Ohio wins its fifth-straight contest to lock up a spot in the MAC Championship.
For the second time in three years, the Ohio Bobcats (9-3, 7-1 MAC) clinched a berth in the conference championship game, this time in a dominant performance over the Ball State Cardinals (3-9, 2-6 MAC) on Black Friday.
Ball State fought hard and had some big moments offensively in the first half behind quarterback Kadin Semonza and Cam Pickett. Unfortunately for BSU, the offensive effort wasn’t nearly enough, as the Cardinals defense was like a broken umbrella positioned to stop a tsunami. Ohio offense washing over them for seven explosive plays in the first half alone, scoring 21 points early on and eventually allow Parker Navarro to sit midway through the third quarter.
The Bobbies’ offense bolted out of the gate to stake the Green and White to a 14-0 lead after two drives. All totaled on those drives, Ohio ran eight plays for 158 yards with quarterback Parker Navarro finding wideout Coleman Owen for two catches, 91 yards, and two scores.
Ohio looked to have BSU on the ropes early by approaching the red zone on its third drive, but a throw into excellent coverage with safety help was picked off by defensive back Thailand Baldwin to snuff the drive just outside the end zone.
A few series later though, Ohio’s offense got back on track, moving 80 yards in less than three minutes with alternating explosive plays on the ground by running back Anthony Tyus III and Navarro.
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It was at this point Ball State found some much-need momentum to crawl back into the contest, finding paydirt with two key plays. A 31-yard pass to Cam Pickett into what was effectively double coverage— where the Cardinals’ wideout somehow got the right foot down for the catch— set up a 33-yard passing connection between Kadin Semonza and Dahya Patel a few plays later to give the Cards their first points of the contest.
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With the defense struggling and not much to lose, the Cardinals brilliantly called and executed an onside kick which went through an Ohio defender and was alertly corralled by BSU’s linebacker Caden Johnson.
Ball State quickly moved the rock down the field again, but the high-water mark of the game for BSU was reached at that point, as the Bobcats’ defensive tackle Chris Mayfield stopped the Cardinals cold by knifing into the backfield on fourth-and-one at the 20 to end the scoring threat.
The game moved to the third quarter with Ohio duplicating the success of the first quarter, striking twice early thanks in part to a stellar defensive effort.
On the opening drive of the second half, Ohio’s defensive end Bradley Weaver strip-sacked quarterback Kadin Semonza, with linebacker Shay Taylor scooping the ball up behind the play for great field position at BSU’s 16-yard line. Two plays later, with BSU keying on stopping runner Anthony Tyus III, Navarro play action pass was wide open, a 15-yard touchdown pass to tight end Mason Williams.
After a BSU three-and-out, the ‘Cats rode a wave of chunk plays, covering 80 yards in less than a minute for the score, capped on a four-yard scamper by quarterback Parker Navarro. The run extended the score to 35-7.
As backups got an opportunity for Ohio, the game played out with two more scores for BSU and one for Ohio to bring the final to 42-21.
Notes
- Ohio faces bitter rival Miami in the MAC championship game with the RedHawks’ 28-12 win over Bowling Green. Miami beat the Bobcats 30-20 in their meeting earlier this year. However, it’s safe to say that the Bobcats are a much better, more explosive team since that loss as they won the five games after that loss by an astounding combined score of 189 to 54.
- There was some talk this week that Ohio’s head coach Tim Albin should be 2024 Associated Press College Football Coach of The Year and this idea should get serious consideration as it has been a storybook campaign for Ohio to this point. After immense roster turnover and changes at both coordinators, getting everyone on the same page to be one step away from their first title since 1968 and an unprecedented third-straight, ten-win season is nothing short of remarkable.
- The ‘Cats successfully defended “The Frank” this year, finishing a perfect 6-0. “The Frank” is the nickname given to Frank Solich Field. Ohio was also 6-0 at home the last time they went to the title game in 2022.
- Big time players make big plays in big games and quarterback Parker Navarro has been as big as they come down the stretch when every game was probably needed to make the MAC Championship. During the last three weeks, Navarro has combined for 895 total yards and 11 touchdowns including eight rushing. Navarro continues to be an escape artist on par with Harry Houdini, using his elusiveness and athleticism to rack up three consecutive 100-yard rushing performances to end the season.
- Ohio has played excellent team defense, but defensive end Bradley Weaver and linebacker Shay Taylor showed today why they are among the league’s most impactful. Weaver had two tackles for loss and a strip sack while Taylor finished with five tackles, a strip sack, a fumble recovery, and two passes defensed.
- Blake Leake played another week with his hand/forearm in a cast and still led the team with 12 tackles.
- Transfer wideout Max Rodarte had his first career Bobcat touchdown reception, a 19-yard strike from quarterback Nick Poulos.
- Ball State’s tight end Tanner Koziol caught 10 passes today and with that set the all-time career program record for catches by a tight end with 162, surpassing Darius Hill’s 158 catches.
- BSU’s Cam Pickett was impressive today, making us look good in the process. After saying in the game preview ‘not to sleep on wideouts like Cam Pickett,’ the talented receiver went out and had a big day with 276 all-purpose yards, including 130 on kickoff return, 119 receiving and 27 yards rushing. Pickett helped keep the Cards in it in the first half with seven catches for 100 yards.
- Cardinals’ redshirt freshman quarterback Kadin Semonza finished a very notable campaign with 333 yards on the day and three passing touchdowns. Semonza’s 25 touchdown passes currently leads the MAC.
- Ball State heads into the offseason to start a new chapter in their storied history with an important decision on who the head coach will be, including possibly retaining interim head coach Colin Johnson.
- The Bobcats head to the MAC championship on Saturday December 7th at Noon ET on ESPN. Game ticket information forthcoming on the Mid-American Conference’s website.