A capacity crowd of 24,000 witnessed a valiant Ohio comeback in the fourth quarter, but the Bobcat rally fell short in a 31-28 setback to Iowa State Saturday. The Bobcats, which fell to 0-3 on the season with their second loss by a field goal or less, had trailed 31-14 entering the fourth quarter, but got two Joe Mohler touchdown receptions to close the gap.

Ohio took the opening kickoff and marched 80 yards on nine plays to open a 7-0 lead. Ray Huston capped the drive with a one-yard plunge just 3:56 into the contest. Iowa State took just five plays and 2:07 to even the score at 7-7. Lane Danielson took the option pitch to the right side 15 yards into the endzone to cap a 65-yard drive.

After the teams traded punts, the Bobcats went ahead 14-7. Beginning at his own 18, Chad Brinker broke through the middle for a 75-yard run that gave Ohio a first-and-goal at the Cyclone 7. Two plays later, Dontrell Jackson snuck across from the one to give Ohio its final lead of the day.

The Cyclones responded immediately again, marching 76 yards on 11 plays. Ennis Haywood found the endzone from seven yards out on the first play of the second quarter to make the score 14-14. Iowa State used a 33-yard field goal from Tony Yelk to take the lead 17-14 with 6:59 left in the period and held onto that advantage at intermission.

A pair of third-quarter touchdowns - a one-yard run by Seneca Wallace and a 66-yard burst by Haywood - seemed to clinch the game for the Cyclones, but Ohio responded. With 11:56 left in the contest, Jackson found Mohler from 31 yards out to cut the margin to 31-21. Ohio retook possession on a Bop White interception at the Bobcat 10 and marched 90 yards on eight plays to pull to within three, 31-28. The finishing play was a halfback option from Brinker to Mohler that covered the last 53 yards into the endzone.

Iowa State ran out the final 5:25 of the contest, converting third-and-three and fourth-and-three situations during the drive.

The Cyclones outgained Ohio 558 to 436 in total offense and 308 to 285 on the ground, ending a streak of 12 straight Bobcat rushing advantages. Haywood rushed for 219 yards and scored a pair of touchdowns. Chad Brinker led the Bobcats with 140 yards on the ground, posting his second 100-yard game of the season.

Brian Knorr quotes:
"It was a tough loss for the Bobcats. The way we came back: Brinker and Mohler gave us a chance. The first two and a half games we didn't make a play. In the second half today, we blocked a field goal and had two interceptions. Iowa State is a good football team.

"We have to make big plays and we felt we needed to run on first down to move the sticks.


Dan McCarney quotes:
"We challenged the offensive line on that last drive. We needed to generate first downs. Seneca (Wallace) hooked up with Lane Danielson for a great play to keep our drive alive. And then Ennis (Haywood) came up with a great play on fourth down. We have a lot of respect for Ohio University. They are so fundamentally sound and we knew they had won eight of their last nine home games and we told our team after the game that to win here took a great effort. It is great to have someone like Ennis who can keep the ball away from the opposing offense by grinding it out. Seneca showed a lot of people that he could throw today. We made some mistakes, but overall after a two week layoff I am pleased with our effort."