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[Grant Kiefer | WOUB]

Ohio’s Stellar defense allows victory over Morgan State

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ATHENS, Ohio (WOUB) – After a big win at home last week against South Alabama, the Ohio Bobcats (1-1) are back at Peden Stadium, this week facing the Morgan State Bears (1-1) for the first time in school history. After some sloppy play, Ohio prevailed taking down the Morgan State 21-6.

Starting after an empty possession from Morgan State, The Bobcats took over on offense and after a few handoffs and short passes, Ohio ended up in the red zone. Anthony Tyus III received the snap, handed it off to quarterback Parker Navarro and then caught the ball in the endzone for six, the Bobcats led 7-0. 

The Bears looked to respond, and did when quarterback Tahj Smith found his wide receiver Andre Crawley twice, putting them at the 13 yard line. The Ohio defense stood strong, keeping Morgan State out of the endzone, and made the Bears settle for three, 7-3 Bobcats. 

Ohio’s second possession was short and sweet spanning three plays, the big one being a Parker Navarro long ball to his right hand man Coleman Owen for a gain of 53. After Rickey Hunt Jr. rushed up the middle and gained 15, Navarro faked it and took it himself, a ten yard run for a touchdown, tacking on six more for a 14-3 lead. 

Anthony Tyus III catches a touchdown after a trick play. [Conor Mallonn | WOUB Public Media]
“We had the play call, we knew what we had to do with the receivers and we executed at a high level, and ended up with six in the end zone,” Tyus said.

Then in untraditional fashion, the Bobcats elected to onside kick that they ended up recovering at their own 46. Although unfortunately on the next play the ball got picked off by Morgan State’s Bryan Stukes. 

After five empty possessions by both sides, Ohio looked for points, but a pass intended for wide receiver Max Rodarte got picked off by Jadon Carter at the Bobcat’s 32 yard line. Although the Ohio defense pressured the quarterback and again made the Bears settle for a field goal, and went into halftime down 14-3. 

After three Parker Navarro interceptions, Nick Poulos took over at quarterback in the beginning of the third quarter and used his legs to propel his team into the redzone. That allowed Tyus  to juke into the end zone for the second time, 21-6 Bobcats. 

Gianni Spetic on the sideline after recovering his own onside kick. [Conor Mallonn | WOUB Public Media]
Morgan State had a great next possession making it all the way to the Ohio two-yard line, but a Bobcat goal line stand again forced the field goal, which was blocked by defensive end Bradley Weaver. 

Ohio gots nothing on their next possession and the Bears charged down the field fast. The Bobcats again would become a brick wall and stop Morgan State on fourth down, taking over on the Ohio five-yard line, but would get nothing to go.  

That would be the last score attempt of the game as neither team could get going offensively. The Bobcats would go on to take their second win of the season, 21-6, and complete their first game without allowing a touchdown since 2019, thanks to their stellar defense. 

“Offensively with the turnovers put our defense in a tough spot, they didn’t flinch,” Head Coach Tim Albin said. 

Ohio will gear up for a tough test against Kentucky in Lexington next Saturday.