By MIKE SMITH
Ohio continued an offensive roll Tuesday, and sophomore quarterback Nathan Roarke once again was a catalyst as the Bobcats pulled away from rival Miami for a 45-28 victory at Peden Stadium.
Roarke had a hand in all six Ohio touchdowns, running for three scores and passing for three others. Louie Zervos added a late field goal.
The hosts jumped out to . . .
Ohio continued an offensive roll Tuesday, and sophomore quarterback Nathan Roarke once again was a catalyst as the Bobcats pulled away from rival Miami for a 45-28 victory at Peden Stadium.
Roarke had a hand in all six Ohio touchdowns, running for three scores and passing for three others. Louie Zervos added a late field goal.
The hosts jumped out to . . .
. . . an early 14-0 lead, only to be caught by Miami before the first stanza ended. Two more Ohio touchdowns in the second quarter forged another 14-point advantage, but Miami tracked the ‘Cats down again with one TD before the half and another with 3:15 remaining in the third period.
That, however, was the final tally for MU, while Ohio managed to add 14 unanswered points.
That, however, was the final tally for MU, while Ohio managed to add 14 unanswered points.
It was the third straight victory for Ohio, which scored 45 or more points in all three wins and six of seven victories this season. The Bobcats (7-2, 4-1 MAC) now move on to a pair of big games, hosting MAC West leader Toledo next Wednesday and MAC East co-leader Akron Nov. 14.
The latter game could well determine which team reaches the MAC title game, and UT vs. Ohio could be a preview of the MAC championship game.
Miami, meanwhile, fell to 3-6 (2-3 MAC) while losing for the fourth time in five games. It will need to win all of its last three games to reach 6-6 and be eligible for a bowl bid. Two of the three games are at home, with the next being against Akron next Tuesday.
The RedHawks faced Ohio without starter Gus Ragland, who was injured against Bowling Green Oct. 7. Junior Billy Bahl filled in once again, completing 28 of 51 passes for 350 yards with three touchdowns and two first half interceptions.
All three passing scores went to wideout James Gardner, who had a big night. The junior caught 10 balls for 166 yards and the three scores.
Miami’s run game, meanwhile, had to work hard for 98 yards, most of them coming from Alonzo Smith (10 carries, 81 yards, 1 TD). Kenny Young, who totaled 125 yards against Buffalo in his last outing, was held to a season-low 21 yards on nine carries.
Ohio managed to get 149 yards from its run game, with A.J. Ouellette providing 80 yards on 20 carries. Yet it was Rourke’s timely sprints that inflicted much of the damage. All three rushing TDs came from Rourke, who gained 54 yards on 10 trips.
It was a Rourke 3-yard run that finished the game’s opening drive. That gave Ohio a 7-0 advantage, which it doubled shortly after Javon Hagan picked off Bahl’s second pass of the game on the following drive. Rourk hit Troy Mangen for 39 yards on the next play and followed that with a 40-yard TD strike to Brendan Cope.
Miami regrouped, using seven plays to cover 77 yards. Bahl found Gardner for 14 yards and the TD to get MU on the board.
After an Ohio punt, Miami tied the game with a four-play drive. Smith went in from 16 yards.
Defensive back Jalen Fox set up the next score, intercepting Bahl and returning it to the Miami four. After a loss of three, Rourke took it in from seven yards out.
Each team added another touchdown before the half. Ohio engineered an 11-play, 83 yard drive, with Rourke tossing a 14-yarder to Papi White to put the Bobcats up 28-14.
Miami responded with a long drive of its own, using 10 plays to go 72 yards. Bahl went to Gardner for the final three with 17 seconds left in the half.
The latter game could well determine which team reaches the MAC title game, and UT vs. Ohio could be a preview of the MAC championship game.
Miami, meanwhile, fell to 3-6 (2-3 MAC) while losing for the fourth time in five games. It will need to win all of its last three games to reach 6-6 and be eligible for a bowl bid. Two of the three games are at home, with the next being against Akron next Tuesday.
The RedHawks faced Ohio without starter Gus Ragland, who was injured against Bowling Green Oct. 7. Junior Billy Bahl filled in once again, completing 28 of 51 passes for 350 yards with three touchdowns and two first half interceptions.
All three passing scores went to wideout James Gardner, who had a big night. The junior caught 10 balls for 166 yards and the three scores.
Miami’s run game, meanwhile, had to work hard for 98 yards, most of them coming from Alonzo Smith (10 carries, 81 yards, 1 TD). Kenny Young, who totaled 125 yards against Buffalo in his last outing, was held to a season-low 21 yards on nine carries.
Ohio managed to get 149 yards from its run game, with A.J. Ouellette providing 80 yards on 20 carries. Yet it was Rourke’s timely sprints that inflicted much of the damage. All three rushing TDs came from Rourke, who gained 54 yards on 10 trips.
It was a Rourke 3-yard run that finished the game’s opening drive. That gave Ohio a 7-0 advantage, which it doubled shortly after Javon Hagan picked off Bahl’s second pass of the game on the following drive. Rourk hit Troy Mangen for 39 yards on the next play and followed that with a 40-yard TD strike to Brendan Cope.
Miami regrouped, using seven plays to cover 77 yards. Bahl found Gardner for 14 yards and the TD to get MU on the board.
After an Ohio punt, Miami tied the game with a four-play drive. Smith went in from 16 yards.
Defensive back Jalen Fox set up the next score, intercepting Bahl and returning it to the Miami four. After a loss of three, Rourke took it in from seven yards out.
Each team added another touchdown before the half. Ohio engineered an 11-play, 83 yard drive, with Rourke tossing a 14-yarder to Papi White to put the Bobcats up 28-14.
Miami responded with a long drive of its own, using 10 plays to go 72 yards. Bahl went to Gardner for the final three with 17 seconds left in the half.
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