Sports

[Ayden Crowley | WOUB]

Bobcats earn first victory on the season with a stout defensive performance, 27-10

By: Bryce Tinson
Posted on: Saturday, September 2, 2023

ATHENS, Ohio (WOUB) — Ohio (1-1) takes down their first victory, 27-10 over the Long Island Sharks (0-1).

“I said it in MAC Media Days. After the first couple of games people are going to be talking about our defense.”

Head Coach, Tim Albin, was right. He saw this coming from a mile away. After allowing 28.3 points per game last year, the Bobcats are allowing just 15 through their first two games this season.

Against LIU, the growth of the defense was on full display. They allowed just 206 total yards, intercepted LIU QB, Luca Stanzani, twice, and held the Sharks to just 3/13 on 3rd down.

And while the public might not have known this was coming, grad student and defensive captain, Bryce Houston says this was this expectation.

Ohio linebacker Bryce Houston (32) celebrates his interception against the Long Island Sharks [Conor Mallonn | WOUB]

“We all just kind of feel like we’ve been overlooked as far as accolades, and preseason polls, and all those different types of things like that. We just want to let everyone know that, you know, we’re coming for it all this year.”

Houston had a day, totaling 12 tackles, two for loss, and picking off a pass.

It was a different story for the offense. Injuries plagued them as they came into the game missing quarterback Kurtis Rourke, wide receivers Sam Wiglusz and Jacoby Jones, and tight end Tyler Foster. Rourke was out because of an awkward play that caused him to leave the game early at San Diego State last week.

With the absence of Rourke, the Bobcats decided to go with a two-quarterback system. CJ Harris and Parker Navarro alternated every two drives. Harris got the start going 7/8 for 44 yards and a score. He also added 28 yards on the ground. Navarro, the UCF transfer that needed Tommy John surgery last year, went 5/7 for 60 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception. He was also active on the ground, rushing for 34 yards.

Sieh Bangura was phenomenal on the ground for Ohio. He carried the ball 19 times for 107 yards. The offense relied on his ability to break tackles and fight for extra yards.

Ohio running back Sieh Bangura (5) stiff arms a defender on his run against the Long Island Sharks [Conor Mallonn | WOUB]

It wasn’t a perfect game, but Coach Albin is pleased with the progress they’ve made.

“Some days you don’t have your best 11 out there. That’s kind of where we were on offense, but all three phases I thought we made a huge jump from first game to second game.”

With the win, the Bobcats moved to 1-1 on the season and 7-0 on Frank Solich Field.

They travel to Boca Raton, Florida next week to take on Florida Atlantic University, a team they beat 41-38 in week 1 last year.