The Ohio football team (3-7, 3,3) surged ahead early, maintaining a lead the majority of the game against Eastern Michigan (6-4, 3-3). The Bobcats defeated the Eagles 34-26 Tuesday night inside Rynearson Stadium. Offensively, Ohio was led by quarterback Kurtis Rourke, who threw for 230 yards and three touchdowns. De'Montre Tuggle concluded the game with 78 rushing yards and one touchdown. On defense, Alvin Floyd finished with 12 tackles, while Will Evans, Bryce Houston and Jack McCroy had a combined two sacks.
"I'm just so excited and happy for this football team," head coach Tim Albin said after the game. "It was an absolutely great team win [and an] unbelievable job. I think coming in nobody really gave us much of a chance; the staff did a fabulous job and I could not be prouder of a bunch of guys coming on the road against a quality opponent and finding a way to get it done."
After opening the game on defense, Ohio struck, driving the ball 75 yards on 10 plays. Wide receiver Isaiah Cox (Jasper, Ala.) completed a 33-yard touchdown, giving the Bobcats an early 7-0 lead.
On the next drive, Eastern Michigan evened the score when they ran the ball 88 yards in eight plays, capping off the play with a one-yard touchdown and successful kick. Ohio didn't wait long to reclaim their lead, moving the ball 75 yards in just two plays the next drive. Running back De'Montre Tuggle (Channelview, Texas) scored a 40-yard touchdown, putting Ohio up 14-7 with 6:55 left in the quarter.
Ohio defense held strong, breaking up a fourth-down pass with 2:27 remaining to preserve their lead. The Bobcats' offense moved the ball 23 yards in five plays, unable to score again in the first quarter.
Continuing the drive to start the second quarter, Ohio drove the ball 76 yards in 7:53. After taking a three-yard loss on the third down at the Eastern Michigan one-yard line, the Bobcats tacked on three more points with a 21-yard field goal by graduate student Stephen Johnson (Arlington, Texas).
The next drive, Eastern Michigan gained 68 yards in 13 plays, aided by an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty against Ohio that awarded them an additional 15 yards. A 25-yard field goal with 3:49 remaining in the quarter closed in on the Bobcats' lead, 17-10. The Bobcats were quick to act, moving the ball 66 yards in eight plays the next drive. Johnson capped off the drive with a 27-yard field goal, putting Ohio up 20-10 with 0:44 left in the quarter.
Ohio defense went to work, holding Eastern Michigan to 38 yards in eight plays. With 0:04 remaining, a successful 55-yard field goal tacked on three more points, putting the score at 20-13 heading into the second half.
Eastern Michigan started the third quarter with the ball, advancing 75 yards in 3:50 and nine plays. A five-yard touchdown tied the game, 20-20. The next drive, Ohio offense moved the ball 75 yards with eight plays, capped off by a 20-yard touchdown by Cox with 8:01 remaining in the quarter. Eastern Michigan gained 30 yards in six plays before safety Tariq Drake (Leavittsburg, Ohio) snagged the first interception of the game at the Ohio 20.
The Bobcats led off the fourth quarter with a 66-yard touchdown by wide receiver Cameron Odom (Bedford, Ohio), launching Ohio ahead 34-20 with a three-play, 86-yard drive.
"I think the vertical passing game, as far as our offense, it fits our personnel and we're good at it. We're protecting better." said Albin. "I think the last three weeks we've protected pretty well. I know Miami had the four sacks, but if you look at where we were in the Akron game in the first half to where we are today, I think we're protecting better and the quarterbacks are having time."
With 2:36 left in the game, Eastern Michigan capped off their 62-yard drive with a touchdown and a failed two-point conversion, leaving them trailing Ohio 34-26. With 0:15 on the clock, Rourke kneeled the ball to end the game.
"They come to work everyday," said Albin. "They keep investing in what we're doing as a staff and investing in each other and our culture."
Ohio finished the game with 495 yards in comparison to Eastern Michigan's 452. The Bobcats gained 230 yards in the air with Ohio quarterbacks going 9-19 while the Eagles went 41-57 with 354 passing yards.
UP NEXT
The Bobcats return to Athens on Tuesday, November 16 for their final regular-season game at Peden Stadium against the Toledo Rockets. Game time is to be determined and the game can be seen on ESNPU, ESPN2 and ESPN+.
