Sports
Bobcats Pull Away From Idaho In Home Opener
By: Eric Singer
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Before the 2014 season began, nobody knew of running back A.J. Ouellette, or linebacker Quentin Poling.
Now, both players are household names.
Ouellette and Poling led their respective units to a 36-24 home-opening victory for Ohio (2-2, 1-0) over the Idaho Vandals (0-3).
It was an official coming-out-party for Ouellette, who finished with 27 carries for 130 yards and two touchdowns, taking over as the main running back after replacing Daz’ Patterson, who fumbled on Ohio’s second play of the game.
For Poling, it was another game that solidified his place on the depth chart, racking up numerous tackles, and three interceptions, including one that officially sealed the game late in the fourth quarter.
“They’re growing into their spots, and doing really, really well,” Ohio coach Frank Solich said after the game.
Ouellette didn’t waste much time to make an impression in the game, as he busted a 42-yard run deep into Idaho territory on Ohio’s next possession. That set up a 12-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Derrius Vick to receiver Sebastian Smith to put Ohio on top early 7-0.
On Idaho’s ensuing possession, the Vandals were putting together a long 13-play drive into Ohio territory, until defensive tackle Brandon Purdum deflected a pass from Idaho quarterback Matt Linehan, which was picked off by Poling. Ohio then put together a quick drive that was capped off by a 31-yard field goal by Josiah Yazdani, giving Ohio a 10-0 lead at the start of the second quarter.
On Ohio’s next drive, Vick took the option keeper through the middle of the defense and sprinted 55-yards down to the Idaho 15-yard line, and it appeared as if Ohio would start to run away with the game.
However, a few plays later, and Idaho defensive lineman hit Vick after a pass below the knee, but Vick tried to tough it out. Ouellette capped off the drive with a one-yard touchdown, but the attention went to Vick, who was limping off the field in obvious pain.
He was later taken carted from the bench to the locker room, and watched the rest of the game with his teammates on crutches. After the game, Solich didn’t sound too optimistic about Vick’s status.
“He’ll be out for a while,” he said. “Exactly how long is yet to be determined. It could be a few weeks, or it could be more.”
After Vick went down to injury, the Bobcats offense began to struggle to find a rhythm, coming up empty on three of the next four possessions, with the lone success being a 24-yard field goal by Yazdani to give Ohio a 20-7 lead on the first possession of the second half.
That’s when Idaho began to find its rhythm.
The Vandals answered the Bobcats scoring drive with a quick possession that was capped off with a 34-yard touchdown pass from Linehan to Joshua McCain to cut the ‘Cats lead to 20-14. An empty drive by the ‘Cats and another field goal from Idaho, and suddenly Ohio saw only a 20-17 lead with 2:34 to play in the third quarter.
But that was as close as the Vandals would get to the Bobcats, as Poling picked off two more passes in the last 10 minutes of the game to secure the victory.
“I thought it was a heck of a ballgame,” Solich said. “We finally won the turnover battle, and I think that was huge. When you win the turnover battle and are able to put together explosive plays, you have a great shot at winning the football game.”