KENT — The Ohio Bobcats were unable hold on to a late 4th quarter lead as they fell to the Kent State Golden Flashes in overtime, 31-24 on Saturday.
Ohio scored the go-ahead touchdown with 3:54 remaining in the game on a 71-yard touchdown pass Nathan Rourke to Sam Wiglusz.
However, the Golden Flashes would answer on a 2-yard touchdown run by quarterback Colin Schlee to tie the game up at 24 with just 1:44 remaining in the game.
The redshirt junior quarterback finished the game 25-for-39 for 322 yards through the air and two touchdown passes. Sam Wiglusz recorded 116 yards on six receptions to go along with his score.
Sieh Bangura lead the Bobcat rushing attack with 99 yards and one touchdown on 18 carries.
The Flashes struck early, putting up the first seven points with 11:30 remaining in the first quarter. A six-yard pass to redshirt freshman running back Nolan McCormick (Mason, Ohio) with 11:47 remaining in the half followed by a successful kick tied the game, 7-7.
Kent State (2-3, 1-0 MAC) would get a chance to win regulation as kicker Andrew Glass lined up to try a 47-yard field goal with two seconds on the clock. But defensive tackle Kai Caesar would block the kick, sending the game into overtime.
The Flashes would score on their overtime drive on a Marquez Cooper 1-yard run to take a 31-24 lead.
Ohio (2-3, 0-1 MAC) would drive to the Kent 6 on consecutive gains, a 6-yard run by Bangura and a 13-yard pitch-and-catch from Rourke to Bangura. However Kent would hold the Bobcats out of the end zone on three straight incompletions to end the game for the win.
Freshman kicker Nathanial Vakos collegiate record remains perfect, going 1-for-1 on field goals and 3-for-3 on PATs.
Ohio took a 10-7 lead when Vakos kicked a 28-yard field goal with 3:46 remaining in the second quarter. Kent State evened the score in the third with a field goal of their own. With 47 seconds left in the third quarter, Bangura completed a three-play drive with a 50-yard rushing touchdown, putting the Bobcats ahead 17-10.
Ohio is in action next week as they host the Akron Zips for their homecoming game on Saturday, Oct. 8 at Frank Solich Field at Peden Stadium.
Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. on ESPN3.
Ohio 0 10 7 7 0 = 24
Kent State 7 0 3 14 7 = 31
First Quarter
KSU - Marquez Cooper 3 run (Andrew Glass kick), 11:30
Second Quarter
OHI - Nolan McCormick 6 pass from Kurtis Rourke (Nathanial Vakos kick), 11:47
OHI - Nathanial Vakos 28 field goal , 3:46
Third Quarter
KSU - Andrew Glass 50 field goal, 9:51
OHI - Sieh Bangura 50 run (Nathanial Vakos kick), :47
Fourth Quarter
KSU - Dante Cephas 29 pass from Collin Schlee (Andrew Glass kick) 4:11
OHI - Sam Wiglusz 71 pass from Kurtis Rourke (Nathanial Vakos kick) 3:54
KSU - Collin Schlee 2 run (Andrew Glass kick), 1:44
Overtime
KSU - Marquez Cooper 1 run (Andrew Glass kick), 00:00
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