By Cord Rankin

11/6/2024

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KENT, Ohio – Highlighted by two special teams touchdowns, the Ohio football program (6-3, 4-1) clinched bowl eligibility in dominant fashion, 41-0, over the Kent State Golden Flashes (0-9, 0-5).

Graduate student quarterback Parker Navarro (Tempe, Ariz.) finished the day 14-of-24 with 142 yards through the air and added 41 yards on eight attempts on the ground. Redshirt junior quarterback Nick Poulos (Granite Bay, Calif.) also tossed a touchdown and added 22 yards on the ground late in the game.

Graduate student running back Anthony Tyus III (Portage, Mich.) returned to action, finishing the day with 84 yards and one score on 14 attempts. Redshirt freshman running back Rickey Hunt Jr. (Oklahoma City, Okla.) added 81 yards on nine touches and averaged 8.9 yards a touch with a long of 35 yards.

Graduate student wide receiver Coleman Owen (Gilbert, Ariz.) hauled in 61 yards on four receptions, while sophomore wide receiver Chase Hendricks (St. Louis, Mo.) had three receptions for 36 yards.

On the defensive side of the ball, redshirt senior cornerback Roman Parodie (Fort Lauderdale, Fla). had one interception for 13 yards, while junior safety Adonis Williams Jr. (South Euclid, Ohio) had three pass breakups.

Sophomore kicker Gianni Spetic (Chardon, Ohio) made two field goals with a long of 42 yards.

Special teams was responsible for two touchdowns in the third quarter, marking the first time since 2008 the Bobcats recorded multiple special teams touchdowns in a game. Notably, the feat has only been accomplished five times by a FBS program during the 2024 season. Graduate student wide receiver Eamonn Dennis (Worcester, Mass.) housed a 96 yard kick off while Owen took a punt back for a touchdown 61 yards.

Spetic started the Bobcats off strong, kicking a 42-yard field goal with 8:30 remaining in the first quarter. The ensuing drive, Tyus wrapped up a five-play, 51-yard drive with a 19-yard rushing touchdown, leaving Kent State trailing by 10.

Parodie cut the Golden Flashes’ final drive of the first quarter short, snagging an interception and returning it for 13 yards. Spetic opened the second quarter with his second field goal of the day, putting the score at 13-0. Ohio’s momentum continued into the following drive, culminating in a rushing touchdown by Navarro.

Dennis opened the second half with a bang, returning a kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown to give Ohio a 27-0 lead. Not letting up off the gas, Owen returned a 47-yard punt for 61 yards with 6:52 left in the third quarter.

Redshirt junior tight end Bryce Butler (Bowie, Md.) found the endzone late from a Poulos pass to give Ohio a 41-0 lead.

Up next, the Bobcats return to Athens to host the Eastern Michigan Eagles on Wednesday, Nov. 14. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. ET at Frank Solich Field at Peden Stadium; the game will be broadcast on ESPN2, ESPNU or CBSSN.

COURTESY OHIO ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS