FOLLOW OHIO FOOTBALL: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
ATHENS, Ohio – A noon kickoff did not phase the Ohio football team as it steamrolled Buffalo for a 47-16 victory Saturday (Oct. 26) afternoon during Frank Solich Day.
Ohio recorded a season-high 231 passing yards in the victory, which is also a single-game career high for graduate student quarterback Parker Navarro (Tempe, Ariz.). Saturday also marked the second-straight game in which Ohio recorded three rushing touchdowns.
"For us to play our best ball up to date, all three phases, for all four quarters was huge. We played two quarters here and two quarters there, and that was the big challenge at halftime and where we were at," head coach Tim Albin said. "The staff did an unbelievable job. I cannot say enough about their efforts and how proud I am. It is a tough week, with senior day, a lot of other things going on. We all wanted the win so bad, and our guys went out there to put our best performance up to date."
It took a while for Ohio's offense to get going, though. After trading drives, Buffalo had the upper hand with a field goal attempt in the first quarter. However Upton Bellenfant's attempt soared wide to give Ohio a wave of relief.
All it took was a string of running plays to get the Bobcats into field goal range on the next drive. Sophomore kicker Gianni Spetic (Chardon, Ohio) booted a 23-yard kick through the uprights to put the Bobcats on the board first.
The Bulls solved the Bobcat defense in the second quarter and recorded the first touchdown of the game on a 27-yard rush. However, it did not take the Bobcats long to return the favor. Redshirt freshman Rickey Hunt Jr. (Oklahoma City, Okla.) dashed down the field for a 46-yard touchdown to return the Bobcats' lead.
In a matter of minutes, graduate student Coleman Owen (Gilbert, Ariz.) scored on a 65-yard reception from Navarro. Navarro quickly connected with Owen again in the last minute of the quarter for a 13-yard reception to increase Ohio's sizeable lead.
"He's one of my best friends off the field too. He's been my roommate since I got here. I trust in him every day," Owen said. "The offensive line does a great job of holding up for him, and we trust him to put the ball where it needs to be."
Ohio's defense returned re-energized in the second half. It worked up Buffalo's quarterback, C.J. Ogbonna, and thwarted his throwing game. Despite being unsteady, Buffalo still managed to collect a handful of first downs until redshirt sophomore defensive tackle CJ Doggette (Pickerington, Ohio) tore through the offensive line to sack Ogbonna. Buffalo lost five yards and the ball on the play as redshirt junior Bralen Henderson (Pittsburgh, Pa.) recovered the fumble.
With the ball in hand, the Bobcats turned to redshirt junior running back Nolan McCormick (Mason, Ohio) to lead the way. On the Bobcats' scoring drive in the third quarter, McCormick accounted for four carries – including the 2-yard touchdown – on six plays. The touchdown was his second of the season.
Buffalo came back in the next drive with a touchdown on a 21-yard pass, however, it did not get extra points. Sophomore defensive end Kadin Schmitz read the handoff and picked off the throw for a 100-yard two-point run.
"It just took me back to my track days, just trying to stride out and get down that sideline," Schmitz said with a laugh.
Albin, who ran down the sideline with Schmitz was taken back, too.
"I was trying not to show that I was breathing so hard, but that was probably the longest I've ran in a minute. I thought for a second I was gonna be able to keep up with him. He left me behind," Albin chuckled. "It was a great moment in the game."
That moment fueled the Bobcats through the fourth quarter. Owen scored his third touchdown of the day on a 22-yard carry in the first drive, marking a new career single-game touchdown record for Owen. On the next drive, the Bobcats scored again after redshirt junior linebacker Shay Taylor (Mount Perry, Ohio) snagged his first interception of the season for a 30-yard return to cap off the afternoon.
Ohio's next task is its first midweek game, a 7 p.m. kickoff against Kent State on Wednesday, November 6. The game will be shown on either ESPN2 or ESPNU.
"The sun comes up in 24 hours, and we're on to the next one."
#OUOhYeah
