Ohio Drops 31-0 Home Opener to Northeastern
Contact: Jim Stephan
9/7/2002
ATHENS, Ohio ? The Ohio football team lost its home opener 31-0 to Northeastern Saturday night at Peden Stadium.
Northeastern (2-0) scored on a 49-yard fumble return by Art Smith with 3:33 remaining in the first quarter when receiver Jason Caesar lost the ball on a Bobcat reverse play. The Huskies then took the opening kickoff of the second half and marched 80 yards in nine plays, capped off by a William Griffin 4-yard touchdown run at the 11:04 mark.
After forcing a Northeastern punt later in the third quarter, Ohio?s offense was again plagued by misfortune as a Fred Ray pass was deflected at the line, bounced off a Bobcat player's foot, and then was intercepted by Gavin Potter and returned five yards for a Husky score.
On the very next drive, Ray fumbled the ball to Northeastern on a sack. Tight end Kevin Lawler then caught a 7-yard touchdown reception after the Huskies moved 25 yards in four plays with 2:26 left in the third quarter.
Miro Kesic finished off the Northeastern scoring with a 31-yard field goal with 2:44 remaining in the game. It was the culmination of a 13-play, 45-yard drive that ate up 8:01 on the clock.
Dennis Thompson, Ohio?s starting left guard, suffered a broken right leg in the first half. The Bobcats (0-2) also were hampered by sprains to linebacker Ricky Cherry (right knee) and quarterbacks Fred Ray and Dontrell Jackson (ankles).
