Bobcat ground game rolls up 393 yards
By EVAN MEYER
ATHENS, Ohi0 -- The Ohio University Bobcats scored touchdowns on their first two possessions in the second half to break open a close game en route to a 38-10 win over the Toledo Rockets Wednesday evening at Peden Stadium.
With the victory, Ohio (8-2, 4-1 MAC) moved . . .
ATHENS, Ohi0 -- The Ohio University Bobcats scored touchdowns on their first two possessions in the second half to break open a close game en route to a 38-10 win over the Toledo Rockets Wednesday evening at Peden Stadium.
With the victory, Ohio (8-2, 4-1 MAC) moved . . .
. . . into sole possession of first place in the Mid-American Conference East Division -- a full game ahead of Akron, who lost at Miami on Tuesday. Ohio and UA will square off next Tuesday night Akron, with a trip to the conference championship riding on the outcome.
Preseason overall MAC favorite Toledo (8-2, 5-1 MAC) saw its five game winning streak come to an end, while its MAC West lead dipped to a half game over Northern Illinois. The Huskies could pull into a first place tie in the Western Division if they defeat Ball State at home Thursday night. However, Toledo defeated NIU in the head-to-head matchup a week ago.
Preseason overall MAC favorite Toledo (8-2, 5-1 MAC) saw its five game winning streak come to an end, while its MAC West lead dipped to a half game over Northern Illinois. The Huskies could pull into a first place tie in the Western Division if they defeat Ball State at home Thursday night. However, Toledo defeated NIU in the head-to-head matchup a week ago.
Wednesday OU-UT contest was widely viewed as a possible preview of the upcoming 2017 Marathon MAC Football Championship Game in Detroit. At lease on Wednesday, it was a game eventually dominated by the hosting Bobcats.
Led by senior QB Logan Woodside, UT took the opening kickoff and
drove from its own 35 to the Ohio 19. On first down, Woodside completed a pass to sophomore RB Art Thompkins, but he fumbled and Ohio recovered
It was the first of five turnovers between the two teams over 60 minutes. Toledo committed two, while Ohio registered three turnovers.
The ‘Cats opened scoring late in the opening period. After gaining possession on a Toledo punt at Rockets 49, junior running back A.J., Ouelette tallied the opening touchdown from six yards out, capping a six-play drive.
The usually high-scoring Rockets put together their only touchdown drive of the evening in the second period. Woodside engineered a four-play 79-yard drive, finishing with a 34-yard touchdown pass to sophomore WR Dionte Johnson in the left corner of the end zone.
On the evening, Woodside completed 24-of-35 passes for 263 yards. He was also sacked four times, tied for UT’s most so far this season
The ‘Cats moved in front for good late in the first half by cashing in on Toledo’s second turnover. Javon Hagan recovered a fumble by Dionte Johnson and returned the ball l34 yards to the UT 30.
The UT defense stiffened, so sophomore Louie Zervos came on to kick a 44-yard field goal to give the hosts a 10-7 halftime advantage.
Ohio received the kickoff to start the second half and quickly gained momentum. The Bobcats took possession on their own 27 yard line and used nine plays to take a 17-7 lead. The drive was exclusively on the ground, using the power running of Dorian Brown and the option running of sophomore QB Nathan Rourke.
It was Rourke who capped off the drive with an eight yard scamper up the middle for the score. On the night, Rourke rushed for 115 yards and a score while completing just 7-of-15 passes for 139 yards and a score.
After Ohio forced a three-and-out, the ‘Cats took over on their own 32. From there, Brown, who rushed for 142 yards in the final home game of his career, broke a couple of tackles and raced 62 yards into the end zone to make the score 24-7.
Later in the period, Toledo tried to get back into the game as the Rockets drove deep into OU territory. However, the drive stalled at the 16, and UT settled for a 38-yard Jameson Vest field goal to make it a 24-10 game.
Ohio put the game away with two more touchdowns in the fourth quarter. First, Rourke found Brendan Cope from 12 yards out. Brown then ended scoring with a 1-yard run midway through the period.
One of the keys to the game was the Ohio pressure on Woodside. Another key was limiting UT standout Terry Swanson. He came into the game with 844 rushing yards but was limited to just nine yards on six carries as he was injured (ankle) in the second quarter.
Poling, among the defenders playing their final home game, led the defense with 12 total tackles (five solo) and three sacks, as well as fumble recovery in the first quarter.
The ‘Cats defense held the high-powered Rockets offense to just 316 total yards. It their lowest output of the season, as was Toledo’s 10 points scored.
In addition to its defensive effort, Ohio offense also shined. In addition to its 38 points, the Bobcats rolled up 532 yards of total offense. A whopping 393 of that came on the ground.
For Ohio, which has now won four straight, it was a statement game that followed another statement the previous week. The ‘Cats were favored by just two votes over Miami for the East crown in the media preseason poll but pulled away from MU for a 45-28 win Oct. 31. That same poll gave Toledo 21 votes to win the MAC championship game, while Ohio failed to get a single vote.
Nobody’s ticket to the championship tilt has been punched yet, but Ohio is certainly showing has something to prove.
Led by senior QB Logan Woodside, UT took the opening kickoff and
drove from its own 35 to the Ohio 19. On first down, Woodside completed a pass to sophomore RB Art Thompkins, but he fumbled and Ohio recovered
It was the first of five turnovers between the two teams over 60 minutes. Toledo committed two, while Ohio registered three turnovers.
The ‘Cats opened scoring late in the opening period. After gaining possession on a Toledo punt at Rockets 49, junior running back A.J., Ouelette tallied the opening touchdown from six yards out, capping a six-play drive.
The usually high-scoring Rockets put together their only touchdown drive of the evening in the second period. Woodside engineered a four-play 79-yard drive, finishing with a 34-yard touchdown pass to sophomore WR Dionte Johnson in the left corner of the end zone.
On the evening, Woodside completed 24-of-35 passes for 263 yards. He was also sacked four times, tied for UT’s most so far this season
The ‘Cats moved in front for good late in the first half by cashing in on Toledo’s second turnover. Javon Hagan recovered a fumble by Dionte Johnson and returned the ball l34 yards to the UT 30.
The UT defense stiffened, so sophomore Louie Zervos came on to kick a 44-yard field goal to give the hosts a 10-7 halftime advantage.
Ohio received the kickoff to start the second half and quickly gained momentum. The Bobcats took possession on their own 27 yard line and used nine plays to take a 17-7 lead. The drive was exclusively on the ground, using the power running of Dorian Brown and the option running of sophomore QB Nathan Rourke.
It was Rourke who capped off the drive with an eight yard scamper up the middle for the score. On the night, Rourke rushed for 115 yards and a score while completing just 7-of-15 passes for 139 yards and a score.
After Ohio forced a three-and-out, the ‘Cats took over on their own 32. From there, Brown, who rushed for 142 yards in the final home game of his career, broke a couple of tackles and raced 62 yards into the end zone to make the score 24-7.
Later in the period, Toledo tried to get back into the game as the Rockets drove deep into OU territory. However, the drive stalled at the 16, and UT settled for a 38-yard Jameson Vest field goal to make it a 24-10 game.
Ohio put the game away with two more touchdowns in the fourth quarter. First, Rourke found Brendan Cope from 12 yards out. Brown then ended scoring with a 1-yard run midway through the period.
One of the keys to the game was the Ohio pressure on Woodside. Another key was limiting UT standout Terry Swanson. He came into the game with 844 rushing yards but was limited to just nine yards on six carries as he was injured (ankle) in the second quarter.
Poling, among the defenders playing their final home game, led the defense with 12 total tackles (five solo) and three sacks, as well as fumble recovery in the first quarter.
The ‘Cats defense held the high-powered Rockets offense to just 316 total yards. It their lowest output of the season, as was Toledo’s 10 points scored.
In addition to its defensive effort, Ohio offense also shined. In addition to its 38 points, the Bobcats rolled up 532 yards of total offense. A whopping 393 of that came on the ground.
For Ohio, which has now won four straight, it was a statement game that followed another statement the previous week. The ‘Cats were favored by just two votes over Miami for the East crown in the media preseason poll but pulled away from MU for a 45-28 win Oct. 31. That same poll gave Toledo 21 votes to win the MAC championship game, while Ohio failed to get a single vote.
Nobody’s ticket to the championship tilt has been punched yet, but Ohio is certainly showing has something to prove.
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