Sports
Foster, Tettleton Defeat Miami In Record-Breaking Game
By: Nick Komjati
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Records are made to be broken, and on Saturday at Peden Stadium, the Ohio Bobcats practically rewrote the program’s record books. Donte Foster and Tyler Tettleton further solidified their places in Ohio history and helped the Bobcats record a win that pulled the program to a .500 record for the first time since 1995, as Ohio rolled the Miami RedHawks 41-16.
Foster and Tettleton started off hot in the first half, connecting six times for 97 yards and three touchdowns in the first 30 minutes of play. With his three touchdown receptions, Foster moved to first overall in Ohio history in all-time touchdown receptions ahead of Terrence McCrae and current Indianapolis Colts wide receiver LaVon Brazill.
“It feels surreal,” Foster said. “That’s definitely the best half of football that I’ve ever played.”
“[Foster] is a complete receiver,” coach Frank Solich said. “He’s a very smart football player with a lot of talent. We’re really proud of Donte getting that record.”
On his first completion of the game, Tettleton became the first player in Ohio history to throw for over 8,000 yards. Saturday’s game was the third straight 300-yard passing performance from Tettleton and the sixth game this season with multiple touchdown passes.
The Bobcats jumped ahead of the RedHawks early, but Miami showed an effort similar to the Eastern Michigan Eagles last week, clawing back in the game and pulling the score to 14-10 midway through the second quarter.
But then, once again similar to Eastern Michigan, the game turned on a key defensive play from Ohio, as Travis Carrie intercepted quarterback Austin Boucher, allowing the Bobcats to score and hold a 24-10 halftime lead.
From there, Ohio would hold the RedHawks to just 103 yards in the second half to hold on and record a victory, the seventh victory against Miami over the last eight seasons.
The Bobcats showed strong signs of improvement in stopping the run, allowing just 95 yards on 40 attempts as well as recording five sacks. After allowing over 300 yards rushing to Bronson Hill and company against Eastern Michigan last week, the improvement is a welcomed sight to the Bobcat coaching staff.
“We blitzed more than we usually do,” Solich said. “We’ve got a team that can run pretty well and we wanted to know how blitzing more and being more unpredictable helped us.”
Ohio also found the first substantial production from their rushing attack on Saturday, as Beau Blankenship recorded 172 yards, the first Bobcat to eclipse 100 yards rushing in a single game this season.
“We got John Lechner back,” Blankenship said of his offensive lineman that returned from injury. “That helped us a lot and we were able to run outside a lot better.”
“We expected a great season out of John,” Solich said. “It’s great to have him back.”
Getting the program back to .500 for the first time since 1995 is a major step in the right direction for the Bobcats, but snagging the historic win against the RedHawks makes the achievement even sweeter.
“It’s meaningful for us and everybody that has played here,” Solich said. “Ohio has a history of playing tough football even when they’re not on the winning side. They’ve battled, and now we’re battling this program back to get it where it should be as a program above .500.”
The Bobcats enter arguably their toughest stretch in conference play next Tuesday night, as they take to the road to face the Buffalo Bulls at 8 p.m.