Tag: Ohio Bobcats

Dec 20, 2024; Orlando, FL, USA; Ohio Bobcats running back Anthony Tyus III (2) reacts after a play against the Jacksonville State Gamecocks in the second quarter at Camping World Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

Parker Navarro leads Ohio past Jacksonville State in Cure Bowl

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Parker Navarro accounted for four total touchdowns, all in the first half, and Ohio held on to beat Jacksonville State 30-27 in the Cure Bowl on Friday in Orlando, Fla.

Navarro racked up 365 yards — 255 passing, 110 rushing — and Anthony Tyus III finished with 103 rushing yards and a touchdown catch as Ohio (11-3) clinched its first 11-win season in program history.

Jacksonville State (9-5) entered the game with the second-best rushing offense in FBS at 267.3 yards per game. The Bobcats held the Gamecocks to 48 rushing yards on 33 carries.

Tyler Huff completed 20 of 32 passes for 349 yards with a touchdown and an interception to guide the Gamecocks’ comeback efforts.

Down 30-14 early in the fourth quarter, Jacksonville State managed a 3-yard touchdown run by Tre Stewart with 9:52 left. The Gamecocks attempted a two-point conversion to make it an eight-point game, but Ohio’s Adonis Williams Jr. blew up the handoff in the backfield.

Ohio drove to the opponent’s 15-yard line, but Ky’won McCray batted a pass high in the air and tracked down the interception. The Gamecocks then rolled down the field, converting two fourth downs before Stewart punched it in again from the 1.

However, the Bobcats ran out the final 3:35. Tyus converted a key third-and-9 with a catch-and-run for 13 yards.

On Ohio’s third possession, Navarro kept the ball on an option, faked a throw on the run and scrambled in from the 17-yard line to open the scoring. Navarro’s 29-yard rush up the middle on the next drive helped set up his second touchdown, an 8-yard run.

Jacksonville State got on the board with just one play on the ensuing drive. Huff hit Cam Vaughn on the run for a 75-yard touchdown to make it 14-7 by first quarter’s end.

With 4:59 left in the second quarter, Navarro rolled right and scored on a 7-yarder. The PAT missed, leaving it 20-7 Ohio.

Ohio linebacker Shay Taylor was ejected after suplexing a Jacksonville State player and stepping on him afterwards.

The Gamecocks couldn’t convert a 45-yard field goal, and Ohio made them pay as Navarro engineered an eight-play, 80-yard drive in just 1:19. He flipped an 11-yard TD pass to Tyus for a 27-7 halftime score.

A bad Ohio punt gave Jacksonville State possession at the Bobcats’ 20-yard line. Three plays later, Huff ran in from 7 yards to cut it to 27-14.

–Field Level Media

Dec 30, 2022; Tucson, AZ, USA; Detailed view of an Ohio Bobcats helmet during the 2022 Barstool Sports Arizona Bowl at Arizona Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Ohio U. removes interim tag from coach Brian Smith

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Ohio University promoted Brian Smith to head coach on Wednesday.

Smith, 44, was elevated from offensive coordinator to interim coach last week after Tim Albin departed to become the head coach at Charlotte.

The Bobcats (10-3, 7-1 Mid-American Conference) reached double-digit wins for the third straight season in 2024 and will face Jacksonville State in the Cure Bowl on Friday in Orlando, Fla.

“Ohio Bobcat Football has been on a historic run in recent years, and Brian Smith has been a significant part of not only our MAC Championship team, but also our established culture of winning,” athletic director Julie Cromer said. “During the course of a national search that attracted several outstanding candidates, Coach Smith ultimately stood out above the rest. He presented a plan for not only sustaining our culture and foundation but also building upon it in the evolving landscape of college football.”

Smith originally joined the Ohio staff as the running backs coach and passing game coordinator in 2022 and added another title as associate head coach in 2023.

“I am honored to have the opportunity to lead the Ohio University football program,” Smith said. “Coach (Frank) Solich and Albin laid the foundation for our success brick-by-brick, developing a culture that is second to none. Our culture and values will be protected and will continue to thrive, producing tremendous young men who are champions on the field and in our communities.”

Smith’s Ohio offense led the MAC this year in scoring (29.2) and total offense (399.2). The Bobcats smashed Miami (OH) 38-3 to win the MAC championship game on Dec. 7.

This is the first head coaching position for Smith, who was an assistant at Washington State (2020-21) and his alma mater Hawaii (2008-11, 2016-19).

–Field Level Media

Kentucky’s Brock Vandagriff runs for a first down against Georgia’s Chaz Chambliss Saturday night. Sept. 14, 2024

Lagging Kentucky offense expects challenge from Ohio

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The question will be obvious for Kentucky going into a home contest against Ohio on Saturday in Lexington.

How will the Wildcats respond to such a crushing defeat against the then-No. 1 team in the nation?

The Wildcats were oh-so-close to earning a victory over Georgia last weekend in what possibly would have been the biggest win in program history.

But following the 13-12 loss, Kentucky (1-2) has to pick up the pieces somehow and move on following consecutive Southeastern Conference losses at home. Kentucky lost in Week 2 to South Carolina.

The biggest issue for the Wildcats the past two weeks has been their offense.

Quarterback Brock Vandagriff is 29-for-55 passing for 313 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions. All three TD passes came in the season-opening 31-0 win against Southern Mississippi.

Kentucky only managed 183 yards of total offense in a 31-6 loss to the Gamecocks on Sept. 7 and 284 against the Bulldogs.

The Wildcats didn’t score a touchdown in either of those games, so coach Mark Stoops is headed back to the offensive drawing board.

Stoops said the challenge of doing so against Ohio’s defense will be bigger than people realize.

“Defensively, they are very, very tough,” Stoops said. “They play very hard and they mix things up front. They play both four-down and three-down. They make you earn every yard. It goes back to what I always say: it’s about us. Just like last week, it’s about us and our preparation and what we do to put ourselves in a position to win.”

Ohio (2-1) arrives after back-to-back home wins over South Alabama and Morgan State, which followed a 38-22 season-opening loss at Syracuse.

The Bobcats have a potent rushing attack led by Anthony Tyus III, who rushed for 203 yards against Syracuse and already has 367 yards and four touchdowns on the season.

Ohio coach Tim Albin said running the ball will be tougher against a Kentucky defense that he praised.

“They’re big everywhere and physical,” Albin said. “Their defense, I don’t see a weakness. We’re going to have huge matchup problems.”

–Field Level Media

Aug 31, 2024; Syracuse, New York, USA; Syracuse Orange tight end Oronde Gadsden II (19) runs the ball after a catch into the end zone for a touchdown against Ohio Bobcats safety Adonis Williams Jr. (5) during the first half at the JMA Wireless Dome. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports

QB Kyle McCord shines in Syracuse debut for win over Ohio

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Kyle McCord threw for 354 yards and four touchdowns in his Syracuse debut, guiding the host Orange to a 38-22 victory over Ohio on Saturday.

McCord, a highly regarded transfer from Ohio State, completed 27 of 39 passes, including seven to Oronde Gadsden II (108 yards, one TD) and six to Trebor Pena (78 yards, two TDs). Pena added a rushing touchdown, while LeQuint Allen collected 122 total yards and a score for the Orange (1-0) in their first game under coach Fran Brown.

Ohio’s Parker Navarro went 18 of 30 for 181 yards with an interception. The top offensive weapon for the Bobcats (0-1) was Anthony Tyus III, who rushed 16 times for 203 yards and two scores.

The Orange managed just nine yards in the first quarter and trailed 6-0 at the conclusion of the period after Gianni Spetic kicked field goals of 43 and 37 yards for the visitors.

The tide shifted in the second quarter, as Syracuse racked up 220 yards and outscored the visitors 17-3 en route to an eight-point lead at intermission.

McCord opened the second quarter with a 28-yard scoring pass to Gadsden, who got open down the left sideline for the game’s first touchdown. Brady Denaburg then boosted the lead to 10-6 with a 26-yard field goal.

Spetic kicked another field goal with 49 seconds left in the second quarter, but Syracuse responded in the waning moments of the half with McCord’s 20-yard TD pass to Pena along the left side of the end zone

Tyus’ 13-yard TD run early in the third quarter kept the Bobcats close, but the Orange scored the next three touchdowns to take control of the contest.

McCord threw TD passes of 5 yards to Allen and 14 yards to Pena to make it 31-16. Pena added a 1-yard TD rush early in the fourth to create a 38-16 cushion.

Tyus’ 46-yard scoring burst capped the scoring with 12:22 remaining.

–Field Level Media

Jul 25, 2024; Charlotte, NC, USA; Syracuse Orange head coach Fran Brown speaks to the media during the ACC Kickoff at Hilton Charlotte Uptown. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

Syracuse looks to start new era on right foot vs. Ohio

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With a new coach, a new quarterback and a new influx of talent, Syracuse faces raised expectations heading into its season opener against visiting Ohio on Saturday afternoon.

The Orange hired Georgia defensive backs coach Fran Brown as their new coach last November while they were wrapping up a 6-7 season. They actually won their first four games before a midseason collapse ultimately cost Dino Babers his job.

Brown took aim at the transfer portal immediately and secured former Ohio State quarterback Kyle McCord, among several other highly regarded players.

“(Saturday is) definitely a date that I’ve had circled on my calendar since the day I decided to come here,” said McCord, who threw for 3,170 yards and 24 touchdowns for the Buckeyes last season.

Among the returning stars for the Orange are running back LeQuint Allen (1,064 rushing yards, nine TDs) and linebacker Marlowe Wax (110 tackles, four sacks). Together, the veteran leaders and newcomers are embracing Brown’s DART (detailed, accountable, relentless and tough) mentality.

“(I hope that Saturday), you can really see DART,” Brown said. “You can see that we play like that. And that it’s not just a saying. It’s who we are.”

Bobcats coach Tim Albin has a catch phrase of his own.

“I always say: ‘We fear none, respect all.’ We have our hands full (this weekend),” he said. “Coach Brown’s done a really good job. I’m really impressed by the film that we’re studying.”

Ohio won its final four games (all by double digits) last season and finished with a 10-3 record, capped by a 41-21 triumph over Georgia Southern in the Myrtle Beach Bowl. Parker Navarro started that game at quarterback for the Bobcats and went 11 of 16 for 120 yards with a touchdown, while adding 71 yards on the ground.

Navarro will guide the Bobcats’ offense with plenty of help from Rickey Hunt, who recorded a school record-tying five touchdowns (four rushing, one receiving) in the 2023 season finale.

Syracuse has won all three meetings with Ohio, most recently a 29-9 victory in the 2021 season opener.

–Field Level Media

Aug 26, 2023; San Diego, California, USA; Ohio Bobcats quarterback Kurtis Rourke (7) hands off to running back Sieh Bangura (5) during the first half against the San Diego State Aztecs at Snapdragon Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports

Iowa State prepares for ‘tough’ Ohio quarterback

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Iowa State nearly overcame an early 17-0 deficit in last week’s eventual 20-13 home loss to in-state rival Iowa.

For Cyclones defensive coordinator Jon Heacock, holding the Hawkeyes to three points after halftime looms as a significant building block entering Saturday’s game against Ohio in Athens, Ohio.

“Overall, our fight to the end was important,” Heacock said. “We’re a young group. … You never know what young teams are really going to do. You just don’t, until they’re in the fire.”

Iowa State (1-1) hopes to kick-start its offense against the Bobcats (2-1). Rocco Becht, who remains the starting quarterback amid the gambling investigation involving projected starter Hunter Dekkers, completed slightly better than 50 percent of his passes for 203 yards against Iowa.

Becht threw a touchdown and also an interception that was returned for a score.

Ohio is coming off a 17-10 road victory at Florida Atlantic. Kurtis Rourke was 18-for-29 passing for 203 yards and a touchdown, while O’Shaan Allison rushed 22 times for 80 yards and a score.

“There were glimpses in that game at FAU that you saw (what) we’re capable on offense,” Bobcats coach Tim Albin said. “You’ve got to finish drives, but defense is really playing well, so it’s exciting, and we’re looking forward to the next challenge.”

The Cyclones can attest, as head coach Matt Campbell called Rourke “the toughest quarterback we’ve faced so far this season.”

Iowa State has won each of the previous six meetings between the schools, including last season’s 43-10 home romp that saw the Cyclones outgain the Bobcats 463-233. Ohio fumbled four times, losing two, while throwing two interceptions.

The only previous meeting in Athens — on Sept. 22, 2001 — also marked the closest margin of victory in the series. The Bobcats took an early 14-7 lead but were unable to hold on in a 31-28 defeat.

Ohio is hosting a Power 5 opponent for the first time since losing 29-9 to Syracuse in the 2021 season opener.

–Field Level Media

Dec 30, 2022; Tucson, AZ, USA; Wyoming Cowboys quarterback Andrew Peasley (6) runs the ball against Ohio Bobcats safety Tariq Drake (11) and cornerback Austin Brawley (21) in the first half of the 2022 Barstool Sports Arizona Bowl at Arizona Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Ohio edges Wyoming in Arizona Bowl

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CJ Harris’ 10-yard touchdown pass to Tyler Foster gave Ohio a 30-27 overtime win Friday over Wyoming in the Arizona Bowl at Tucson, Ariz.

Harris, who completed 20 of 33 attempts for 184 yards and two touchdowns, found Foster in the back of the end zone over defender Shae Suiaunoa. It was Foster’s first catch of the game.

Wyoming’s opening possession in overtime ended with John Hoyland’s 29-yard field goal after the Cowboys stalled following Andrew Peasley’s 13-yard pass to Ryan Marquez.

Sieh Bangura rushed for 138 yards on 25 carries with a touchdown for Ohio (10-4).

The Bobcats reached 10 wins in a season for the first time since finishing 10-4 in 2011.

Jordon Vaughn, who did not play in a game during the regular season, rushed for two touchdowns including a 5-yard touchdown run with 2:08 left in regulation that put Wyoming (7-6) ahead 24-21.

Vaughn, the starter at running back after the Cowboys’ top four rushers were not in uniform, also scored on a 17-yard run in the first possession of the game.

Wyoming’s leading rusher Titus Swen (1,039 yards rushing) was dismissed from the team for violating an undisclosed team policy. Backups Dawaiian McNeely (356 yards) and DQ James (346) are injured and Joseph Braasch (91) entered the transfer portal.

Vaughn, a redshirt freshman, finished with 67 yards on 16 carries.

His 5-yard touchdown run with 2:08 left capped a six-play, 75-yard drive after Wyoming had only 17 yards of total offense previously in the second half.

Ohio’s Nathanial Vakos made his third field goal of the game, a 45-yarder, with four seconds left in regulation to force overtime.

–Field Level Media

Iowa State Cyclones linebacker O'Rien Vance (34) and defensive back Anthony Johnson Jr. (1) takes down Ohio Bobcats running back Sieh Bangura (22) during the first quarter at Jack Trice Stadium Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022, in Ames, Iowa.

Hunter Dekkers, Iowa State roll past Ohio

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Hunter Dekkers threw for three touchdowns and ran for another as Iowa State earned its first 3-0 start in a decade with a 43-10 victory over visiting Ohio on Saturday in Ames, Iowa.

Dekkers went 28-for-36 passing for 268 yards and no interceptions, while Xavier Hutchinson had nine receptions for 93 yards and a touchdown and Sean Shaw added five catches for 54 yards and a score.

Jirehl Brock had 76 yards on seven carries and Deon Silas added 58 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries to power the ground game.

Kurtis Rourke went 20-for-33 passing for 194 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions for the Bobcats (1-2). Nolan McCormick rushed for 43 yards on seven carries and had six receptions for 19 yards.

After Dekkers gave the Cyclones a 7-0 lead with a six-yard touchdown run less than five minutes into the game, he doubled the lead with a 12-yard touchdown pass to DeShawn Hanika with 1:46 left in the first quarter.

The Cyclones pushed the lead to 17-0 on Jace Gilbert’s 19-yard field goal on the first play of the second quarter before putting the game away in the next two minutes.

Iowa State got the ball back on Ohio’s first play of its ensuing possession when Anthony Johnson intercepted Rourke on the Cyclones’ 49-yard line. Five plays later, Silas scored on a three-yard run for a 24-0 lead with 13:07 left in the first half.

Ohio cut the deficit to 24-3 on Nathanial Vakos’ 45-yard field goal with 3:35 left in the half. But Dekkers’ 15-yard scoring strike to Shaw gave the Cyclones a 30-3 lead at the half after Gilbert’s extra-point was blocked by Rayyan Buell.

Dekkers’ 13-yard touchdown pass to Hutchinson pushed the lead to 37-3 with 8:22 left in the third quarter before Rourke found Tyler Foster for a 1-yard touchdown pass to make it 37-10 with 3:44 remaining in the third quarter.

Gilbert’s field goals from 21 and 39 yards in the fourth quarter capped the scoring.
The Cyclones are off to their best start since opening the 2012 season 3-0 en route to finishing 6-7.

–Field Level Media

Iowa State quarterback Hunter Dekkers, left, celebrates with wide receiver Xavier Hutchinson during a NCAA football game against Iowa, Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022, at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa. 220910 Isu Iowa Fb 062 Jpg

Iowa State meets Ohio chasing ‘full potential’

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Iowa State will look for its first 3-0 start in a dozen years when it hosts Ohio on Saturday at Ames, Iowa.

The Cyclones are coming off an intense 10-7 victory over host Iowa. The prized Cy-Hawk trophy now will reside on Iowa State’s campus for the first time since 2014, ending a string of six straight losses to the Hawkeyes.

After Hunter Dekkers capped a 21-play, 99-yard drive that took nearly 12 minutes with an 8-yard touchdown pass to Xavier Hutchinson to give the Cyclones a 10-7 lead, the Hawkeyes still had a chance to pull out the win.

However, Aaron Blom’s 48-yard field-goal attempt sailed wide left as time expired.

“We want to be our best every Saturday,” Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell said. “If (the Iowa victory) can shape us, we can put ourselves in a position to reach our full potential. And I still feel like that’s unclear to me what that is and what it’s going to look like.”

Ohio (1-1) is coming off a 46-10 loss at Penn State on Saturday and is the Cyclones final tune up before entering Big 12 play with three ranked teams among their first five conference games: No. 17 Baylor, No. 21 Texas, No. 6 Oklahoma.

Dekers has completed 72.5 percent of his passes for 477 yards with three interceptions through two games, with Hutchinson (19 catches, 226 yards, four touchdowns) emerging as his favorite target. Jirehl Brock has rushed for 204 yards and a touchdown on 43 carries.

Ohio fell behind Penn State 19-0 in the first 20 minutes and never recovered.

The Bobcats were held to 263 yards of offense, including just 164 through the air, after amassing 476 yards of offense in a 41-38 win over Florida Atlantic to open the season.

Kurtis Rourke has completed 64.1 percent of his passes for 464 yards with four TDs and no interceptions, in addition to rushing for 40 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries.

Sieh Bangura has rushed for a team-high 139 yards and a score on 30 carries, while James Bostic, Ty Walton and Sam Wiglusz are tied for the team lead with nine receptions.

Bostic has a team-high 167 receiving yards, with Wiglusz grabbing two TD receptions and Walton averaging 9.6 yards per catch.

Ohio coach Tim Albin said playing Penn State prepared his team for the Cyclones.

“You watch them on defense and they’re flying around,” he said. “They are better than Penn State on defense. That’s a fact. Offensive line? They are better than Penn State. Am I going to get hate mail? I’m not dissing Penn State; I’m just telling you the facts.”

–Field Level Media

Purdue Boilermakers linebacker Clyde Washington (42) and Purdue Boilermakers safety Chris Jefferson (17) tackle Penn State Nittany Lions tight end Tyler Warren (44) during the NCAA football game, Thursday, Sept. 1, 2022, at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind. Penn State won 35-31. Purduepennstatefb090122 Am01374

Nittany Lions expect more offense in Ohio matchup

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Penn State coach James Franklin expects the Nittany Lions to be better offensively when they host the Ohio Bobcats on Saturday in State College, Pa.

“We’ve got to be more explosive,” he said. “There’s no doubt about it.”

The Nittany Lions (1-0) rallied for a 35-31 win over host Purdue in their Big Ten opener last Thursday. It took a Sean Clifford-to-Keyvone Lee 10-yard touchdown pass with 57 seconds remaining for the Nittany Lions to pull out the victory.

Clifford was 20-for-37 passing for 282 yards with four touchdowns and an interception that Purdue’s Chris Jefferson returned 72 yards to give the Boilermakers a 31-28 lead with 8:39 remaining. Clifford came through late, completing six of seven passes on Penn State’s game-winning drive.

Mitchell Tinsley had seven catches and a score for 84 yards, while Brenton Strange caught two passes for 77 yards and a touchdown.

Clifford threw TD passes of 12, 67, 29 and 10 yards, but the Nittany Lions rushed for just 98 yards on 32 carries, an average of 3.1 just yards. Kaytron Allen rushed for 31 yards on eight carries, with Lee gaining 30 yards on nine carries, and Clifford adding 11 yards and a touchdown on five carries.

“We found a way to get a tough, gritty win on the road,” Franklin said.

Meanwhile, the Bobcats (1-0) are coming off a 41-38 win over visiting Florida Atlantic University.

Ohio gave up 464 yards but held on after nearly squandering a 17-point lead in the fourth quarter.

Kurtis Rourke completed 27 of 34 passes for 345 yards and four touchdowns, with James Bostic making six catches for 136 yards and a score. Sieh Bangura rushed for 114 yards on 23 carries.

“It’s a great opportunity for our team and we’re focusing on taking a big step,” Ohio coach Tim Albin said. “The time in between your first game and your second game is when you’re going to make your most improvement. That’s an old coaching cliche, but it’s very true. So, we’re looking forward to the challenge.”

–Field Level Media