The Ohio football team (6-3, 4-1 MAC) defeated the Buffalo Bulls (5-4, 4-1 MAC) 45-24. This victory marks their fifth at Frank Solich Field at Peden Stadium and their sixth this season, making them bowl eligible.
"Our guys just kept believing and making plays. This was not just one guy, it's spread out. We were able to close it out with good running plays at the end," said head coach Tim Albin. "I told the guys before the game that they've earned this stage. So, we're at this point 1-0. We got a chance here to make next week's stage a bigger one than the one we're in. We're looking forward to correcting some things on film and getting on to this next one."
In the air, redshirt junior quarterback Kurtis Rourke (Oakville, Ontario, Canada) went 20-for-29 with five touchdowns. Graduate student wide receiver Sam Wiglusz (Brecksville, Ohio) led the receivers, finishing with 131 yards and two touchdowns. Sophomore wide receiver Miles Cross (Bowie, Md.) also recorded two touchdowns while junior wide receiver Jacoby Jones (Tunica, Miss.) recorded 67 yards on three receptions with one touchdown.
On the ground, sixth year running back Jake Neatherton (Miamisburg, Ohio) net 52 yards and recorded the only Ohio rushing touchdown off the day while Rourke had 45 yards on six carries.
Defensively, redshirt senior linebackers Keye Thompson (Barberton, Ohio) and Bryce Houston (Lewis Center, Ohio) both had two quarterback hurries. Thompson led with 11 tackles, one fumble recovery, one pass breakup and two quarterback hurries while Houston had two sacks and two tackles for loss. Graduate student safety Tariq Drake (Leavittsburg, Ohio) recorded one interception and two tackles. Freshman kicker Nathanial Vakos (Avon, Ohio) went 1-for-1 on field goals and 6-for-6 on PATs.
The Bobcats dominated the first quarter, scoring on all three drives. Rourke opened the game with a 16-yard passing touchdown to Wiglusz; the next drive ended with a 37-yard field goal by Vakos. After Drake intercepted a Buffalo pass, Jones scored the Bobcats' second touchdown, giving Ohio a 17-0 lead with 1:38 remaining in the quarter.
A 28-yard field goal put the Bulls on the board in the second quarter, but Wiglusz answered with another touchdown, putting Ohio ahead by 21 points. Buffalo closed the first half with a touchdown, cutting Ohio's lead to 14 points.
A minute into the third quarter, a Buffalo pick six brought the score to 24-17. The Bobcats extended their lead with 10:05 remaining in the third quarter, concluding a 75-yard drive with a touchdown by Cross. Buffalo closed the third quarter with their final touchdown of the game, putting the score at 31-24.
"I think our front seven played very well," said Thompson. "Over the past couple of weeks our defensive line has gotten better and they are flying around in practice, and it shows in the game."
The Bobcats scored two more touchdowns: Neatherton concluded an 80-yard drive with a one-yard rushing touchdown while Cross wrapped up the games' scoring with a nine-yard reception. After a fumble recovery by Thompson with 4:19 remaining in the game, Ohio maintained possession, ultimately going into victory formation after securing their 45-24 win.
Up next, the Bobcats travel to Oxford, Ohio to take on rival Miami on Tuesday, Nov. 8. Kickoff for Battle of the Bricks will be at 7:30 p.m. and can be watched on ESPN2.
