AKRON, Ohio (WOUB) — Ohio found itself trailing 10-3 with 16 seconds left in the first half.
Kurtis Rourke threw a pass to the back of the end zone for Isiah Cox. Cox made a diving catch but the pass was ruled incomplete. After replay review though, the call was overturned. Cox did in fact stay in bounds — and it was a Bobcats touchdown.
Ohio’s offense operated as smoothly as it has all season long from that point on.
The Bobcats, led by the rushing attack of Armani Rogers and De’Montre Tuggle, scored in every second half possession. Ohio (1-4, 1-0 MAC) put up a season-high point total with a 34-17 win over Akron (1-4, 0-1 MAC).
“That was the best two quarters I’ve seen in a long time. Dynamic,” Tim Albin said following his first win as Ohio head coach. “I’m happy for the players.”
“That’s a straight running Frank Solich game right there. It was a physical ballgame and that’s how this program was built.”
Kurtis Rourke, left, of the Ohio University Bobcats, looks for a free receiver during the Bobcats’ 34-17 win over the University of Akron Zips, in Akron, Ohio, on Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021. [Joseph Scheller | WOUB]
Tim Steele covers his heart with a Zips hat while listening to the national anthem sitting next to two daughters of his who each attended Ohio University and the University of Akron, in Akron, Ohio, on Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021. [Joseph Scheller | WOUB]
University of Akron Zips’ quarterback DJ Irons, number zero, attempts to run the ball through the Ohio University Bobcats’ defensive line in the football game that will ultimate yield the Bobcats a 34-17 win, in Akron, Ohio, on Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021. [Joseph Scheller | WOUB]
Ohio University Bobcat Jay Amburgey listens to coaching staff during the Bobcats’ 34-17 win against the University of Akron Zips, in Akron, Ohio, on Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021. [Joseph Scheller | WOUB]
Amy Mellinger, top left, a cheerleader for the University of Akron Zips, stretches next to marching band members prior to the Zips game against the Ohio University Bobcats, in Akron, Ohio, on Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021. [Joseph Scheller | WOUB]
University of Akron Zips’ Konata Mumpfield scores a touchdown while Ohio University Bobcat Justin Birchette flies over his head in what will ultimately yield the Bobcats a 34-17 win, in Akron, Ohio, on Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021. [Joseph Scheller | WOUB]
Members of the University of Akron marching band talk and wait prior to the Zips football game against the Ohio University Bobcats, in Akron, Ohio, on Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021. [Joseph Scheller | WOUB]
University of Akron Zips’ Konata Mumpfield runs the ball to score a touchdown against the Ohio University Bobcats in what will ultimately yield the Bobcats a 34-17 win, in Akron, Ohio, on Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021. [Joseph Scheller | WOUB]
A helmet is seen idly on the ground while the Ohio University Bobcats warm up in the football game that will become their 34-17 win over the University of Akron Zips, in Akron, Ohio, on Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021. [Joseph Scheller | WOUB]
Ohio University Bobcat Armani Rogers vaults over a tackle attempt by University of Akron Zips’ Jaylen Kelly-Powell in the football game the Bobcats will win 34-17, in Akron, Ohio, on Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021. [Joseph Scheller | WOUB]
Fans watch the Ohio University football game against the University of Akron from the top of the bleachers, in Akron, Ohio, on Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021. [Joseph Scheller | WOUB]
Angela Peterson, a member of the University of Akron marching band, laughs with her bandmates during the football game against Ohio University, in Akron, Ohio, on Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021. [Joseph Scheller | WOUB]
Armani Rogers, left, of the Ohio University Bobcats, celebrates after a touchdown in the Bobcats’ 34-17 win over the University of Akron Zips, in Akron, Ohio, on Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021. [Joseph Scheller | WOUB]
29 of the Bobcats’ 31 plays in the second half were run plays — Ohio rushed for 235 yards total.
Tuggle rushed for a career-high 201 rushing yards on 17 carries, including a 26-yard touchdown run late in the fourth quarter.
“It’s amazing,” Tuggle said after he heard his final yardage total postgame. “Big shoutout to my line and the receivers — those guys were blocking their tails off today.”
Fifth-year quarterback Armani Rogers rushed for 83 yards with two second-half touchdowns.
Rogers played a vast majority of the second half after Kurtis Rourke got the start and led the offense for much of the first half.
Rourke completed seven of his 12 pass attempts for 56 yards with a touchdown and an interception, but Rogers came in and moved the offense down the field efficiently.
“Adjustment wise, we were having trouble protecting Kurtis. He was getting bumped around,” Albin said. “This is what we needed to do. It worked out.”
The Bobcats showed much improvement on the defensive side as well.
Ohio held the Zips to just 112 yards on the ground and came up with seven sacks of quarterback D.J. Irons.
“We just knew that we had to just play harder,” Ohio fifth-year defensive end Will Evans said. “Keep putting it on Akron. Just keep playing harder and those were the results.”
Evans finished the day with two sacks for Ohio and five tackles.
Cannon Blauser also accounted for two sacks. Bryce Houston, Kai Caesar and Denzel Daxon also picked up sacks in the contest.
The Bobcats’ three-game road trip is over and it ended on a positive note. The Bobcats also started MAC play the right way and look to keep the momentum moving forward.
“Right now we’re 1-0,” Evans said. “We’re basically coming to feed off each week.”
Ohio returns home to host Central Michigan (2-3, 0-1 MAC) next Saturday. The homecoming game between the Bobcats and Chippewas will kick off at 3:30 p.m. at Peden Stadium.
