ATHENS, Ohio — The Ohio Bobcats survived a fourth-quarter scare in MACtion on Tuesday night, Nov. 3, rallying past the Akron Zips 28-20 at InfoCision Stadium in a Mid-American Conference game televised by ESPN2. Running back Duncan Brune broke free for a 91-yard touchdown with 3:57 remaining, turning a tense finish into Ohio’s eighth straight win in the series, according to the Akron Beacon Journal’s game recap.
Akron, winless in conference play entering the night, actually outgained Ohio 392 yards to 358 and led in first downs 26-12, figures reported by both the Beacon Journal and BVM Sports. The Zips controlled long stretches behind quarterback Cibastian Broughton and running back Jordan Gant, but Ohio’s three explosive touchdowns — covering 196 yards in all — proved the difference.
Ohio scored first without its offense taking the field for the points. Late in the first quarter, safety DJ Walker intercepted a Broughton pass and returned it 45 yards for a touchdown, giving the Bobcats a 7-3 lead after Akron had opened the scoring on an Aidan Stire field goal, according to the Beacon Journal. Ohio led 7-6 at halftime despite being outgained in the first half.
The lead changed hands repeatedly in the second half. Akron moved ahead 9-7 on another Stire field goal in the third quarter before Ohio quarterback Nick Poulos ran 5 yards for a touchdown to put the Bobcats back in front 14-9. Poulos finished 12-of-20 passing for 197 yards and a touchdown with no interceptions, according to the Beacon Journal.
Akron’s best moment came early in the fourth quarter, when Gant capped a 12-play, 81-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown run and a two-point conversion gave the Zips a 17-14 lead with 9:35 left. Gant finished with 112 yards on 16 carries, and Broughton went 22-of-34 for 232 yards in his return as Akron’s starter. Ohio answered on the very next play, however, as Poulos connected with Dom Dorwart for a 60-yard touchdown and a 21-17 lead. Dorwart caught four passes for 108 yards.
Akron still had a chance to retake the lead, driving to the Ohio 9-yard line before turning the ball over on downs with 4:11 remaining. On the next play, Brune delivered the knockout — a 91-yard run that made it 28-17. Brune finished with 111 yards on just 10 carries. Stire’s 43-yard field goal cut the margin to 28-20 with 1:56 left, but Ohio’s Blake Guffey recovered the onside kick and the Bobcats ran out the clock.
For Ohio University fans in Athens and across southeast Ohio, the win keeps the Bobcats unbeaten in MAC play at 5-0 and improves their overall record to 7-2, keeping them atop the conference race heading into the season’s final weeks. Akron fell to 1-8 overall and 0-5 in the MAC. Ohio’s next test is a trip to Miami (Ohio) on Tuesday, Nov. 10, in the Battle of the Bricks — a rivalry game that could go a long way toward deciding the MAC East.
Photo: Navie05, CC BY-SA 3.0