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By Associated PressNO. 2 TEXAS 25, NO. 4 OHIO STATE 22: The star QB caps a clutch outing with a go-ahead TD in a crucial early test.
COLUMBUS, Ohio - Vince Young connected in the clutch and won it for Texas with his arm more than his legs, just like a star quarterback is supposed to.
Young, best known for his highlight-reel runs, threw a 24-yard go-ahead touchdown to Limas Sweed with 2:37 left and No. 2 Texas defeated No. 4 Ohio State 25-22 Saturday night in the much-anticipated first meeting between two of college football's most storied programs.
Young's floating touchdown pass over a defender capped a 72-yard drive during which his biggest plays were through the air, including a third-and-6 completion of 9 yards to Jamaal Charles. His second touchdown pass of the game made the score 23-22.
"Sweed came off the ball real good, and I threw the ball to the outside so he could go out of bounds or make the great play, and Sweed made a great play for us," Young said.
The Longhorns defense, which time and time again toughened after turnovers and special teams gave Ohio State good field position, had the biggest takeaway of the game when Drew Kelson stripped a scrambling Justin Zwick and Brian Robison recovered and returned it inside the 20.
Ohio State held the Longhorns out of the end zone, but Larry Dibbles sacked Troy Smith for a safety and Texas coach Mack Brown had his second straight huge victory over a Big Ten team.
The Longhorns defeated Michigan in the Rose Bowl, when Young launched his 2005 Heisman Trophy campaign with 192 yards rushing.
Young proved against the Buckeyes he can pass it when he needs to as well.
"Obviously he's a great runner," Ohio State linebacker A.J. Hawk said. "Tonight he showed us he's a great passer."
One Ohio State player had said the Buckeyes' goal was to put an end to Young's Heisman campaign. And though Bobby Carpenter and Ohio State's swift linebacking crew hemmed in Young after some good runs early, they couldn't keep him from passing for 270 yards.
"When you have to play extra people in the box to stop his run, it's going to leave you a bit vulnerable to the pass," Ohio State coach Jim Tressel said. "I thought he played hard. He kept getting hit and beat up and kept coming back. And his team won."
Young also had made a couple of those poor decisions and bad throws - he was intercepted twice - that have caused him to be labeled a tailback playing quarterback.
But he finished 18-for-29 and ran 20 times for 76 yards.
Ohio State coach Jim Tressel was true to his promise, playing both Zwick and Troy Smith at quarterback. Neither distinguished himself, and it looks as if the Buckeyes' quarterback competition will resume.
Smith ran for 27 yards, threw a touchdown to Santonio Holmes and led Ohio State on five scoring drives.