The oldest university in the Northwest Territory exhibited a throwback performance for the ages on Homecoming Weekend.
Playing in front of thousands of alumni and other fans coming into Athens to celebrate, Ohio’s defense stole the show in a 30-10 beatdown over Akron in the program’s Mid-American Conference opener at Peden Stadium on Saturday.
The Bobcats ultimately held the Zips to -23 yards rushing as a team in the convincing victory.
“Homecoming here is great. Director [Julie] Cromer, President [Lori Stewart] Gonzalez, nobody does it better. It’s the best in our league by a mile.” Tim Albin, the head coach of Ohio said in his opening statement after the win, first opting to speak about the festivities hosted by the university.
Ohio had Akron’ quarterback Ben Finley in complete disarray the entire day. The Bobcats ultimately forced the right-handed thrower into two interceptions, throwing for undering 200 yards while also holding him to -30 yards rushing individually.
“Our defense played outstanding,” Albin bluntly noted after the game. “Overall, all three phases, to date, it’s our best game. Nothing against Akron.”
After a sluggish start offensively, Ohio picked things up for the last 70% of the game to eventually pull away. Returning from a one-week injury hiatus, Parker Navarro arguably had his best game as a Bobcat in the MAC opener. The dual-threat option went 12-18 through the air for 204 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions in a bounce back game. He also ran the ball for 113 yards and a score on 13 carries.
“It was great, I love being out there with the guys. The defense really brought it,” Navarro said postgame, clearly throwing the praise towards the defensive unit. “It’s just a great feeling.”
Coleman Owen had his breakout performance in an Ohio uniform, catching six balls for 130 yards and a pair of crucial scores. Anthony Tyus also broke 100 yards rushing but left late in the fourth quarter with what appeared to be an elbow injury.
Looking to shake off the disaster from a week ago, there was a sense of opportunity emanating through Peden Stadium at the opening moments of the afternoon. Although .500 coming into the day, it was the start of the second season.
Now fully into MAC play for the rest of the season, everything Ohio truly wishes to accomplish this season was still right in front of them heading into Saturday. The afternoon tilt was an opportunity to rejuvenate the fanbase and locker room.
While the Bobcats eventually got just that done in what ended up becoming a productive afternoon at Peden, hopes were looking damper than the foliage surrounding the stadium in the initial minutes of action.
After being stunted on the first drive of the afternoon, the Bobcats shockingly got marched on in their first chance at defense. Working as one of only two scoring drives on the day for Akron, the Zips proceeded to run an 11-play, 54-yard drive that ended with a 49-yarder from Garrison Smith to make it a 3-0 game.
Ohio would be held scoreless throughout the first quarter before finally breaking through nearly midway through the second. After a DJ Walker interception got the ball back for the Bobcats, long runs from Tyus and Navarro set Ohio up deep in Akron territory.
One play later, Tyus took a handoff off the right side of the line. The transfer back fumbled at the goalline but Mason Williams was situated right there to fall on the loose ball in the endzone for the touchdown.
Heading towards the final minutes of the opening half, things started to look as dark as the clouds circulating the sky the entire afternoon. Getting the ball deep in Ohio territory with just two minutes remaining, Akron got into the endzone with a 17-yard score from Ben Finley to Jake Newell to suddenly put the Zips back in front.
Arguably the Bobcats’ most important and impressive drive of the day, Ohio responded with a seven-play, 75-yard touchdown drive that took just 63 seconds off the clock to retake the lead before going into the break.
Navarro ran for 30 yards in the drive to gain crucial ground before eventually connecting an 18-yard touchdown with Owen for his first score of the day. Kicking the extra point, Ohio went into the break with a 14-10 lead.
From there, the Bobcats’ defense just completely took over.
Ohio forced the Zips into a three-and-out on the first two possessions of the second half before sending Peden into a frenzy midway through the third. Backing Akron up to their own three yard line, Marcel Walker-Burgess busted through the line for the sack and safety to get the ball right back.
“It actually was a bad angle if I’m being honest,” Walker-Burgess said with a laugh when asked about the safety. “Obviously I’m just trying to make the best out of the opportunities I got, especially being a new guy here.”
While giving up a first down here-and-there the rest of the way, Ohio completely stunted any efforts from Akron in a second half shutout performance.
Pouring on to Akron’s pain while also giving the Homecoming crowd a memorable show, Ohio still had a couple more tricks to pull out.
Owen stole the show on his second touchdown catch of the day, breaking a few tackles along the way for a 75-yard score with just under 12 minutes remaining.
Later in the fourth, a 55-yard run from Navarro to set up the two-minute warning put Ohio in the redzone for the final time. The quarterback finished off his bounce back night with a three-yard score up the gut to push the lead to 20.
The Bobcats get to finally breathe for a few days now with the upcoming bye week. A team ravaged with injuries so far this season, this break in action should be crucial for when the team jumps back into MAC play in a couple weeks.
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