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KALAMAZOO, Mich.— Highlighted by five interceptions, the Ohio football team (4-3, 2-1 MAC) defeated the Western Michigan Broncos (2-5, 1-2 MAC) 33-14, marking their first victory on the road this season.
"An unbelievable performance by our defense," said head coach
Tim Albin. "The turnovers were the difference in the game. We challenged the team all week, and they responded."
Redshirt junior quarterback
Kurtis Rourke (Oakville, Ontario, Canada) went 22-for-34, finishing with 264 yards in the air. Graduate student wide receiver
Sam Wiglusz (Brecksville, Ohio) led the receivers with 76 yards on eight receptions. On the ground, redshirt freshman running back
Sieh Bangura (Bowie, Md.) had two touchdowns on 77 yards while Rourke had one rushing touchdown.
Defensively, redshirt senior defensive end
Vonnie Watkins (Lusby, Md.) finished the day with five tackles, one sack, three tackles for loss and one forced fumble. Redshirt freshman
Torrie Cox, Jr. (Miami Gardens, Fla.) and graduate student
Zack Sanders (Lawrence, Kan.) each recorded two interceptions while redshirt senior
Bryce Dugan (Milford, Ohio) recorded one interception.
Freshman kicker
Nathanial Vakos (Avon, Ohio) went 4-for-5 on field goals and was 3-for-3 on PATs. His 55-yard field goal marked a personal record as well as tied him for the third-longest field goal in program history.
The Bobcats' opening drive ended with a rushing touchdown from Bangura. The Broncos evened the score the following drive and they entered the second quarter tied, 7-7.
With 12:59 remaining in the second quarter, Bangura recorded his second touchdown of the day, putting Ohio ahead by seven. A 26-yard field goal by Vakos extended Ohio's lead, but Western Michigan answered with a 74-yard pass, closing the gap to just three points. With six seconds left in the half, Vakos kicked a collegiate career-long 55-yard field goal, putting the Bobcats ahead 20-14.
After a scoreless third quarter, Ohio extended their lead with a 33-yard field goal from Vakos with 13:48 remaining in the game. Rourke's rushing touchdown put the Bobcats ahead by 16 and a final field goal from Vakos put the score at 33-14.
Up next, the Bobcats return to Athens on Saturday, Oct. 22 to host Northern Illinois. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. at Frank Solich Field at Peden Stadium on ESPN+.
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