1958.

"Thirty-four years was long enough," said Northwestern coach Randy Walker, an Ohio native.

After Herron broke through the Buckeyes at the goal line, the Wildcats (2-3, 1-1) piled on him in the corner of the end zone and Northwestern students ran onto the field, turning it into a purple mosh pit. Students partied on the field for about 15 minutes, and several students climbed on the north goal post, trying to bring it down. They were unsuccessful, but that hardly put a damper on the party.

It was Northwestern's first victory over a top-10 team since beating then-No. 7 Wisconsin in double overtime in Madison on Sept. 23, 2000.

"I wouldn't have requested to be at the end of (the streak)," Ohio State coach Jim Tressel said. "But we are. Unfortunately, that's the case. We have to start trying to get better, starting tomorrow."

Ohio State has made it a habit of pulling out the close wins, winning 13 of its last 15 games that were decided by seven points or less. The Buckeyes beat Marshall earlier this season on Mike Nugent's field goal as time expired, and Nugent tied a school record with five field goals to beat North Carolina State two weeks ago.

It looked as if the Buckeyes' luck might hold again Saturday after they rallied to score 10 points in the final nine minutes and force overtime. But the normally automatic Nugent misfired, with his 40-yard field-goal attempt sailing wide right on the first overtime possession.

"It was probably one of the best balls I hit tonight," Nugent said. "I thought it was going to be dead-center."

Instead, the Wildcats got a second chance to put the Buckeyes away and they made the most of it. On the second play, quarterback Brett Basanez scrambled to the left and up the sideline for a 21-yard gain. Two plays later, Herron bulldozed his way into the end zone for the winning score, setting off pandemonium at the stadium.

Herron ran for 113 yards, rushed for two 1-yard scores and also caught a 12-yard TD pass. Mark Philmore had 134 yards receiving and a touchdown, the first of his career. Brett Basanez was 24-of-44 for 278 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.

Ohio State's offense had another shaky night, not finding its groove until the fourth quarter. Justin Zwick was 18-of-38 for 211 yards, but 90 yards came in the final period. Santonio Holmes had 99 yards receiving and a score.

But the Buckeyes had just 97 yards rushing. Lydell Ross had 31 yards on 11 carries.

Northwestern defensive tackle Luis Castillo had set bulletin boards aflame all over Columbus earlier in the week when he said Ohio State had a "mediocre" offense. And Philmore - an Ohio native - said the Buckeyes were "kids just like you out there."

The Wildcats showed they can do more than yap, though, controlling the game almost the entire night. They outgained the Buckeyes 444-308, and the defense came up with big plays time and again in the final quarter.

But there's a reason the Buckeyes are one of the country's top teams. They rallied in the fourth quarter, with Zwick moving them to the Northwestern 4 on their first drive. On third-and-goal, though, Nick Roach and John Pickens swarmed Zwick, taking him down for a 7-yard loss and forcing Ohio State to settle for Nugent's 29-yard field goal. The Buckeyes' defense gave Zwick another chance when linebacker Bobby Carpenter picked off Basanez's pass at the Northwestern 28 and returned it 6 yards.

Zwick connected with Bam Childress on a 15-yard pass, putting Ohio State at the Northwestern 4. But Antonio Pittman was stopped for a 3-yard loss, and Pickens chased Zwick deep into the backfield, sacking him for a 13-yard loss on second down.

Jeff Backes then picked off what would have been the game-tying pass, intercepting Zwick in the end zone.

But the Buckeyes finally got it right on their third try. Moving 69 yards in just five plays and 90 seconds, Zwick rushed for 18 yards, then had completions of 11 yards and 19 yards before finding Holmes deep in the end zone for the 21-yard score to force overtime.

"I thought we had it," offensive tackle Rob Sims said. "Around here we just feel when it's close like that, we feel like we can pull it out. I guess today we were wrong."