Ohio’s Athens (WOUB) – With first place in the MAC East on the line, the Ohio Bobcats (6-3, 3-2 MAC) welcomed the Miami RedHawks (7-2, 4-1 MAC) to Peden Stadium. A Battle of the Bricks matchup has some of the highest stakes around.
The Bobcats entered the game leading the series, having won 13 of the previous 16. But it was the RedHawks who were having the last laugh as the clock approached triple zeroes.
Despite the gloomy weather and intermittent showers, Ohio managed to score a touchdown on their opening drive and march down the field. Kurtis Rourke, the quarterback, appeared to be the 2022 version of himself, leading one of the nation’s most productive offences.
Initially, Will Kacmarek was treated to a stunning 36-yard pass along the Ohio sideline. He found his man Sam Wiglusz on the corner route for twenty-three more plays the very next play. The drive was completed by Sieh Bangura, who scored from one yard out to give the Bobcats a 6-0 lead
On the next drive, the defence forced a three-and-out, returning possession of the ball to the offence, which went to work—and work they did. With his skill, Rourke managed to bring the offence all the way down to the Miami 16. Despite settling for a field goal, it increased the lead to two points.
The offence lost its edge after that. During the next two quarters, they managed just 106 yards of total offence and ran not a single play in RedHawk territory.
The Miami offence got going at the same time as the Bobcat offence faltered. Over the course of the second and third quarters, they defeated Ohio 23-0. Field position was a major factor in most of it. Their offence initiated drives inside Ohio’s 20-yard line twice. They also added 100 yards, averaging 20 yards per return, in punt returns.
Although head coach Tim Albin acknowledged that losing the battle for field position made a difference, he acknowledged that special teams would be an issue going into the week.
“They possessed a significant edge in special teams.Albin remarked, “I knew they had an advantage.” “We didn’t win tonight in the field position, but I thought we could make it through.”
When Miami gave them softer zone looks in the fourth and nearly spurred a comeback, the offence picked it up. But the Bobcats’ hopes of a fairy tale finale were dashed by an offsides call on a fourth and one.
Ohio worried a lot about penalties all night long. For 78 yards, they had 11 of them, and they came at key times.
Rourke is aware that there is a need for improvement there.
Rourke remarked, “I think we hurt ourselves with penalties on first and second down.” “I think [Miami] did a good job, but I also think we hurt ourselves more,” the speaker said.
After winning 10-0 at Frank Solich Field, the Bobcats now experience their first home loss since 2021. The Bobcats finish 3-2 in conference play and 6-3 overall. Miami has a 4-1 conference record and is currently 7-2 overall.
It would take a small miracle, but Ohio isn’t out of it yet.
In addition to defeating Buffalo, Central Michigan, and Akron, Ohio would also need Miami to drop their final three games. By coincidence, Ball State, Buffalo, and Akron round out the RedHawks’ schedule. This season, the three teams have a combined record of 6–18.
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