Sports
Ohio takes major step toward MAC Title Game with gritty win over Toledo
By: Andrew Bowlby
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TOLEDO, Ohio (WOUB) – Winning on the road against Toledo has always been a challenge for Ohio. Since 1968, the Bobcats have come out of the Glass Bowl with a victory once. The 2016 season; a 31-26 win for Ohio and the only one over the past 55 years.
“Good teams find a way to get it done,” head coach Tim Albin said.
And Ohio (8-3, 6-1 MAC) did just that as it put together one of the best halves of football in the second. Outscoring Toledo (7-4, 4-3 MAC) 24-0 en-route to a 24-7 win.
The opening to this game did not favor the offense. Ohio went three and out on their first possession, while Toledo managed one first down before their first punt. The second sequence of the game was similar, except the Rockets went three and out and the Bobcats got a first down.
Through the first 17:32 of the game, the two teams combined for 32 plays, 105 yards and seven punts.
Toledo was finally able to break the defensive tussle midway through the second quarter. On a drive that began at the 50-yard line, the Rockets made quick work of a short field. Toledo quarterback Tucker Gleason moved the ball quickly and delivered a strike to Anthony Torres. A 23-yard touchdown broke the defensive stalemate and put Toledo out in front 7-0.
On Ohio’s ensuing drive, the Bobcats were still unable to find offensive rhythm. They had the ball again soon after and executed their best drive of the first half. The drive totaled 10 plays for 31 yards, however, it ended the same way: a punt.
The Bobcats offense put up only 101 total yards in the first half and were held scoreless for the third time this season (Kentucky, Miami). If there were any positives from the opening half, it was that Ohio continued to add to a dominant first quarter stat. Only 12 points have been conceded in opening quarters this season by Ohio’s defense, a number that leads the FBS.
That defense came out and quickly got a stop to start the third. Toledo was forced to punt after a three and out.
On Ohio’s first possession of the second half, the Bobcats passing game hit on a trio of passes that set the offense up in prime position. Parker Navarro first connected with Caleb Gossett for 12 yards and then to Chase Hendricks for 10 yards.
Finally, Navarro found Gossett again for a 34-yard gain to put Ohio deep inside Rockets territory. The drive for the Bobcats didn’t end well. Navarro threw an interception, and the Rockets thwarted off a promising Ohio drive.
Gossett did finish the game with six receptions for 86 yards. Both by far and away higher totals than what he had done throughout the rest of the season.
But a response was in order. On the first play of the drive, Gleason completed a pass that looked good until DJ Walker stripped the ball out and the Bobcats recovered.
Ohio won the turnover battle forcing three fumbles in the game, something Albin noted.
“I know that the turnover margin has been a thing all year,” he said. “But in the month of November, we’re doing pretty well.”
Taking advantage of the good starting field position, Navarro marched the ball down the field and walked in from a yard-out. Ohio leveled the game and Navarro kickstarted what would become a dominant second half rush attack.
Next drive, Navarro did the same exact thing. He led a drive that took nearly 6:30 off the clock, and once again found a rushing TD. With the second-half pair, Navarro has now rushed for six touchdowns in the last two weeks.
Ohio’s offensive explosion continued later in the fourth with Anthony Tyus III capping a drive with yet another rushing touchdown.
Tyus, who led the Bobcats in rushing, finished with 33 carries for 125 yards and the score. He and Navarro were crucial in turning the game on its head.
“We just executed and got it done up front,” Navarro said. “I think we were just more physical.”
The Bobcats finished the game with three consecutive touchdowns and a field goal after, again, starting the game with six-straight punts and an interception.
Even coming off arguably the most impressive win of the year, Albin knows Ohio hasn’t clinched their ticket to Detroit just yet.
“It’s not about Detroit, it’s about Ball State,” Albin said.
Ohio will face the Cardinals on Nov. 29 at 12 p.m. at Peden Stadium. It will be the final home game of the season for the Bobcats, and an opportunity to finish unbeaten on Frank Solich Field for the second time in three years.