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ATHENS, Ohio—The Ohio football team (0-0) is set to travel to San Diego, Calif. on Saturday, Aug. 26 for their week zero game against the San Diego State Aztecs (0-0). Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT at Snapdragon Stadium. The game can be seen on FS1 with Tim Brando and Spencer Tillman on the call.
The Bobcats’ matchup can also be heard on the Ohio Sports Network from Learfield. Russ Eisenstein returns for his 16th season as the “Voice of the Bobcats” and will be joined by Ohio alum Rob Cornelius, who has been a part of the broadcasts for two decades.
SERIES HISTORY VS. SAN DIEGO STATE
The Bobcats and the Aztecs last met in 2018 at the DXL Frisco Bowl in Frisco, Texas.
The Bobcats’ dominant performance was one for the record books, becoming the first Mid-American Conference team to record a shutout in a bowl game when they defeated San Diego State 27-0 at Toyata Stadium.
SCOUTING SAN DIEGO STATE
The Aztecs finished the 2022 season 7-6 overall and 5-3 against Mountain West opponents.
They closed the season with a tight loss against Middle Tennessee State, falling behind with 2:05 remaining in the EasyPost Hawai’i Bowl.
On the season, the Aztecs averaged 21.46 points per game; their opponents averaged 20.54 points per game.
San Diego State averaged 143.5 rushing yards per game, while putting up an average of 181.54 yards per game through the air.
Individually, senior running back Jordan Byrd led the team on the ground, recording 390 yards on 102 attempts. In the air, senior quarterback Jalen Mayden threw for 2,030 yards and 12 touchdowns. He played in all 13 games for the Aztecs.
Senior linebacker Michael Shawcroft led the defense with 85 tackles, 50 of which were solo, while senior defensive lineman Jonah Tavai recorded a team-best 14 quarterback hurries, 14 tackles for loss and 10.5 sacks.
LAST TIME OUT
After Ohio kicked a 46-yard field goal to tie the game with only four seconds left on the clock, the Ohio football team defeated the Wyoming Cowboys at the Barstool Sports Arizona Bowl in overtime, 30-27. This victory marks the Bobcats’ first 10-win season since 2011 and their fourth in program history as well as their first win over Wyoming.
Quarterback CJ Harris went 20-for-33 with two touchdowns on 184 yards. Wide receiver Jacoby Jones scored one touchdown on 44 yards while tight end Tyler Foster’s only reception of the day scored the game-winning touchdown in overtime.
On the ground, redshirt freshman running back Sieh Bangura led the Bobcats with 25 carries and one touchdown on 138 rushing yards. He finished the season with 1,078 total rushing yards, marking the most rushing yards in a season by a freshman in program history. Harris, who was named the Barstool Sports Arizona Bowl Most Valuable Player, was also a rushing threat, registering 10 attempts on 52 yards.
Defensively, cornerback Torrie Cox, Jr. snagged the only interception of the game.
The Cowboys struck first, wrapping up their first drive with a 17-yard rushing touchdown. The Bobcats quickly answered, taking an 8-7 lead with a Jones touchdown and a successful two-point conversion. Wyoming reclaimed the lead with 3:58 remaining in the quarter, wrapping up a seven second drive with a 17-yard passing touchdown.
Ohio cut into the Cowboys’ lead in the second quarter, kicking a 43-yard field goal to put the score at 14-11. With just four seconds left in the half, a 53-yard Wyoming field goal left Ohio trailing by six points. After a 40-yard rush, Bangura finished the job with a three-yard rushing touchdown to tie the game. With Vakos’ kick, the Bobcats took an 18-17 lead with 5:14 left in the third quarter.
A 45-yard field goal extended Ohio’s lead with 4:17 left in the game, but the Cowboys strung together a six-play, 75-yard drive to take a 24-21 lead. After a Wyoming timeout, a 46-yard field goal tied the game, 24-24, with only four seconds left in the fourth quarter, sending the game into overtime.
Wyoming kicked a 29-yard field goal to take a three-point lead. After multiple rushing attempts, a 10-yard throw to Foster secured Ohio’s 30-27 win.
To read the complete notes, click here.
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