The Bobcats blow out their bitter rival on neutral ground to secure the first MAC Championship Game win in six tries.
Saturday was a day of firsts. Three of them, specifically.
The game itself was a first for the Mid-American Conference, pitting the league’s two best teams by conference record against another at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan.
The matchup the new rules begat created something wholly unique as well. The Ohio Bobcats (10-3, 8-1 MAC) and the Miami RedHawks (8-5, 7-2 MAC), former divisional rivals, were able to meet in Michigan for their rivalry’s first-ever rematch in a single season after 100 prior clashes.
And finally, in a dream scenario for Bobcat fans, Ohio (10-3, 8-1 MAC) would win their first conference title in football since 1968 ot end their ignoble 56-year championship drought— and in doing so, battering their rivals into submission to avenge their 30-20 Week 8 loss in the Battle of the Bricks against Miami.
The RedHawks, who came into the game looking to become the first team since Northern Illinois (2011-12) to repeat as conference winners, were unable to do so, as the defense couldn’t duplicate its dominance that was the key to their aforementioned victory over the Bobcats.
The game started with Miami cashing in the opening series for three points on what turned out to be their most effective drive of the night. Wideout Javon Tracy was the catalyst on the drive with three catches for 33 yards. Ohio’s defense stiffened in the red zone, however, forcing a 29-yard field goal attempt on fourth-and-one, which kicker Dom Dzioban drilled for a 3-0 lead.
As it turned out, that would be the high-water mark for the defending champions, as Ohio took control in all phases following Miami’s first drive and proceeded to play arguably one of its best games since the last championship given the quality of the opponent.
Photo by Mike Mulholland/Getty Images
Ohio’s offense stepped up when the stakes were the highest, scoring on its first five drives of the game to run up the score against the normally vaunted RedHawk defense, streaking out to a 21-3 first half lead, systematically “matriculating the ball down the field” on three drives where they owned time of possession almost two to one.
Ohio’s first two drives produced 14 points, covering 29 plays and 157 yards while chewing up over 15 minutes of clock.
Ohio’s MAC-best rushing offense looked the part on Saturday afternoon, as running back Anthony Tyus III and quarterback Parker Navarro operated behind a physical offensive line to grind the RedHawks defense to dust. Critical in the first half as well was the passing offense that did enough to balance the operation, led by Chase Hendricks with five catches for 52 yards in the first two quarters.
Photo by Mike Mulholland/Getty Images
Navarro capped off the first two drives with short touchdown runs. The second drive initially looked to be stopped by the RedHawks in the red zone as they swarmed Navarro on third down, but a facemask penalty gave Ohio new life, allowing Parker Navarro to score his second touchdown of the day on a one-yard rush to put the Bobbies up 11 with 5:29 to go in the second quarter— capping off an 18-play, 82-yard drive lasting over 10 minutes of game clock.
In a repeat of a season-long theme, Ohio found a way yet again to score on the last drive of the half. Like on their first two drives, Ohio methodically moved the ball down field and capped the 10-play, 75-yard drive on a 15-yard pass from Navarro to Mason Williams, with the Bobcat tight end rambling through the defense to paydirt from 21 yards out.
Ohio came out in the second half with its foot on the accelerator, scoring on the opening drive to extend the lead to 28-3. With Miami clearly zeroed in on containing wideout Coleman Owen in the first half, Ohio attempted only one first half pass to their star wideout. Instead, the ‘Cats got the ball in the capable hands of wideouts Harris and Hendricks in the first two quarters. Spreading the ball early— coupled with a few injuries in the RedHawks secondary— seemed to open things up for Coleman, as he shined with four catches covering 66 yards on that series. The drive was capped on a beautiful throw from Navarro to Owen for a 25-yard score.
As the third quarter continued, Miami thought it had a break it so desperately needed with what appeared to be a fumble recovery on special teams. Coleman Owen fielded a RedHawk punt and turned on the jets, moving deep into Miami territory before fumbling the ball which was recovered by the Red and White at their own 12-yard line. The fumble was ultimately waved off— to much controversy— due to an illegal blindside block called against Miami during the return (which was initially called on Ohio— a distinction which would have given Miami possession and a new set of downs.)
With hope fading and a dwindling clock, the RedHawks could not stop Ohio as they tacked on 10 more points to seal the deal. Ohio kicker Gianni Spetic hit a career long 52-yard field goal, while Tyus III scored a 21-yard rushing touchdown against a completely gassed Miami defense to close the scoring.
By game’s end, the Bobcats defense made history, becoming the first team to prevent a touchdown in the conference’s title game since its relocation from on-campus sites to Ford Field in 2004. It was a confirmation of a fantastic effort, as the defense also forced four punts, an interception, and a turnover on downs.
Notes
- Head coach Tim Albin, the staff, and the players were clearly prepared to play today and dismantled an excellent team in a remarkable performance.
- Ohio ending a 56-year championship drought after all the offseason change is one of the best stories in college football in 2024, if not the best story. Coming into the campaign with a significantly retooled roster and two new coordinators, Ohio improved and not only took home the championship hardware but racked up its third consecutive 10-win season.
- Ohio built a championship season upon a core of returning players fortified with a massive influx of portal talent. Ohio lost nine starters last year but players like 2024 All-MAC members Coleman Owen (first-team) and Anthony Tyus III (second-team) were superstars. They both played like big-time players today with Owen catching five passes for 73 yards and Tyus III dominating with 151 yards rushing. Defensively, the portal produced a long list of impact players like defensive linemen Marcel Walker-Burgess, Ben McNaboe, Cam Rice, CJ Dogette, linebacker Blake Leake, and safety Dustin Johnson.
- Head coach Tim Albin had some very interesting comments this week about the last time the Bobcats won the championship in 1968. Albin wore the “Block O” hat in honor of Ohio’s legendary coach Bill Hess, who was the last coach to win the championship. Hess and the Bobcats finished 10-1 that year and ranked 18th in the Coaches Poll.
- Shortly after the game, Coach Albin put in perfect context the length of the championship drought, noting: “We had not even put a man on the moon the last time we won a championship.”
- Expectedly, Ohio made a clean sweep of the MVPs with quarterback Parker Navarro winning Offensive MVP, defensive end Bradley Weaver winning Defensive MVP, and Gianni Spetic winning Special Teams MVP.
- Navarro’s maturation this year is something to behold. Playing red hot down the stretch, Navarro found another gear when it mattered most, finishing the championship game with a combined 308 yards rushing and passing and four total touchdowns (two rushing, two passing.)
- The defense clearly focused on slowing Miami running back Keyon Mozee who had burned Ohio for some big runs in the last couple of meetings. Ohio’s swarming response to every Mozee tote limited the star runner to just 28 yards on 11 attempts.
- RedHawks stars and future Miami Hall of Famers Gabbert and linebacker Matt Salopek will be remembered for their roles in leading Miami to three MAC title games in six years. Salopek’s seven tackles in the contest brings his career total to 505.
- In defeat, Ty Wise was the leader on the Miami defense with 17 tackles. The most productive offensive player was Javon Tracy with seven catches for 53 yards.
Both teams now await assignments to bowl games.
Ohio has reportedly been selected for the Cure Bowl against Jacksonville State on Dec. 20, though it has yet to be confirmed.