ATHENS — The Ohio Bobcats capped off homecoming weekend with a complete performance as they defeated the Akron Zips 55-34 on Saturday at Peden Stadium/Frank Solich Field.
Kurtis Rourke passed for three touchdowns, Sieh Bangura ran for three and added another receiving and Ohio beat Akron 55-34 on Saturday.
Rourke continued to show off his efficient passing, completing 24-of-27 passes for 427 yards and tallying 3 touchdowns on the day.
Bobcat wide receiver Sam Wiglusz grabbed two touchdowns scores, along with a career-high 144 yards on seven catches including a 75-yarder for the game’s first points.
On Ohio's second drive, running back Nolan McCormick extended the Bobcat lead to 14-0, ending a 12-play, 63-yard drive with an eight-yard rushing touchdown.
Akron would finally put points on the board as Noah Perez would hit a 25-yard field goal with 13:26 in the second quarter to cut the Ohio lead to 11.
But the Bobcats would only extend their lead on their next possession as running back Sieh Bangura would score on a 12-yard run to cap off a 7-play, 89-yard drive to give Ohio a 21-3 advantage.
Akron would cut into the lead with two straight scores as Perez would convert a 42-yard field goal and quarterback DJ Irons would improvise as he scrambled into the endzone from 18-yards to pull the Zips within 8.
The Bobcats (3-3, 1-1 Mid-American Conference) answered with a score of their own as Bangura scored again, this time from one-yard out, on the final play of the first half to put the score at 28-13 heading into the locker room.
Bangura finished the day with 16 carries for 90 yards and three rushing touchdowns. He also added a receiving score.
Akron (1-5, 0-2) would take the opening drive of the second half and grind out a 10-play, 65-yard scoring drive that ended on a four-yard plunge by Clyde Price III. Perez's extra point made the score 28-20 early in the third period.
But that would be the closest the Zips would get the rest of the afternoon as the Ohio would take full control of the game with 20-straight points to lead 48-20 heading into the fourth period.
The scoring onslaught would be highlighted by a defensive score, as Jack McCrory returned a fumble 13-yards to give the Bobcat defense its second score of the season.
Bobcat wide receiver Jacoby Jones added a personal-best 121 yards receiving on seven receptions in Ohio's win.
Quarterback DJ Irons completed 43 of 54 passes for a personal-best 418 yards but no scores plus a late interception for the Zips .
Akron wide receivers Shocky Jacques-Louis had a career-high 152 yards receiving and Daniel George 108, also a career best, on 11 receptions each.
Akron 0 13 7 14 = 34
Ohio 14 14 20 7 = 55
First Quarter
OHIO–Wiglusz 75 pass from Rourke (Vakos kick), 14:48.
OHIO–McCormick 8 run (Vakos kick), 3:31.
Second Quarter
AKR–FG Perez 25, 13:26.
OHIO–Bangura 12 run (Vakos kick), 9:29.
AKR–FG Perez 42, 6:28.
AKR–Irons 18 run (Perez kick), :45.
OHIO–Bangura 1 run (Vakos kick), :00.
Third Quarter
AKR–Price 4 run (Perez kick), 11:38.
OHIO–Wiglusz 30 pass from Rourke (Vakos kick), 9:18.
OHIO–Bangura 25 pass from Rourke (kick failed), 5:13.
OHIO–McCrory 13 fumble return (Vakos kick), 4:54.
Fourth Quarter
AKR–Price 3 run (Perez kick), 14:54.
AKR–Price 1 run (Perez kick), 5:24.
OHIO–Bangura 6 run (Vakos kick), 3:08.
A–23,108.
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AKR OHIO
First downs 33 25
Total Net Yards 478 561
Rushes-yards 26-60 31-134
Passing 418 427
Punt Returns 1–6 0-0
Kickoff Returns 6-129 6-87
Interceptions Ret. 0-0 1-0
Comp-Att-Int 43-54-1 24-27-0
Sacked-Yards Lost 2-16 1-8
Punts 1-21.0 1-37.0
Fumbles-Lost 1-1 0-0
Penalties-Yards 3-22 6-47
Time of Possession 32:24 27:36
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INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING–Akron, Price 14-39, Irons 8-23, Norrils 3-7, (Team) 1-(minus 9). Ohio, Bangura 16-90, Rourke 4-32, McCormick 8-21, (Team) 3-(minus 9).
PASSING–Akron, Irons 43-54-1-418. Ohio, Rourke 24-27-0-427.
RECEIVING–Akron, Jacques-Louis 11-152, George 11-108, A.Adams 7-56, Brank 6-69, Price 6-21, Banks 2-12. Ohio, Wiglusz 7-144, Ja.Jones 7-121, M.Cross 3-47, Kacmarek 2-40, Bostic 2-25, Bangura 1-25, McCormick 1-19, Foster 1-6.
MISSED FIELD GOALS_None.
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