Sports
Brian Smith gets first win as head coach, takes StaffDNA Cure Bowl over Jacksonville State
< < Back toORLANDO, Fla. (WOUB) — What an eventful two weeks for Ohio Football (11-3, 7-1 MAC). From winning its first MAC Championship in 56 years to losing its head coach mere hours later, to not having a single player transfer following former head coach Tim Albin’s departure, to promoting offensive coordinator Brian Smith to head coach, it’s been a wild ride. That ride was capped off with a third-straight bowl appearance in the StaffDNA Cure Bowl against another conference champion, Jacksonville State. Like Ohio, Jax State also lost its head coach, adding an interesting dynamic to a game between two talented rosters. Ohio capped off its season with an eleventh win and a sixth-straight bowl victory.
Similarly to the MAC Championship Game, Ohio came out flat on its first offensive drive and woke up shortly after. Quarterback Parker Navarro missed his first four throws of the game but pivoted toward what he knows best: putting the ball on the ground. Navarro ran for 59 yards on his first four attempts, including two touchdowns. Navarro scored on back-to-back drives to put Ohio ahead 14-0.
Ohio’s offensive explosion has come in part to its ability to establish the run. The entire first half seemed to have been just that, whether it was Navarro or running back Anthony Tyus III. Tyus and Navarro had over 70 yards rushing each in the first half. Navarro couldn’t stay out of the end zone either, grabbing the Bobcats yet another touchdown on the ground to go up 20-7, with a missed Gianni Spetic extra point.
Tensions had been high since both teams participated in the Cure Bowl’s charity event Thursday, and it carried over into the game itself. Linebacker Shay Taylor was ejected after a scuffle, sparked by Taylor stepping on a Gamecock player’s foot. As if the Bobcats needed another reason to play with tenacity, they took it to heart. Blake Leake and Bradley Weaver combined for a huge sack on third down, which set up a missed field goal for Jacksonville State right before halftime.
The Bobcats led an exciting two-minute drill, with all of the key contributors getting involved. Coleman Owen caught a big pass to get into the red zone, and Navarro capped the drive off by finding an open Tyus on a shovel pass to go up 27-7.
It was an offensive explosion, but credit must be given to the Bobcats’ defense. Jacksonville State came into the game averaging 267.3 rushing yards per game. Its first half rushing yards total? 8 yards. John Hauser’s defense came out to play.
Momentum was not on Ohio’s side to begin the second half. Punting out of his end zone, Ohio punter Jack Wilson shanked a punt that hit Ohio’s medical tent on the sideline, officially being ruled as a 14-yard punt. The Gamecocks took advantage of the excellent starting field position, as quarterback Tyler Huff punched it in to get the score down to 27-14.
With Jax State driving again in the third quarter, Ohio desperately needed another stop to keep the Gamecocks from stealing all momentum and getting it to within a score. With a club on his injured right hand, Leake came through with an interception–that was thrown right at him. The Bobcats proceeded to march down the field and grab a field goal, as Spetic redeemed himself from the missed extra point earlier in the game.
Jacksonville State is one of the best second-half teams in the country, holding opponents to an average of 7.33 points per game in the half itself. The Gamecocks’ offense responded well, as they marched down the field and capped off their drive with a Tre Stewart touchdown. Being down 16 points, the analytical play was to go for two and get it to within a score. However, Jax State failed in its attempt to get into the endzone, staying behind in the game 30-20.
Jacksonville State was able to get it to within one score down 30-27, but Ohio sealed the deal with a first down by Anthony Tyus to cap off a 30-27 victory.
The historic season for Ohio Football ends with an 11-3 record, outside the final AP Top 25 rankings.