PAW PRINTS: The Week Ahead in Ohio Athletics
11/25/2024 2:00:00 PM | Football, General, Men's Basketball
ATHENS, Ohio –Happy Thanksgiving Bobcats! Ohio football goes for a berth to the MAC Championship game with a Black Friday matchup, while men's basketball returns to Athens after two weeks on the road. Check out everything that's ahead for Ohio Athletics in this week's Paw Prints.Â
FOOTBALL
Nov. 29 / vs Ball State / Athens, Ohio / Frank Solich Field at Peden Stadium / 12 p.m. ET / CBSSN / Watch / Listen / Live Stats / Digital Guide / Tickets
The Ohio football team (8-3, 6-1 MAC) concludes the 2024 regular season on Friday, Nov. 29 when the Bobcats host Ball State (308, 2-5 MAC) for a Black Friday afternoon matinee. Kickoff is set for Noon ET inside Peden Stadium and can be seen on CBS Sports Network. With a win, the Bobcats will clinch a spot in the 2024 MAC Football Championship game on Saturday, Dec. 7 at Noon ET at Ford Field in Detroit, Mich.Â
Ohio is coming off a thrilling 24-7 victory over Toledo on Nov. 20, scoring 24 unanswered points to take down the Rockets. Graduate student quarterback Parker Navarro finished the game 11-for-19 in the air on 129 yards. On the ground, Navarro was a force to be reckoned with, scoring two touchdowns on 18 carries and 104 yards. Graduate student running back Anthony Tyus III led Ohio's rushers, netting 125 yards on 33 touches with one touchdown. Redshirt junior wide receiver Caleb Gossett led the receivers with six catches on 86 yards. Navarro was named MAC Offensive Player of the Week for the second-straight week for his performance.Â
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On the defensive side of the ball, graduate student linebacker Blake Leake and redshirt junior linebacker Shay Taylor recorded a team-best eight tackles apiece, with five and four solo stops, respectively. Leake, along with graduate student defensive end Bradley Weaver, redshirt freshman safety DJ Walker and graduate student defensive end Ben McNaboe each logged a forced fumble while Taylor finished the day with one sack and 1.5 tackles for loss. Redshirt senior cornerback Roman Parodie claimed both of the Bobcats' fumble recoveries.Â
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Ball State is are currently 3-8 and 2-5 in MAC play and is coming off a 38-13 loss to Bowling Green on Saturday. Ball State was led by quarterback Connor Bazelak who went 18-for-29 for 255 yards with two touchdowns, while wide receiver Kadin Semonza recorded 19 catches for 211 yards and two touchdowns.Â
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MEN'S BASKETBALL
Nov. 30 / vs. Robert Morris / Athens, Ohio /  Convocation Center  / 2 p.m. ET / ESPN+ / Watch / Listen / Live Stats / Digital Guide / Roster Card / Tickets
The Ohio men's basketball team (2-5) is back in action for the first time in two weeks on Saturday, Nov. 30 when the Bobcats host Robert Morris (5-2). Tip-off os set for 2 p.m. ET inside teh Convocation Center and can be seen on ESPN+.Â
Ohio is coming off a 1-2 week at the 2024 Myrtle Beach Invitational in Conway, S.C. The Bobcats defeated Portland, but fell to Middle Tennessee and Texas State. Ohio was led by senior forward AJ Clayton in the tournament. Clayton averaged 2.3 points and 9.3 rebounds a game. He also averaged 1.0 blocks, 1.0 steals and 1.6 assists per game. Clayton went 25-of-65 from the field (.446), 11-of-35 (.314) from three and 9-of-13 (.691) from the line. Clayton's biggest night came on Nov. 22 against Portland where he scored a career-high 34 points, going 13-of-26 from the field, 6-of-14 from three, 2-of-4 from the line and tied a career high with 12 rebounds. He also had one assist and two blocks in the victory. Clayton also earned MAC Co-Player of the Week Honors.Â
Junior guard Jackson Paveletzke  finished the tournament with 23 assists, a new Myrtle Beach invite record. Both Clayton and Paveletzke were named to the MBI All-Tournament Team.Â
Rpbert Morris is currently 5-2 overall with loses to Delaware and WVU and wins over New Orleans, Cornell, Lidenwood and Stonehill. RMU will take on Canisius on Wednesday before coming to Athens on Saturday.Â
