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ATHENS, Ohio— The Ohio football team scrapped its way to a 20-17 victory against Western Michigan on Saturday afternoon (Oct. 21) on Frank Solich Field at Peden Stadium.
With their win against the Broncos, the Bobcats became bowl eligible for the second season in a row.
The win wasn't easy, though. Ohio had to fight through Western Michigan's defense all afternoon. Western Michigan limited Ohio's options and covered its favorite targets with ease. With nowhere to turn, Ohio had to change up its attack.
The Bobcats switched out graduate student quarterback Kurtis Rourke (Oakville, Ontario, Canada) for graduate student quarterback Parker Navarro (Tempe, AZ.) a brief time in the third quarter to give the Broncos a different look. Navarro handed the ball off to redshirt sophomore Sieh Bangura (Bowie, MD.), who burst through the line for his third touchdown of the season and the Bobcats' first of the game.
Ohio collected 185 rushing yards on Saturday for its second most of the season. Bangura led the way with 85, followed by redshirt fifth year running back O'Shaan Allison (Malvern, PA.) with 64.
"We've got a dynamic duo with Sieh and O'Shaan. I thought those guys ran hard and at halftime, they could get their heads down maybe. We had 20 yards rushing at halftime, and we ended up with almost 190," head coach Tim Albin said. "Those guys continue to throw it up in there and break tackles. I'm really, really proud of them as a former running back coach.
Ohio had no issue getting near the end zone. It had promising drives earlier into the game that just didn't pan out. Ohio had to settle for a field goal in the first and second quarters after it fizzled out in the red zone.
One of those field goals came after junior cornerback Tank Pearson (Oxford, MS.) intercepted Western Michigan's last drive of the first half with less than a minute on the clock. His efforts combined with a 38-yard reception from graduate student wide receiver Sam Wiglusz (Brecksville, Ohio) put Ohio within reach of the goal line, however, Ohio had to settle with a field goal after Western Michigan swatted a pass away from junior wide receiver Miles Cross (Bowie, MD.)
Wiglusz ended the afternoon with his career most yards in a single game. He collected 155 yards on 10 receptions and one toe-tap touchdown for the Bobcats.
"The ball was floating and (Kurtis) put it right in the back corner so I let that come down and to get the big one, it felt really good," Wiglusz said.
The Bobcats forced the Broncos to rely on their passing game with their physicality on Saturday. The Bobcats held the Broncos to 79 yards on the ground for their least rushing yards of the season. The last time the Broncos were held to under 100 rushing yards was against Syracuse in September.
"Our front seven, I'd say, is very lethal and we take pride in not allowing them many rushing yards," graduate student linebacker Keye Thompson (Barberton, Ohio) said. "That's something we harp on each and every week to stay in the rankings."
Rankings will be important for Ohio next weekend as well. The No. 1 team in the MAC East, Miami, is set to come to Athens for Ohio's last Saturday game of the regular season. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. ET.
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