The Bobcats did what was necessary to take home a conference win over the Zips.
The Ohio Bobcats (3-2, 1-0 MAC) found a way to get it done over the Akron Zips (1-4, 0-1 MAC) on Homecoming weekend, spearheaded by excellent defense and some timely special teams and offense in a 30-10 result on Saturday afternoon.
While the Bobcats were up when the game went to triple zeroes, control of the game at the start was in the hands of the visiting Zips.
Akron came out and dominated defensively in the first quarter, holding Ohio to three straight punts. Great individual plays. like Bennett Adler’s sack to kill one drive and excellent coverage and a pass break up by Devonte Golden-Nelson to stop another drive, defined the first few drives for the Zips.
Meanwhile, Akron’s offense came out as crisp as a newly-minted $100 bill. QB Ben Finley distributed the ball to his key playmakers through the air, marching into Ohio territory early.
However, the drive stalled near the Ohio 32 when a false start followed by three alert plays by defensive end Bradley Weaver, including a sack, forced a 49-yard field goal attempt which was drilled by Garrison Smith.
For most of the second quarter, it looked like Ohio was going to gain the upper hand but could not sustain success owing to a series of gaffes in the form of penalties or execution errors. A 37-yard punt return was negated by a blocking penalty behind the returner, an illegal man downfield penalty negated a great effort play by quarterback Parker Navarro, and a 44-yard field goal miss ensured the Bobbies stayed behind the visitors at least for while.
As the quarter progressed though, Ohio’s luck turned on a couple of fortunate plays, one on defense and the other on offense. Trying to make a play, Akron’s quarterback retreated then made a very bad decision to launch a throw into what looked like triple coverage where nickel defender DJ Walker corralled the errant throw for first-and-10 at the Akron 42-yard line.
The ensuing drive was typical of the Bobcat offense for good stretches of the day: one step forward and two steps back— only this time they got the break in their favor they needed to finish the drive.
A run off right tackle by Anthony Tyus III keyed by an effective block by pulling guard Davion Weatherspoon appeared to give Ohio field position inside the five but the play was partially called back on a holding call. Wideout Max Rodarte made up for the hold with a nice catch on the next play for 18-yards, the first of his Bobcat career. Tyus III looked like he had the rushing touchdown but fumbled near the goal line which took a Bobcat bounce and was recovered by tight end Mason Williams in the end zone for six.
The Zips got some offense going late in the second after winning the field position battle. A great boot by Akron punter Avery Book pinned the Bobcats inside their own two-yard line. Akron’s defense didn’t allow a single yard on the ensuing drive and got the ball back at the 31 yard line after Jordan Castleberry’s 18-yard punt return.
Seizing the opportunity on an RPO pass from Finley to tight end Jake Newell, the Zips covered the final 17 yards to paydirt, taking a 10-7 lead.
As bad as things went for Ohio’s offense in the first half, they showed their mettle on a seven-play, 75-yard scoring drive that lasted just over a minute to reclaim the lead. Ohio’s Navarro directed the action well as the ‘Cats mixed the run and pass. Navarro had a few key runs assisted on one by a solid block by wideout Rodney Harris II. Ohio picked a good time to pull out the tunnel screen which was a staple last year but not much this year as wideout Coleman Owen converted it for 18 yards. Owen again got the call to cap the drive on an 18-yard fade from Navarro.for six.
The third quarter was an exercise in punting and field position as Ohio punter Jack Wilson pinned Akron’s offense inside the ten-yard line on consecutive drives.
Ohio’s decision to play field position and Wilson’s execution paid dividends, as Ohio JACK backer Marcel Walker-Burgess added another big play to his resume this year by sacking Finley for a safety to extend the lead 16-10.
Much like the second quarter, Ohio moved the ball into Akron territory but were thwarted, here on a strip sack by Kabbash Richards which was alertly recovered by Marcus Moore Jr.
By the time the game moved into the fourth, Ohio’s defense took control, with the Zips offense unable to recapture much of their early-game success. With just over 12 minutes to go, Akron was 0-of-10 on third down conversions with -9 yards rushing.
With Ohio running the ball and Akron focusing there, the Bobcats hit a couple of seam routes in the second half, the biggest to Coleman Owen, whose 75-yard catch and run to the endzone was a big blow, extending the lead to 23-10.
Just when Ohio seemed to have Akron on the ropes with the ball first-and-10 with seven minutes remaining, Malcolm DeWalt IV recovered an Anthoby Tyus III fumble— Ohio’s eighth turnover in three weeks.
But the Zips’ last-gasp effort was not enough, as the Bobcats defense answered the bell thanks to safety Dustin Johnson tipping a Finley pass and Austin Brawley coralling the ball to end the threat.
Ohio scored late, set up by a long run by quarterback Navarro to close it out at 30-10.
NOTES:
- The win gives Ohio seven straight victories over the Zips; the last time Akron triumphed was in 2017.
- Both teams should be proud of the great effort. Navarro, Tyus III, and company fought for every yard; Tyus III had 30 carries on the day against a tough Akron defense. Ohio left tackle Carson Heidecker got up off the deck from a friendly-fire injury on the fumble recovered in the endzone in the second quarter by Williams and played most of the game before suffering another injury.
- Akron’s linebacker Brian McCoy typified the fighting spirit of the Zips with 14 tackles. Kabbash Richards was notable with big plays including a sack and three tackles for loss.
- Ohio’s defense was exceptional, particularly being down multiple starters due to injury. The ‘Cats held the Zips to 173 total yards including negative 23 yards rushing. Nickel defender DJ Walker continues to gain momentum with an interception and seven stops while defensive lineman Bradley Weaver added two sacks and Cam Rice one sack.
- As good Ohio was on defense and, at times, Akron, both offenses left some meat on the bone with periodic execution issues. If the Zips are going to take the next step, they need to find a way to run the ball with more success.
- Ohio’s Parker Navarro played injured, but accounted for a combined 317 yards including over 100 yards rushing and three total touchdowns. Wideout Coleman Owen led all players with 130 yards receiving (on six catches), scoring his first two career touchdowns as a Bobcat.
- Akron tight end Jake Newell was instrumental in the offensive success the Zips mustered with eight catches for 44 yards and a score.
The Bobcats head to Mount Pleasant, Michigan next Saturday to take on the Central Michigan Chippewas at a time and network to be determined. After playing four out of five on the road to start the season, the Zips head home to host Bowling Green at 3:30 PM ET on ESPN+