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Photo Cred: Karli Bell

Hagan Wins Defensive Player of the Week

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The Bobcats got by with a 30-24 victory to hand Bowling Green its first Mid American Conference (MAC) East loss in the past 17 games, in large part to MAC East defensive player of the week, Javon Hagan. Hagan, a redshirt freshman from Jacksonville, Florida, got nine tackles, seven of them solo hits, as well as an interception and a forced fumble.

He has been a dominant and crucial part of an Ohio University defense that leads the NCAA in sacks with 25. Hagan is third in the NCAA and leads the MAC in forced fumbles and is tied fourth in the MAC in interceptions, according to MAC’s website.

Ohio forced four turnovers in the game, and Hagan caused two of them while Bowling Green was beginning to put a drive together. Even at the beginning, Hagan forced a fumble running back Josh Cleveland gave up and was ultimately recovered by Ohio. The Bobcats were able to put up a field goal off the turnover.

The defense did not give any time for Bowling Green’s quarterback James Morgan to get settled in the pocket. Morgan was constantly on the move, and Hagan was able to capitalize on one with an interception that gave the Bobcats great field position in their opponent’s 35-yard line.

The Bobcats had three of their four turnovers in the first half with Hagan being responsible for two of them. He, along with the majority of the Ohio defense, was all over the field causing disruption and making life hard for the offense of Bowling Green. However, Bowling Green was able to outscore the Bobcats in the second half, but it was too late. Thanks to the early turnovers, in large part thanks to Hagan, Bowling Green had just dug themselves too big of a hole to get out of.

Hagan and company will look to keep the momentum going next week at home against Eastern Michigan, who they beat back in 2013 with a 56-28 victory.