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ATHENS, Ohio — The Ohio football team (2-1) returns to Athens to host the Iowa State Cyclones (1-1) this Saturday (Sept. 16). Kickoff is set for 12 p.m. ET at Frank Solich Field at Peden Stadium. The game can be seen on ESPNU. John Schriffen and Rocky Boiman are on the call with Dawn Davenport on the sideline.
The Bobcats' matchup can also be heard on the Ohio Sports Network from Learfield. Russ Eisenstein returns for his 16th season as the "Voice of the Bobcats" and will be joined by Ohio alum Rob Cornelius, who has been a part of the broadcasts for two decades.
SERIES HISTORY VS. IOWA STATE
The Bobcats are 0-8 against the Cyclones. The two teams last met in Ames on Sept. 17, 2022, where Ohio fell 43-10.
Iowa State made the trip to Athens one time: Sept. 22, 2001. The Bobcats took an early 14-7 lead, but fell behind in the second quarter. A fourth-quarter rally cut Ohio's deficit to three points, but they ultimately lost, 31-28.
SCOUTING IOWA STATE
The Cyclones are currently 1-1 on the season, dropping their last game to Iowa, 20-13.
On the season, Iowa State averages 21.5 points on 110.5 rushing yards and 159.5 passing yards per game.
Individually, sophomore running back Cartevious Norton leads the team on the ground with 108 rushing yards 32 carries.
In the air, redshirt freshman quarterback Rocco Becht went 33-for-57, throwing three touchdowns in 316 yards.
Junior Jayden Higgins leads the receivers with 110 yards in the air and one touchdown.
Junior defensive back Beau Freyler has 17 tackles, highlighted by nine solo stops, one sack and one tackle for loss.
LAST TIME OUT
The Ohio football team (2-1) won its first road game of the 2023 season, defeating the FAU Owls (1-1) 17-10 Saturday evening (Sept. 9).
In the air, graduate student quarterback Kurtis Rourke went 18-for-29 with 203 yards and a touchdown. Redshirt senior running back O'Shaan Allison led the team on the ground, finishing the game with 80 rushing yards on 22 carries, scoring his first touchdown since 2019.
Defensively, graduate student linebacker Keye Thompson led the team with seven tackles, including three solo stops. He also recorded one quarterback hurry and one pass breakup.
Back-to-back interceptions opened the game, giving Ohio the ball again with 14:45 left in the first quarter. The Bobcats attempted a field goal, but were unable to put it through the uprights, entering the second quarter tied 0-0 with the Owls. The game remained scoreless until a 37-yard FAU field goal left the Bobcats trailing by three with 6:54 left in the half.
The next drive, an Owl interception return led to the first touchdown of the game, putting Ohio at a 10-0 deficit. The Bobcats answered with an 11-play, 75-yard drive, which concluded with a 13-yard pass to redshirt sophomore tight end Will Kacmarek for his first career touchdown. Freshman kicker Alex Kasee (Sylvania, Ohio) followed with a PAT, cutting the Owls' lead to three heading into halftime.
With 5:38 left in the third quarter, a five-yard rushing touchdown from Allison gave Ohio their first lead of the game. After Kasee's kick, Ohio led 14-10.
Kasee extended the Bobcats' lead in the fourth, kicking a 39-yard field goal with 5:26 remaining in the game. Neither team scored again, putting the final score at 17-10.
SCOUTING OHIO
Currently, the Bobcats are 2-1. They average 19 points on 153.7 rushing yards and 195.53 passing yards per game.
In the air, quarterback Kurtis Rourke is 26-for-39 for 278 yards while quarterback CJ Harris has 25 completions in 248 yards.
Wide receivers Tyler Walton and Sam Wiglusz lead the team, with Walton totaling 128 yards, 12 receptions and one touchdown while Wiglusz has 14 receptions on 125 yards.
On the ground, running back Sieh Bangura has 51 carries in 217 rushing yards while running back O'Shaan Allison has 134 yards on 41 carries with one touchdown.
Defensively, linebacker Bryce Houston leads the team, recording 28 tackles and 4.5 tackles for loss. Safety Austin Brawley currently has five solo tackles, ten assisted tackles, two pass break-ups and one fumble recovery. He leads the team in interceptions (2); Houston and cornerback Tank Pearson have recorded one apiece.
Freshman kicker Gianni Spetic has made four field goals off five attempts, with his longest being 38.
To read the rest of this week's notes, click here.
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