Sports
Ohio Football wins regular season finale in Buffalo, awaits Saturday results for title game fate
By: Andrew Bowlby
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BUFFALO, N.Y. (WOUB) – Black Friday college football signals the end of the regular season for most Mid-American Conference teams. For Ohio Football (8-4, 6-2 MAC), it hoped that Friday would not mark the end of conference play as they continued a fight for a spot in the MAC Championship game.
The Bobcats battled frigid temperatures and high winds in a 31-26 victory over Buffalo (5-7, 4-4 MAC).
“Some things we talk about are playing for as long as it takes to win and leaving no doubt,” Ohio head coach Brian Smith said. “I thought our kids did that, they played the entire game as hard as they could.”
Both teams turned the ball over on their opening offensive drives. Ohio’s came off a Parker Navarro fumble near mid-field as he was trying to rush for a first down. Buffalo gave the ball right back when the Bulls couldn’t convert a fourth-and-2.
Ohio immediately got Sieh Bangura involved. The first play of the drive was 13-yard rush and push from the offensive line to get the Bobcats going. Both Navarro and Duncan Brune also made plays with their legs to get Ohio inside the red zone.
Navarro capped the drive with a rollout pass to Mason Williams who took it 11 yards into the end zone opening the scoring.
Ohio’s defense delivered a complimentary drive on the ensuing Buffalo possession. Nehemiah Dukes and Jalen Thomeson both recorded pass breakups leading to a Bulls punt.
On the first drive of the second quarter for the Bobcats, they were backed up deep in their own territory. Starting the drive at the seven-yard line, it ended with another turnover. Navarro was looking to make a play in the passing game but threw the ball right to Kobi Blackwell and set the Bulls up at the 11-yard line.
Things quickly started to look grim for the Bobcats offense as on their next drive they were pushed to a fourth-and-4. What appeared to be a routine punt turned into arguably the call of the game by Ohio’s staff. The Bobcats elected to run a fake punt, and Jake Bruno took the ball 48 yards converting the first down and setting the offense up at the UB 10-yard line.
“That one’s been in all year, occasionally it’s getting called and we have a way to get out of it,” Smith said. “Fortunately, they were aggressive and were trying to come after us and got us the look we wanted. Couldn’t be happier for Jake [Bruno].”
After a nine-yard rush by Navarro, it was Bangura punching it in for his 14th rushing touchdown of the season.
With momentum back on Ohio’s side, the defense came out and quickly forced a three-and-out giving the ball back to the offense.
Ohio patiently moved the ball down the field using a number of offensive weapons. Ultimately, after over five minutes possessing the football, Chase Hendricks caught a 15-yard pass from Navarro to extend the Bobcats lead to 21-7.
It was Hendricks’ first touchdown and the first time that Navarro has thrown multiple scores in a game since Oct. 25 against Eastern Michigan.
Ohio’s passing game continued to roll on their final drive of the half. Navarro completed a 41-yard bomb to Hendricks that got the two-minute drive going. He then went to Caleb Gossett for a gain of 14. However, the drive stalled quickly.
Red Murdock and Demetrius Ballard combined to record a sack on Navarro, and the next play resulted in a Bangura fumble stopping Ohio’s bid at late points. Still, the Bobcats went into the locker room up 21-7.
Buffalo’s offense wasn’t able to do much in the first half aside from the short field they got off the Navarro interception.
The Bulls didn’t waste any time in the second half getting their offense going. Roberson took a shot on just the third play and connected with Nik McMillan for a 46-yard gain. The catch was part of McMillan’s sixth-consecutive game with 100 or more receiving yards. He became the first Bulls player in history to accomplish the feat.
Al-Jay Henderson took a handoff wide to the right and moved around the Ohio defense into the end zone cutting the lead to 21-13. The Bulls attempted a two-point conversion but were denied by Kendall Bannister.
Brune got a 22-yard rush on the first play of the drive and the Bobcats picked up a few chunk plays before Navarro got a six-yard rushing touchdown to extend the Ohio lead to 28-13.
Buffalo had the ball back late in the third quarter and Roberson connected with Morrow again for a 56-yard spark. On the second play of the fourth quarter, Roberson ran it in from five yards out. Buffalo once again attempted a two-point conversion but the Bulls were denied again and Ohio held a 28-19 lead 53 seconds into the final quarter.
The Bobcats then turned to chew clock mode holding a multi-score lead. The Bobcats took 5:35 off the clock and punted the ball to the Buffalo one-yard line.
On that drive, Roberson threw his MAC-leading 12th interception of the year to Kendall Bannister. Ohio could only pay it off with a 33-yard field goal from David Dellenbach, but that did put the Bobcats up 31-19.
“He didn’t play as much early in the season. I didn’t think that affected his spirit or attitude,” Smith said on Bannister. “I think he’s been playing well as he’s gotten more opportunities on the field.”
Buffalo did get a late score to make the game interesting, however, Ohio closed the game and hung on to get their second road win of the season. Ohio has now won at least two road games in 19-straight seasons (excluding the 2020 COVID year).
All eyes now turn to Saturday’s MAC games between Central Michigan vs Toledo and Ball State vs Miami. Ohio needs wins from the underdogs to get into the MAC Championship Game.
“We’ll be tuned in for sure,” Hendricks said. “We need a couple of teams to come through for us.”
If Ohio gets the results, it needs Saturday, the Bobcats will play in the MAC Title Game on Dec. 6 at Ford Field. If they do not, they will await their Bowl Game selection that will be played later in December.