UM 20 - - OSU 50
Ann Arbor, Nov. 25, 1961

Crippled Team Falls to OSU Power, 50-20

By Cliff Marks, Associate Sports Editor

Few of the 80,444 fans who witnessed Ohio State's 50-20 drubbing of Michigan Saturday would dispute Buckeye Coach Woody Hayes' claim that his team played like national champions against the undermanned hosts.

The Ohio trio of All-America fullback Bob Ferguson, speedy halfback Paul Warfield, and passer Joe Sparma accounted for the 474 yards to pace the Buckeyes. Sparma threw for an even 200 yards, Ferguson crashed through the Michigan line for 152 yards and four touchdowns, and Warfield picked up 122 yards in six carries, including a 69-yard td sprint and a key 37-yard dash in the third quarter.

Bucks Romp
It was this run that started the Buckeye rout after the Wolverines had made it 21-12 at the onset of the third period. However, it still took a fantastic catch by Chuck Bryant of Sparma's hurried pass and a 13-yard smash by Ferguson on a fourth down play to lead the Bucks to paydirt as Ferguson's third td upped the count to 28-12.

Michigan's last chance came after Bruce McLenna had taken the kickoff back 42 yards and was snuffed at the Ohio State 31 yard line. There Dave Glinka's first down pass deflected off George Mans into Buckeye halfback Ron Houck's hands and the threat was over.

Klein Scores
Two Ohio thrusts were thrown back, but the third play saw speedy Bob Klein make a beautiful over-the-head catch of Sparma's sideline pass and tightrope down the sidelines for the score, ending any Wolverine hopes of last-minute glory.

Michigan had had its chances early, but failed to capitalize. After Ohio State had chalked up one first down in the opening minute.

Can't Penetrate
Burly Bill Tunnicliff ripped through a gaping hole for five to the 28, but Dave Raimey got only 4 in two tries, leaving the Wolverines one yard short. Tunnicliff was called on but the Buckeyes held.

The only Ohio punt then ironically led to the Buckeye's first score. On Michigan's third play Glinka was hit trying to pass and alert Sam Tidmore grabbed the ball on the Wolverine 35. It took the Buckeyes only five plays to score with Ferguson going the last 19 over right tackle.

Ferguson Again
Minutes later Ohio State had its second score after hopping on Glinka's fumble on its own 45. Ferguson's sixth carry in a seven-play drive and Dick VanRaaphorst's second of six straight conversions made it 14-0 after Sparma's 30 yard pass to third string end Ormonde Ricketts had set it up.

Raimey, however, personally brought Michigan back into the game by returning the following kickoff 91 yards to score. After juggling the kick, the fleet junior broke up the field, cut back to his left and then outlegged the entire Buckeye team down the sidelines to score untouched. Michigan's two-point pass failed and the Wolverines never got closer.

All the Way
Four plays after the kickoff Ohio State got the touchdown back as Warfield took a handoff after a beautiful fake by quarterback John Mummey and raced 69 yards to paydirt. Not a man touched the swift sophomore as a change of pace and a brilliant fake at the Michigan 30 let safetyman McLenna holding nothing but air.

The Wolverines return drive aided by Tom Prichard's fourth-down fake punt and run to the Buckeye 38 wound up at the Ohio 45. Scott Maentz's punt barely trickled into the end zone and the clock stopped the Buckeyes.

Another M Touchdown
Down 21-6, Michigan showed signs of recovery, marching 78 yards in 15 plays for a third period td. Tunnicliff picked up most of the yardage on the time-consuming drive, finally bulling the ball to the Buck one. With the drive's first fourth-down situation, Glinka faked to the fullback and gave to McLenna, who smashed over for the score.

A few plays later Warfield made his key run, cutting inside right end for 37 yards after a clipping penalty had placed the Buckeyes in a second-and-17 position. Ferguson drove the final yard on the second play of the last quarter for the fourth OSU tally.

Chandler Tries Too
Bob Chandler tried to move Michigan after Klein's td but met with no success. Ohio State moved five plays with ease and Ferguson punched across again to make it 42-12. The bruising fullback carried four times, including his longest gain of the day (25 yards).

The final Wolverine touchdown came 12 plays after halfback Jim Ward returned the OSU kickoff to the Michigan 45, with Ward driving over for the final one yard and then adding the two extra points on another line plunge.

But Ohio State added further insult to injury by scoring in the final 34 seconds following Michigan's kickoff. Sparma lifted a 70-yard pass to Warfield, who was stopped on the Wolverine ten by senior Bill Hornbeck. Three quick plays later Sparma hit Tidmore for the td. Another Sparma-to-Tidmore toss scored the 49th and 50th points for the Bucks.