ATHENS, Ohio ? With the Marching 110 playing ?Cat Scratch Fever,? the Ohio Bobcats football team scratched and clawed its way back from a 17-point deficit to take a 32-31 lead with 8:58 remaining only to see Western Michigan pull out a 39-32 victory at Peden Stadium on Saturday.

?Certainly it?s disappointing that once we were in a position (to win) in the fourth quarter, we weren?t able to hold the lead at home,? said Bobcat head coach Brian Knorr. ?This is a home game we felt we needed to win. After putting ourselves in a hole, we fought back but just weren?t able to hold the lead once we got it.?

In the Mid-American Conference opener for both teams, the Broncos used three Ohio turnovers to take a 17-0 first-quarter lead. The Bobcats (1-3, 0-1 MAC) closed the gap to 17-7 with a Fred Ray three-yard run on the first play of the second quarter.

Western Michigan (2-2, 1-0 MAC) responded with a one-yard score by Phil Reed, his second rushing touchdown of the day, to claim a 24-7 lead at the 11:35 mark of the second quarter. Ohio answered, however, with a 20-yard score by Ray and a Greg DiMarino 25-yard field goal in the final three minutes of the period to make the score 24-17 at the half.

After the Broncos pushed the lead to 31-17 on a 44-yard strike from Chad Munson to Greg Jennings at the 10:42 mark of the third quarter, DiMarino converted his second field goal of the day, this time from 24 yards with 5:51 remaining in the third.

Following a Dennis Chukwuemeka interception, Ray hit Scott Mayle for a 51-yard score with 11:03 left in the fourth quarter, closing to gap to 31-26. Ohio then claimed its first lead of the game, 32-31, on a 23-yard reverse play by Mayle at the 8:58 mark.

Western Michigan quickly responded, though, with a four-play, 35-yard drive after an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on the Bobcats and a 42-yard kickoff return by Jennings. The drive was capped by a one-yard touchdown dive by Reed, his third score of the game, with 7:29 remaining.

After a three-and-out by Ohio, the Broncos drove to the Bobcat 30-yard line and lined up for a 47-yard field goal. The snap went to Jon Drach, who attempted to carry out the fake by running for the first down, but he was dropped for no gain by Ohio linebacker Pete Brately.

Taking over at their own 30-yard line with 57 seconds left in the game, the Bobcats advanced to Western Michigan?s 34-yard line before four straight incompletions ? the last to the back of the end zone ? ended Ohio?s hopes.

Ray finished the game with 12 completions on 26 attempts for 215 yards, an interception and a score. The senior from Martins Ferry also led the Bobcats in rushing with 84 yards on 16 carries and two touchdowns.

Mayle caught two passes for 99 yards while Adam Porter collected six receptions for 85 yards for Ohio.

For the Broncos, Munson was 22-of-39 for 315 yards, two interceptions and a pair of touchdown strikes. Reed led Western Michigan in rushing with 115 yards on 30 attempts and three scores. Both Kendrick Mosley and Jennings went over 100 yards in receiving for the Broncos with Mosley collecting 104 yards on seven catches and Jennings making two grabs for 103 yards.

The Bobcats return to action next Saturday at Northern Illinois (4-0, 0-0 MAC), ranked No. 20 in the country by the Associated Press and 24-16 winners over Iowa State today. Ohio will then host UCF on Oct. 11 for Homecoming in Athens.

For ticket information, please contact the Ohio Athletics Ticket Office at 740-593-1300 or 800-575-CATS. You can also purchase tickets online and print them right at home, if you choose, by CLICKING HERE!