Sports
Cyclones dominate in second straight loss for the Bobcats, 43-10
By: Ayden Crowley
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ATHENS, Ohio (WOUB) – The Ohio Bobcats (1-2) had no breaks following their 46-10 loss against Penn State as they traveled to Ames, Iowa to take on the Iowa State Cyclones (3-0).
Iowa State played host to the Bobcats as a 2-0 team for the first time under six-year head coach Matt Campbell.
Early on, Campbell and first-year starting quarterback Hunter Dekkers were dialed on the offensive side of the ball.
On the first drive, Dekkers was efficient going 6/7 for 44 yards and he capped off the drive with a six yard touchdown run to put the Cyclones up 7-0 just four minutes into the ball game.
The Bobcat offense struggled out of the gate on their first drive going three-and-out but the defense made adjustments to get their team the ball back quickly.
After a pair of stops the Cyclones again were knocking on the door deep in Bobcat territory. Iowa State converted on a fourth and two to put them at the Bobcats 14 yard line. From there, Dekker found his tight end DeShawn Hanika for a 12 yard touchdown pass as the Cyclones went up two scores early.
The problems continued for Ohio just two plays later. Quarterback Kurtis Rourke lost the ball on a blind side sack and the Cyclones picked up the ball at the Bobcat six yard line to close out the first quarter.
Ohio stood strong out of the break and forced a Cyclones field goal, 17-0 Iowa State.
On the ensuing play, Rourke threw his first interception of the year to make it two turnovers on the day for the Bobcats.
Iowa State converted on the short field with a Dion Silas five yard touchdown run to make it 10 points off of turnovers and a 24-0 Cyclone lead early in the second quarter.
Ohio avoided the shutout with 3:40 left in the second quarter. Freshman kicker Nathanial Vakos knocked in a 45 yard field goal to make it a 24-3 ballgame.
That score wouldn’t stick for long. Dekker and the Cyclones put together an efficient 75 yard drive to cap off the drive and send the Bobcats into the locker room with a 27 point deficit, 30-3.
Iowa State dominated all aspects of the first half. Dekker went 21/27 for 206 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Comparatively, Rourke and the passing offense struggled for just 88 yards and an interception. Ohio also struggled to run the ball in the first half, only mustering 22 yards on the ground.
A similar story continued in the second half.
Iowa State came out with another score early.
However, this time the Bobcats responded. Rourke found Tyler Foster for a one yard touchdown pass to make it a 37-10 Cyclone lead.
That lead would grow to 33 at the end of the game as the Cyclones stormed the Bobcats, 43 to 10.
Dekker finished with 268 yards and three touchdowns on the day to help improve Iowa State to 3-0 for the first time since 2012.
Rourke’s game finished at the end of the third quarter. He tallied 194 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions. Ohio as a team could only total 24 rushing yards on the day.
The Bobcats will look to bounce back Sept. 24 when they take on the Fordham Rams (3-0) at 2 p.m.