ATHENS — Nathan Rourke threw 5 touchdown passes and the Ohio defense clamped down on Buffalo's offense as the Bobcats defeated the Bulls 45-24 on Tuesday night at Peden Stadium.
Ohio is now in a first place tie with Buffalo, but own the tiebreaker by virtue of their win. The win also snapped Buffalo's five-game winning streak.
The story of the game was the Ohio defense shutting down the Bulls offense by allowing just 260 total yards of offense, recording six sacks and forcing three turnovers.
Nathan Rourke led the Bobcat offense, compiling 184 yards through the air and tossing three touchdown passes on the night. Sam Wilgusz had a big night hauling in six catches for 131 yards and two scores of his own.
Ohio got on the scoreboard early as Wilgusz and Rourke hooked up twice on the drive. The second time being a 26-yard pass that Rourke dropped over top of a Bulls defender into his receivers hands in the back corner of the end zone to give the Bobcats a 7-0 lead with 11:22 in the opening frame.
The Bobcat defense would shut down Buffalo again on their next possession when Bryce Houston sacked quarterback Cole Snyder and force a punt.
Ohio (6-3, 4-1 MAC) moved quickly again down the field but ended up settling for 37-yard field goal from Nathanial Vakos to extend the lead to 10-0.
The defense would again cause problems for the Bulls as pressure on a third down play force Snyder to make a desperation pass towards Ohio's bench and be picked off by Tariq Drake to give the Bobcats the ball at the Buffalo 42.
Rourke and the Bobcats would capitalize on the turnover, scoring five plays later, as Rourke would hit Jacoby Jones for a 5-yard passing score to give the Bobcats a 17-0 lead after one quarter of play.
Buffalo (5-4, 4-1 MAC) would finally get some traction on offense. The Bulls would drive 65-yards, aided by a 27-yard pass by Snyder to Justin Marshall and a questionable unncessary roughness call on the Bobcats.
The Bulls drive would ultimately stall out, and they would before to settle for a 28-yard field goal to make the score 17-3 with 12:05 remaining in the first half.
With 1:45 left in the second quarter and ahead 24-3, the Bobcats decided to roll the dice and go to the air on third-and 12, Rourke's pass was on the money, but a Buffalo defender was able to get piece of the ball and knock it from James Bostic's hands.
Ohio would inflict damage on themselves as the ensuing punt would only go 20 yards, giving Buffalo the ball at the Bobcat 35.
Buffalo would take advantage of the misfortune, and score on a 12-yard pass from Snyder to Marshall to cut the Ohio lead to 24-10 as both teams went into the locker room.
Ohio would continue to inflict damage on themselves to start the second half, as Rourke would misjudge his receivers route and throw a pass right into the waiting arms of Keyshawn Cobb, who would return it 27 yards in for the score. McNulty's extra point cut the score to 24-17 in favor of Ohio.
The Bobcats would respond with 8-play, 75-yard drive that concluded with Rourke tossing his fourth touchdown pass of the night to a wide open Miles Cross from two-yards out to put the Bobcats back ahead by 14-points.
Buffalo would put together their best offensive drive of the game, moving 56-yard in 14-plays and taking just over five minutes off the clock for a touchdown score. The drive would be capped off when Snyder completed a shovel pass to Mike Washington for the two-yard score to cut Ohio's lead to 31-24 with 1:46 remaining in the third frame.
The Bobcats would get the ball back and begin to take over the game. Rourke would deliver a huge blow to the Bulls, completing two consecutive passes to Jones of 43 and 19 yards to quickly put to Bobcats at the Buffalo 16.
Three plays later, Jake Neatherton would negotiate the final yard to give the Bobcats 38-24 lead with 13:16 left in the game.
The Ohio defense would deliver another blow to Buffalo on their ensuing drive, as Kai Caesar would sack Snyder, strip the ball out of his hand, and Jack McCrory would recover it, giving the ball back to the Bobcats on the Buffalo 12 and a chance to deliver the final knock out punch.
Two plays later, Rourke would hit Cross on a 9-yard pass to the back corner of the end zone for the score. Vakos added the extra point to round out the final score at 45-24.
Ohio will hit the road to face rival Miami (OH) next Tuesday night.
Buffalo 0 10 14 0 — 24
Ohio 17 7 7 14 — 45
First Quarter
OHIO — Sam Wiglusz 26 pass from Nathan Rourke (Nathanial Vakos kick), 11:22.
OHIO — Nathanial Vakos 37 field goal, 6:01. OHIO — Jacoby Jones 5 pass from Nathan Rourke (Nathanial Vakos kick), 1:38.
Second Quarter
BUFF — Alex McNulty 28 field goal, 12:05.
OHIO — Sam Wiglusz 5 pass from Nathan Rourke (Nathanial Vakos kick), 4:03.
BUFF — Justin Marshall 12 pass from Cole Snyder (Alex McNulty kick), :20.
Third Quarter
BUFF — Keyshawn Cobb 27 interception return (Alex McNulty kick), 14:00.
OHIO — Miles Cross 2 pass from Nathan Rourke (Nathanial Vakos kick), 10:05.
BUFF — Mike Washington 2 pass from Cole Snyder (Alex McNulty kick), 1:46.
Fourth Quarter
OHIO — Jake Neatherton 1 run (Nathanial Vakos kick), 13:16.
OHIO — Miles Cross 9 pass from Nathan Rourke (Nathanial Vakos kick),12:10.
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