The ‘Cats will have some questions to answer in the future, but a win is a win.
What would you have said before the game if I asked you what Ohio’s chances were to win by 15 despite four turnovers?
The reply probably wouldn’t have been very positive, but by the end of 60 minutes on the field at Peden Stadium, a 15-point win despite four turnovers was just what happened on this sun-splashed afternoon in Athen, Ohio.
On a day that offered everything from a trick play, an onside kick, and a blocked field goal, the ‘Cats got the win behind a very resilient defense, good special team play, and enough offense to say so.
The first quarter and one play of the second was a Bobcat boon, a success that looked like it might have the starters on the sidelines by the third quarter with the game in hand.
QB Parker Navarro got off to a sizzling start. Contrary to what they showed earlier in the season so far, the ‘Cats took some early shots deep that paid off in the form of a pass interference call and, on the second drive of the quarter, a 53-yard bomb to wideout Coleman Owen on a beautiful toss from Navarro was right on the money.
The ‘Cats would score 14 points in the first quarter, the first touchdown on some trickeration. With the Bobbies in the wildcat, running back Anthony Tyus III got the snap and handed it to Navarro who then hit a streaking Tyus III up the right sideline for a 19-yard score. The defenders weren’t fooled as much not believing what they were seeing, allowing Tyus III to split the coverage for the score.
Navarro capped the second scoring drive on what for the second week in a row was a quarterback red zone run for score, this time a ten-yard gallop around the left end.
The Bears offense was able to move the ball some in the first with 17 plays that resulted in only three points. On what was a critical theme on the day, the ‘Cats red zone defense stood tall. Morgan State’s best drive of the quarter fizzled out at the Bobcat 17-yard line, with a 30-yard field goal by Beckett Leary.
So ended the first quarter— but the second quarter would kick off in dramatic style, as with Gianni Spetic tricked the MSU special teams unit with a well-timed onsides kick and revovery. Kudos to the coaching staff and Bobcats players on the big play. At his post game press conference, head coach Tim Albin noted the onside was something they picked up on in film with the kickoff team leaving their posts a bit hastily. The play was executed very effectively as Septic approached the kick like he was going to boot the ball only to hit a dribbler that cleared the required ten yards. Reserve linebacker Jack Fries was also instrumental in the execution as he de-cleated the only Bear who had a shot at the recovery.
The next play was the beginning of the end for Navarro and company for the first half as things completely reversed course from the promising first stanza. On the sudden change, the Bobcats attempted another deep ball but this one was intercepted by Morgan State’s Bryan Stukes. It was unclear ,but the interception may have resulted from Navarro’s being hit on the toss because there was a Bear on his left and the ball fluttered well off the mark into a sea of defenders.
As noted in the game preview, the Bears have some good talent and coaching on defense and really gave the Bobcats fits as the quarter advanced, forcing two punts before stealing another one from Navarro on the sideline.
With a golden opportunity at the Ohio 34-yard line, the Bears advanced the ball 18 yards before being turned away in the red zone again by the Bobcats, ultimately settling for a 33-yard Leary field goal to narrow the deficit to 14-6.
Undaunted by the events of the second quarter so far, the Bobcats tried to recapture the first quarter magic with 54 seconds left in the half deep in their own territory. The Bobcats gained some traction on the first two plays for 20 yards until Bear defensive back Jason Prevard made an excellent break on the ball on the third play for the interception at the Ohio 28.
The Bears went into the first half unable to capitalize on their good defensive play. Ohio’s defensive line went to work led by Jack end/linebacker Kadin Schmitz and defensive end Bradley Weaver to sack Morgan’s State’s Tajh Smith. Jack end Ben McNaboe harassed Smith into a throw away the next play, and Marcel Walker-Burgess shut down the drive on an alert tip drill interception.
With Navarro re-evaluating things on the sideline to start the third quarter, Ohio went to reserve quarterback Nick Poulos for a spark. Ohio was able to find that spark behind a running game the featured effective blocking and Poulos and Tyus III alternating carries to march the length of the field. The nine-play, 74-yard drive was capped on a 13-yard scamper by Tyus III to extend the lead to 21-6, providing the ‘Cats some much-needed breathing room.
And that was the end of the scoring.
Poulos and company only attempted four second-half passes but one completion was critical. With Ohio backed up inside their five with 12 minutes in the fourth, on third and long, Poulos threw a strike to Owen for 15-yards. The first down was critical as it allowed Ohio to flip field position when they ultimately punted from their 41-yard line.
As Ohio’s defense had done all day, they found a way to get it done when it mattered most. The Bears were able to find some running room in the second half when held to only six yards in the first.
The Bears best second half drive began with a 28-yard run by Jason Collins who was denied a long touchdown run only by a shoestring tackle by Ohio safety Austin Brawley.
Ultimately, Morgan State got into the red zone twice but were turned away without points on a field goal attempt blocked by Bobcat Bradley Weaver and a gang tackle on fourth-and- goal at the four.
NOTES
- While Ohio’s running game got it done as they usually do by grinding out a critical score on the ground in a tight game, the offense regressed in part from last week. The Bobcats will have a decision to make at QB: whether to return to Parker Navarro or let it ride with Nick Poulos. Head coach Tim Albin reported at his post game press conference that he would know more about the QB situation on Monday.
- The Bobcats defense is getting some solid production from new faces in linebacker Blane Leake, with 12 tackles and Northern Colorado transfer Dustin Johnson with six stops. Nevada transfer Marcel Walker-Burgess continues to show on defense for the “Cats as we move through the preseason with four tackles and a pick.
- Redshirt freshman D.J. Walker has been noteworthy as the starting nickel all year, finishing with five stops in this game. Another young DB stepping up for the ‘Cats is true freshman Tony Mathis. After reportedly a very good summer Camp, Mathis stepped in early in his career for an injury-depleted secondary and made his third tackle of the season.
- The ‘Cats were also able to work in some snaps for key reserve offensive lineman left tackle Jordon Jones and left guard Trent Allen.
- The Bobbies have a defensive front that is really maturing nicely, showing good depth, but need to dial back on the personal fouls going forward after committing multiple fouls in back-to-back weeks.
The Bobcats hit the road next week on a tough assignment to take on the Kentucky Wildcats at 12:45 Eastern time on the SEC Network.