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ATHENS, Ohio—The Ohio football team (5-3, 3-1 MAC) remain undefeated at Frank Solich Field at Peden Stadium, defeating the Northern Illinois Huskies (2-6, 1-3 MAC) 24-17.
In the air, redshirt junior quarterback
Kurtis Rourke (Oakville, Ontario, Canada) finished the game 14-for-26 with two touchdowns on 200 yards. Graduate student wide receiver
Sam Wiglusz (Brecksville, Ohio) recorded two touchdowns on 69 yards and six receptions while redshirt freshman running back
Sieh Bangura (Bowie, Md.) had 32 yards on three catches.
On the ground, Rourke set a personal record with a 61-yard rush in the second quarter, netting a total of 64 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown on seven attempts while Bangura net 62 yards on 10 carries. Defensively, redshirt senior linebacker
Keye Thompson (Barberton, Ohio) led the way with 14 total tackles, five of which were solo. He also recorded 2.5 tackles for loss and one quarterback hurry. Both graduate student
Zack Sanders (Lawrence, Kan.) and sixth year
Alvin Floyd (North Miami Beach, Fla.) finished with nine tackles each.
Freshman kicker
Nathanial Vakos (Avon, Ohio) went 1-for-2 on field goals and 3-for-3 on PATs. Sixth year
Jonah Wieland (Hudson, Ohio) and redshirt sophomore
Jack Wilson (Lancefield, Victoria, Australia) each registered two punts while redshirt junior
Tristian Vandenberg (Buffalo, N.Y.) kicked for five kickoffs, finishing with 312 yards.
"Very happy with the win today, lots of emotion, big game playing the defending conference champions at home on senior day," head coach
Tim Albin said. "I want to shout out
Michael Stephens and his staff and
Jacob Rockoff making that switch. I think it's great for the seniors and this is a great idea and I'm so happy for those guys to get a Saturday game with the crowd and then to get the win with and a dedication to Coach Solich and dedication of the field. Today was very emotional for a lot of people. So, we have a scrappy bunch, and we find a way to win, every week, every 60 minutes. It's a different identity every 60 minutes and our guys find a way. We knew it is going to be a challenge today with what we are facing, but we got it done. We're going to continue to be a one game at a time outfit and looking forward to a couple days off for the guys."
The Bobcats' opening drive put them ahead 7-0, ending with a Wiglusz touchdown. With 10:49 remaining in the half, a 38-yard field goal put the Huskies on the board, cutting Ohio's lead to four points. Field goals from both teams put the score at 10-6 heading into halftime.
With 10:56 left in the third quarter, the Huskies concluded a nine-play, 48-yard drive with a 45-yaard field goal, giving the Bobcats a one-point lead. Rourke wrapped up an 81-yard drive with a one-yard rushing touchdown, extending Ohio's lead to 17-9. Northern Illinois answered with a touchdown and a two-point conversion, tying the game, 17-17.
With seven minutes remaining in the game, a 22-yard receiving touchdown by Wiglusz followed by a successful PAT from Vakos gave the Bobcats a 24-17 lead. After four consecutive NIU incomplete passes, Ohio went into victory formation, solidifying their fourth home win of the season.
"It's good protecting Frank Solich Field and that's been the number one goal, to win games," Rourke said. "But to be able to defend this field that has been named after such a legendary coach, that makes it even more special."
Up next, the Bobcats open midweek MAC play on Tuesday, Nov. 1 against Buffalo. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. at Frank Solich Field at Peden Stadium and can be seen on ESPN2.
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