Sports
Ohio ends 56-year MAC title drought with resounding win over Miami
By: Andrew Bowlby
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DETROIT, Mich. (WOUB) – 56 years is a long time. Waiting for 56 years can feel like an eternity.
A half-century MAC title drought has been looming over the Ohio Football program.
A wait that started before humans were on the moon ended Saturday when Ohio (10-3, 8-1 MAC) triumphed over arch-rival Miami (8-5, 7-2 MAC) to win its first conference championship since 1968. The Bobcats came away with a resounding win over the RedHawks 38-3 marking the largest margin of victory in MAC Title game history.
“It was my 36th year of coaching, 20th here. The best four quarters of football I’ve ever seen,” Bobcats head coach Tim Albin said postgame.
Since the Oct. 15 loss to Miami, it has been a long wait for Ohio to get a shot at redemption. The Bobcats were given that shot when they clinched a spot in the MAC Championship game last week.
Ohio deferred the opening coin toss, and Miami was awarded the game’s opening possession. On that drive, the RedHawks moved the ball down the field rather efficiently. However, once reaching the red zone, they were held short on a third-down play.
Miami head coach Chuck Martin elected to attempt a 29-yard field goal rather than go for a fourth and one. Dom Dzioban connected on the attempt and just over four minutes into the game, the RedHawks held a 3-0 lead.
Back in October, the Ohio offense had one of its worst showings of the year. It took until midway through the second quarter to find their inaugural first down. In the December rematch, it took all of one play.
That first play was a competition to Chase Hendricks for 17 yards and quickly set the tone for the Bobcats offense. They used a mix of Parker Navarro’s passing and Anthony Tyus’ rushing to march deep inside Miami territory.
Navarro finished the drive with a four-yard rushing touchdown and Ohio had a 7-3 lead. The first drive took 5:37 off the clock. The second drive lasted even longer.
Ohio’s offense took the early success and carried it to the second possession. The Bobcats moved the ball down again deep into Miami territory. On a third and goal play, Navarro attempted to scramble to the end zone but was stopped. However, a facemask against the RedHawks gave Ohio another chance.
Navarro paid it off with another rushing touchdown extending the lead to 14-3. The second drive lasted 10:14 over 18 plays.
Miami’s offense continued to be stagnant and punted again giving Ohio the ball with 4:19 remaining in the opening half. The Bobcats were slightly conservative to start the drive but that didn’t last.
“I said let’s get [the] foot on the gas,” Albin said after Ohio converted a first down.
A few moments later, the Bobcats ran a reverse pass to tight end Mason Williams that scored from 21-yards out. It was another score inside of two minutes and Ohio’s offense finished the first half with a 21-3 lead.
“The challenge at halftime was we learned from the Central Michigan game,” Albin said. “Look they’re the champion, and to be a champion we’ve got to beat the champion, they’re not going to stay down.”
Ohio had the ball first in the third quarter and an opportunity to keep the momentum rolling in their favor.
The Bobcats, once again, worked downfield and set themselves up in scoring position. Navarro threw a perfect pass on the run to Coleman Owen for a touchdown. It was one of five receptions on the afternoon for Owen but no doubt the biggest.
With a lead of 28-3 early in the third quarter, Albin knew his team we in a great spot.
“We weren’t feeling the pressure, we were applying it,” he said.
After throwing the touchdown pass to Owen, Navarro was up to four touchdowns in the title game. He was also on the 2022 Ohio team that made the MAC title game. Saturday, he got to show out and lead the Bobcats.
“To be able to come back and play a role, it means the world to me,” Navarro said.
“I’ve talked about his toughness and how gritty he is,” Albin said about his starter. “Your football team can take on the personality of your quarterback; this football team certainly does.”
Ohio ended up adding a 52-yard field goal from Gianni Spetic midway through the fourth as its final score of the game. Spetic and Navarro both won the MAC Championship game’s special teams and offensive players of the game respectively.
The defensive player of the game was Bradely Weaver. He entered the transfer portal before the season began but decided to stay in Athens. A decision that seemingly paid off.
Along with the rest of the defense, Weaver said they were much more physical in the second meeting.
“On the defensive side of things, yes,” Weaver said when asked about added motivation against Miami. “I think it definitely cranked us up a notch on our physicality, our preparation, watching film.”
In all aspects, Ohio dominated. Not only did the program snap a conference title drought, but they did it in dominant fashion over their fiercest rival.
The Bobcats don’t have much time to enjoy their victory as immediately following the win they were selected to play in the Cure Bowl on Dec. 20.