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Ohio Football: ‘Cats Outlast Nevada to Win Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
By: Taylor Jedrzejek
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BOISE, ID — As Nathan Rourke took the final snap of his Bobcat career on the field, Brian Arp was sneaking through the crowded Bobcat bench with a Gatorade cooler. A victory bath would be nothing new for Frank Solich, but when the senior defensive lineman turned the cooler over, it wasn’t liquid that came… Read More

Ohio Football: ‘Cats await their bowl fate
By: Thomas Garverick
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ATHENS, OH — And now Ohio must play the waiting game to see if they will get a bid to a bowl game. We talked to the coaches and players after the game, and they certainly hope that they get one more chance to suit up in 2019. “I think in terms of bowls looking… Read More

Ohio Football: ‘Cats Dismantle Akron, Become Bowl Eligible
By: Taylor Jedrzejek
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AKRON, OH — Nathan Rourke took the snap and rolled right looking for an open receiver at the goal line. There wasn’t one, so he tucked the ball and sprinted to the pylon. He dove just inside it for the 1-yard score, but it wasn’t the touchdown that, ultimately, was significant. That play, should Ohio… Read More

Ohio Football: ‘Cats Run Wild on BGSU as Frank Solich Becomes MAC’s Winningest Coach
By: Taylor Jedrzejek
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BOWLING GREEN, Ohio — As Ohio’s third-string quarterback Joe Mischler took a knee with under 40 seconds to play in the game, Ohio head coach Frank Solich was surrounded by coaches, players and media. They were all waiting for the inevitable. Before he was able to walk far enough away, he was struck with the… Read More

Ohio Football: Bobcats’ Season Slips Away in OT Loss to W. Michigan
By: Taylor Jedrzejek
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ATHENS, OH — Nathan Rourke and Cole Baker sat in a meeting room on the second floor of Peden Stadium taking questions from the media. When Senior Night was brought up as a question, Rourke looked up, obviously upset, and stared off into the distance before bowing his head back down and nodding towards Baker… Read More

Ohio Football: ‘Cats Face Must-Win on Senior Night Against WMU
By: Taylor Jedrzejek
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ATHENS, OH — As the end of another football season approaches, one game always tends to stand out among the others. The final home game, or Senior Night, simply just means more. On a cold Tuesday night in mid-November, the Bobcat Football’s Class of 2020 will have theirs. “Every time the senior game comes up,… Read More

Ohio Football: Bobcats’ Season Dealt Huge Blow in Crushing Loss to Miami
By: Taylor Jedrzejek
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ATHENS, OH — A giant flag emblazoned with a big, red block-M waved in the north end zone of Peden Stadium as the clock hit 0:00. For the second straight season, a loss to Miami not only signified a Bobcat loss, it marked a likely end to their MAC Championship hopes. On a night that… Read More

Ohio Football: Takeaways and Game Balls from the Bobcats’ Win over Ball State
By: Taylor Jedrzejek
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ATHENS, OH — The conditions in Muncie on Saturday were about as far from “ideal” as it could be. Rain poured down for the entire game, aided by gusting winds, and made Scheumann Stadium into something more resembling a pool than a football field. But the Bobcats battled the elements and the MAC West-leading Cardinals… Read More

Ohio Football: ‘Cats Gut Out Huge, Rain-Soaked Win over Ball State
By: Taylor Jedrzejek
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MUNCIE, IN — A persistent, soaking, wind-driven rain fell on Schuemann Stadium for the duration of the game on Saturday and when Ohio needed it most, the group on the field most built to deal with the nasty conditions stepped up and paved the way for a Bobcat victory. That group was the offensive line…. Read More

Ohio Football: Takeaways and Gameballs from the ‘Cats Win over Kent State
By: Taylor Jedrzejek
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ATHENS, OH — What a strange season it has been so far for Ohio and the rest of the Mid-American Conference. Pre-season favorites have not been impressive and teams projected to finish towards the bottom have surprised. That’s why every conference win the Bobcats can get is all that much more important, especially within their… Read More

Ohio Football: Rourke Propels ‘Cats to Shootout Win Over Kent State
By: Taylor Jedrzejek
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ATHENS, OH — All season long, the Bobcats defense has looked for someone to make a play. For much of the day Saturday, it seemed as if the search would continue for at least another week. But with just over five minutes to play with Ohio leading by seven, the defense got a game-saving (and… Read More

Ohio Football: ‘Cats Face Must-Win Against Division-Leading Kent State
By: Taylor Jedrzejek
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ATHENS, OH — Coming into the season, not many would have expected the Bobcats to be two games under-.500 in mid-October and facing a must-win scenario against a Kent State team that is undefeated in conference play. Yet, here we are. On Saturday afternoon, Ohio (2-4, 1-1 MAC) will take the field in Peden Stadium… Read More

Ohio Football: 3 Takeaways from the Bobcats Loss to Northern Illinois
By: Taylor Jedrzejek
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ATHENS, OH — After a big win in Buffalo, the Bobcats came home for Homecoming and played well. For a half, anyway. In the second half, the ‘Cats went back to some of the same tendencies that lost them three straight games. Here are a few of my takeaways from Ohio’s 39-36 loss to Northern… Read More

Ohio Football: Bobcats’ Defensive Collapse Spoils Homecoming
By: Taylor Jedrzejek
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ATHENS, OH — For the first 30 minutes of the game on Saturday, the Ohio Bobcats looked like the team that many thought they would be before the season started. Nathan Rourke was sharp, the offense was moving the ball well and finding the end zone and the defense held Northern Illinois to just 138… Read More

Ohio Football: ‘Cats Look to Continue Winning Ways Against NIU
By: Taylor Jedrzejek
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ATHENS, OH — Homecoming is often said to be the best time of year in Athens. Between the cool weather, changing leaves, returning alumni and all the festivities, it’s hard to argue. The crown jewel of Homecoming is the football game and three out of the last four years, the Bobcats have come away victorious…. Read More

Ohio Football: Takeaways and Game Balls from the Bobcats Win over Buffalo
By: Taylor Jedrzejek
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ATHENS, OH — For the first time in over a month, the Bobcats were able to put a game into the win column, but it was never easy. In fact, they never held a lead in the game. But a win is a win and it was one the ‘Cats needed desperately. Here are a… Read More

Ohio Football: Bobcats Grind Out Tough Overtime Win Over Buffalo
By: Taylor Jedrzejek
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AMHERST, NY — No one ever said a win had to be pretty and Ohio has to be very happy that is the case. After the month the ‘Cats had in September, any win is a good win. The Bobcats (2-3, 1-0 MAC) went into a stadium they hadn’t won in in over 10 years… Read More

Ohio Football: ‘Cats Run Over by Louisiana
By: Taylor Jedrzejek
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ATHENS, OH — Often, people speak of the college football season being divided into two “seasons”: the non-con conference schedule being the first and conference play being the second. For Ohio, the best thing about the non-conference “season” is that it’s over. A disastrous second half on Saturday afternoon led the Bobcats (1-3) to a… Read More

Ohio Football: ‘Cats Look to Get Back in Win Column Against Louisiana
By: Taylor Jedrzejek
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ATHENS, OH — Through three games, 2019 doesn’t seem all that different from 2018 for Ohio football. Both had season-opening home victories over FCS schools followed by road losses to schools from the ACC (Virginia and Pitt) and a highly-touted Group of Five programs (Cincinnati and Marshall). If history were to fully repeat itself for… Read More

Ohio Football: Rourke Wants More Than Personal Records
By: Taylor Jedrzejek
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ATHENS, OH — When asked following the Bobcats’ 33-31 loss to Marshall how he felt about breaking Ohio’s all-time touchdowns record, senior quarterback Nathan Rourke’s response was short but firm. “I wasn’t even thinking about it,” he said with a serious look on his face. It was hard not to believe him. Rourke’s touchdown pass… Read More

Ohio Football: Rourke’s Record-Breaking Night Not Enough to Keep Bell
By: Taylor Jedrzejek
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HUNTINGTON, WV — The bell rang on Saturday night, just not for the Ohio Bobcats. The 60th installment of the rivalry between the Bobcats and Marshall produced big plays and points galore, but the Thundering Herd (2-1) came away with the 33-31 victory over Ohio (1-2) to reclaim the Victory Bell for the first time… Read More

Ohio Football: 3 Takeaways From the Bobcats’ Loss to Pitt
By: Taylor Jedrzejek
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ATHENS, OH — The Bobcats were unable to pull out the victory on Saturday afternoon in Pittsburgh, dropping to 1-1 with a 20-10 loss to the Panthers. Some of the questions surrounding the team following week one were answered but there were some new ones that appeared. Here are a few of my key takeaways… Read More

Ohio Football: ‘Cats Offense Stifled by Pitt
By: Taylor Jedrzejek
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PITTSBURGH, PA — There was no magic for the Bobcats against Pittsburgh this time around. “Field position plus momentum equals points,” Bobcat senior safety Javon Hagan said. Ohio (1-1) had very little of either on Saturday afternoon at Heinz Field, and in the end, scored very few points in a 20-10 loss to the Panthers… Read More

Ohio Football: ‘Cats Run Past Rhode Island in Season Opener
By: Taylor Jedrzejek
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ATHENS, OH — Nathan Rourke and the Bobcats offense came out for the first time in 2019 backed up against their own end zone. Not an easy place for an offense to begin its season. With visions of how last season’s opener against FCS Howard hanging around the stadium, the senior quarterback took the snap,… Read More

Ohio Football: ‘Cats Kick Off 2019 Against FCS Rhode Island
By: Taylor Jedrzejek
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ATHENS, OH — When the 2019 Bobcats take the field for the first time on Saturday afternoon, it won’t be with any new expectations and aspirations than they’ve had in recent years. Ohio was tabbed by both the media and the coaches as the favorites to not only win their division but to also win… Read More