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ATHENS, Ohio – The Ohio football program returned home to Frank Solich Field at Peden Stadium for its final non-conference matchup of the season, a hard-fought game against Gardner-Webb. After a high-scoring battle, the Bobcats pulled away with a 52-35 win. 
 
"Something that I think is really positive is when you can learn lessons while still winning the game," Ohio head coach Brian Smith said. "I'm expecting a lot of growth from this team after this game." 
 
Multiple players for Ohio had record-breaking offensive performances, including a career day from junior wide receiver Chase Hendricks (St. Louis, Mo.). On eight total catches, Hendricks recorded a career high 144 receiving yards and one touchdown. Throwing the ball to Hendricks was graduate student quarterback Parker Navarro (Tempe, Ariz.), who recorded a career high of 290 passing yards and one passing touchdown. Navarro's other top options included redshirt freshman wide receiver Dom Dorwart (Leonardtown, Md.), who hauled in his first career reception on a day where he recorded 51 total receiving yards. In the run game, Ohio's two backs each had multiple rushing touchdowns, with redshirt senior running back Sieh Bangura (Bowie, Md.) recording three touchdowns and 123 yards, and sophomore running back Duncan Brune (Cologne, Germany) recording three touchdowns and 88 rushing yards. 
 
"I'm just going out there playing ball, making plays when they come my way, and trying to do what's best for the team," Hendricks said. "If it comes with however many yards I have a game, then that's cool. But I'm not really focused on the stats. I'm just focused on getting the job done and getting the win."
 
Against Gardner-Webb, Ohio tallied 50 plus points for the first time since homecoming 2022 against Akron and recorded six total rushing touchdowns, matching the second-most rushing touchdowns by any Ohio team. 
 
On defense, the Bobcats were led by redshirt junior linebacker Michael Molnar (Mason, Ohio), who recorded a career-high 11 tackles. The Bobcats' lone turnover came by way of an interception from graduate student cornerback Michael Mack II (Glenn Dale, Md.). Junior safety Jalen Thomeson (Greenwood, Ind.) contributed another career high with nine tackles, including a tackle for a loss, while graduate linebacker Cameron Hollobaugh (Warren, Ohio) had eight tackles and one quarterback hurry. 
 
"Defensively as a whole, we didn't have a great game today," Molnar said. "So, I mean, it's great to have individual steps, but that's not what we're focused on." 
 
Redshirt sophomore kicker Brack Peacock (Granberry, Texas) made the most of his one field goal attempt, converting on a 33-yard kick to start the scoring for Ohio. Graduate punter Magnus Haines (Massillon, Ohio) made two punts with a long of 55 and another of 47. In the return game, graduate wide receiver Eamonn Dennis (Worcester, Mass.) had a season-long 63-yard return.  
 
The Ohio defense got off to a good start in the game when Mack tallied an interception while the defense was backed up in Ohio territory. 
 
After an early defensive triumph from the Bobcats, the Runnin' Bulldogs responded on offense with a rushing touchdown to start the scoring. 
 
Following the Gardner-Webb touchdown, Dennis made a big play on special teams with a 63-yard kick return to set up the Ohio offense with prime field position. The Bobcats took advantage of the field position with a 31-yard field goal from Peacock to set the score at 7-3. 
 
As time dwindled in the first quarter, Gardner-Webb rushed in for its second touchdown of the day, bringing its lead to 14-3 at the end of the game's first quarter. 
 
Navarro and the offense got into rhythm at the beginning of the second after a long passing play to Brune set up a short two-yard rushing touchdown from Brune. 
 
After a quick stop of defense, the Bobcats were able to jump out to their first lead of the day after another impressive drive from the offense that included several big plays in the passing game. Bangura capped off the drive with his first rushing touchdown of the day. 
 
Facing a 17-14 deficit, the Runnin' Bulldogs once again fought back with a big play in the run game to score their third touchdown and regain the lead. 
 
 Ohio ended the half in dominant fashion, with two touchdowns on its final two drives. The first of which was a 43-yard passing play to Hendricks that resulted in a score. On the half's final drive, Navarro found Dorwart deep down the field for his first career reception, which set up Bangura's second rushing touchdown of the game. 
 
Going into the half, Ohio held a 31-21 lead. 
 
Defense was strong from both teams to start the second half, with neither offense being able to put together a scoring drive until around the two-minute mark in the third quarter. 
 
Aided by a 20-yard rush from Brune and a 10-plus yard catch by Williams, Ohio set up a short one-yard rushing touchdown for Brune that extended its lead to three scores at 38-21. 
 
Gardener-Webb bounced back after the Brune touchdown with a score of their own to keep the game alive at 38-28. 
 
In the opening minutes of the fourth quarter, Ohio handed the ball to Bangura, who continued his career day with 75 rushing yards and a touchdown on that drive alone to take a 45-28 lead into the game's final minutes. 
 
The Runnin' Bulldogs didn't go away easily as they once again responded to the touchdown with a score of their own, bringing the game to 45-35 with 7:48 to play in the game. 
 
After limiting the Gardner-Webb offense late in the fourth quarter, Brune and Ohio scored one more touchdown to put the game firmly away at 52-35. 
 
The Bobcats will be back in action Saturday, Sept. 27, when they start Mid-American Conference play at home against the Bowling Green Falcons. Kickoff is set for 12 p.m. ET and can be seen on CBS Sports Network.
 
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