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MUNCIE, Ind. — The Ohio Football program traveled to Muncie, Ind. for its first Mid-American Conference game Saturday, taking on Ball State. In a game that came down to the final play, Ohio lost 20-14.
On offense, the Bobcats were led by graduate student quarterback Parker Navarro (Tempe, Ariz.), who passed for 188 yards and one touchdown. Receiving the touchdown from Navarro was redshirt junior wide receiver Rodney Harris II (Cincinnati, Ohio). The touchdown for Harris marked the first of his collegiate career. Junior wide receiver Chase Hendricks (St. Louis, Mo.) recorded a game-high 104 receiving yards. On the ground, redshirt senior running back Sieh Bangura (Bowie, Md.) had 15 attempts for 68 rushing yards. His counterpart, sophomore running back Duncan Brune (Cologne, Germany), scored the game's first touchdown on a one-yard score.
Defensively, senior safety Adonis Williams (Cleveland Heights, Ohio) and redshirt junior linebacker Michael Molnar (Mason, Ohio) led the team with 11 tackles each. Redshirt sophomore defensive end Jay Crable (Massillon, Ohio) led the team with two tackles for loss. As a whole, the Ohio defense tied a season-high with nine tackles for a loss.
Navarro got things started on offense with a 44-yard rush on the game's first play from the line of scrimmage. The Bobcats' drive stalled there, however, after a missed field goal, turning the ball over to the Cardinals.
Ohio's defense found success in the first half. On Ball State's first two offensive drives, it was unable to gain a first down against an impressive Ohio defense.
The Bobcats opened the scoring later in the first quarter after a 37-yard reception by Hendricks set up a Brune rushing touchdown to give Ohio the lead.
Two tackles for loss on the ensuing Ball State offensive drive gave Navarro and the offense the ball back with a chance to extend the Bobcats' lead.
Going into the second quarter, Ohio held a slim 7-0 lead despite dominating Ball State in yards gained.
The Bobcats were able to extend their lead midway through the second quarter when Navarro found Harris for a 23-yard receiving touchdown, the first of Harris' career.
To end the half, Ball State marched all the way down to the Ohio one-yard line but was unable to score after four straight plays for no gain or a loss. Going into the half, Ohio held a 14-0 lead.
In the second half, the Ball State offense recorded its first points of the game with 7:05 to play in the second quarter to make it a 14-7 game. At the very end of the third quarter, the Cardinals continued to close the gap with a field goal, making it 14-10.
In the fourth quarter, Ohio was outscored 10-0 after a safety and a last-minute touchdown by Ball State. Ohio moved the ball downfield well during the final drive but was unable to produce, falling to Ball State 20-14.
The Bobcats will be back in action Saturday, Oct. 18, for Homecoming at Frank Solich Field at Peden Stadium when they take on the Northern Illinois Huskies. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. ET.
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