By Sean O’Reilly
11/13/2024
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ATHENS, Ohio – The Ohio football team took down Eastern Michigan 35-10 Wednesday evening (Nov. 13) at Frank Solich Field at Peden Stadium.
Graduate student quarterback Parker Navarro had a career night, tying the school record for most rushing touchdowns in a game (4), marking the fourth quarterback in program history to hit this benchmark. Additionally, Navarro (Tempe, Ariz.) set a personal record for single-game passing yards (277).
“I could not be more excited with what we got done tonight. It was a big win,” head coach Tim Albin said.
The first quarter started slow for both teams, as neither could convert on third down. However, it was a testament to the defensive approach of both teams. Eastern Michigan finished the first quarter 1-for-5 on third down and Ohio 2-for-5.
“(The front seven) have been great all year. What they do is make teams one-dimensional and really help the secondary out, especially the linebackers. We are so blessed to have the guys up front that really disrupt the line constantly,” redshirt junior linebacker Shay Taylor (Mount Perry, Ohio) said. Taylor recorded nine tackles, including three solo and 1.5 tackles for loss in the victory.
Ohio had the first chance to score on a field goal attempt toward the end of the first quarter. Sophomore kicker Gianni Spetic (Chardon, Ohio) lined up a for a 31-yard boot, but the kick was blocked by Joey Zelinsky.
Eastern Michigan nabbed the first touchdown of the game on the first drive of the second quarter. Quarterback Cole Snyder tossed an 18-yard pass to Delbert Mimms III to put Eastern Michigan ahead. It didn’t take Ohio long to catch up, though. Navarro made quick ground with three straight passes greater than 20 yards to put Ohio into the red zone. Navarro then ran home 14 yards to tie the game at seven even.
Two drives later, the Eagles threatened to take their lead back. That was until graduate student defensive end Ben McNaboe (Rogers, Minn.) picked off Snyder’s pass to Terry Lockett.
McNaboe wasn’t the only Bobcat to snag an interception Wednesday night. Senior cornerback Tank Pearson (Oxford, Miss.) took away back-to-back drives from the Eagles in the third quarter for his second and third interceptions of the season. Pearson almost had another interception in the fourth quarter on a touchdown pass he broke up.
“The first pick on their sideline was an unbelievable catch. It was a great catch. And I thought, ‘he’s gonna be mad at himself, but he could’ve had it.’ I used to teach bowling when I first started coaching a long time ago; he could have had a turkey tonight,” Albin said. “A turkey is three strikes in a row, I believe, and so he could have had a turkey tonight, if he got that one in the end zone.”
Eastern Michigan succeeded on a 29-yard field goal attempt after the play, but at that point, Ohio had built a steady lead. Graduate student running back Anthony Tyus III (Portage, Mich.) and Navarro both recorded a touchdown in the third quarter. Tyus finished the game with 32 yards on 12 carries.
Navarro sealed the deal with his third and fourth touchdowns by foot in the last half of the fourth quarter. In the air, he ended the night 22-for-32 for 277 yards with one interception. On the ground, Navarro covered 106 yards on 13 carries.
“I know we’re capable of scoring plus 30 every game,” Navarro said. “These guys– Chase (Hendricks), Rodney (Harris II), Coleman (Owen)– made some unbelievable plays, and I trust those guys, and I’m just excited to continue to give those guys shots.”
The Bobcats didn’t record a passing touchdown, but graduate student wide receiver Coleman Owen (Gilbert, Ariz.) recorded his second-highest yardage of the season. He totaled 139 yards on eight receptions.
Ohio remains tied for first place in the MAC with Bowling Green and Miami. It will return to action on Wednesday, Nov. 20 against Toledo. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. from the Glass Bowl and can be viewed on ESPN2.
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