By Roy J. Akers- www.skyviewsports.net
Detroit- Mich. — The Battle of Ohio pitting Ohio University (9-3) and defending MAC Champion Miami (Ohio) (8-4) at Ford Field pits teams with multiple accolades trying to win a premier bowl slot. Ohio University 2024 MAC Coach of the Year Tim Albin, has been at the helm of the Bobcats for four years and has three consecutive nine win seasons. Miami has placed seven all-MAC players on the first team with four of them coming on offense. Red Hawks coach Chuck Martin looks to defend the MAC title an take his team on to a premium bowl game to be announced on Sunday, Dec. 8th.
First Quarter
The Miami team methodically went down the field on the Ohio Bobcats and quarterback Brett Gabbert mixed the run and the pass and after 11 plays, Miami kicks the field goal and leads 3-0.
Ohio’s first stint with the football begins 1st and 10 on the the 35. A 17 yard gain pitch and catch on a sideline route gets the Bobcats rolling as QB Parker Navarro complete short right to Chas Hendricks. Another first down two plays later and Ohio is past midfield. Tyus Anthony III runs left end for 14 more. Three runs later and a broken play run by Navarro nets Ohio their fourth first down of the drive. With a F-10 on the Miami 15 and Tyus runs for consecutive runs and Ohio is on the Red Hawks four. A naked bootleg by Navarro on first down is an easy score. 11 plays 75 yards -5:37 Ohio 7- Miami 3. Key stat: Ohio has five first downs on the drive.
Miami runs twice for their first first down of their second drive. Brett Gabbert goes to the air for the next three plays. He completes one for four yards and they punt and Ohio mops up the last :43 of the quarter. Key stat: Ohio 55 rushing yards to Miami’s 24.
Second Quarter
With Ohio starting second and two to start the second quarter, Ohio’s Tyus catches a pass and runs up the gut to get the visitors rolling. Chase Hendricks hauls in a pass for eight yards. At midfield, Navarro on the keeper for a first down. Near midfield, Ohio on third and nine runs up the middle to Anthony III for 13 yards. Tyus, two plays later runs for another first down with a seven yard run. On second down, a 9 yard grab by Rodney Harris II results in a first down. Three plays later, with Ohio on a third and goal, a Red Hawks face masking penalty gives Ohio the ball at the two. Parker Navarro runs around right end for the score and its a two-score game. A monster Ohio drive is the result of 18 plays for 82 yards and takes 10:47. Ohio 14- Miami 3.
Miami’s third possession of the first half starts at the Red Hawks 28. A four wide receiver set results in a short gain to Andre Johnson. The drive results in a three and out and Miami punts.
Ohio earns a first down on third and one on a line buck by Tyus. With a first and ten from their own 49, Navarro goes for a run to move the chains. Two plays later, Navarro bungles the snap and feigns a run and finds an open Tyus III for a 15-yard grab at the Red Hawks 21. TD Alert. Navarro completes a 21-yard TD grab to TE Mason Williams. Scoring drive: 10 plays 75 yards 3:27. Ohio 21- Miami- 3.
Miami mops up the last minute of the first half with no yardage.
Key First Half Stat: First Downs: Ohio 17, Miami 4.
Third Quarter
Ohio receives the second half kickoff and goes to the air on first down. Parker Navarro to Rodney Harris II to move the chains. The next play, Navarro finds Owen Coleman for 23 yards. Ohio has a first and ten at the Miami 36. Three plays later, its Ohio with their fourth TD in as many drives. Navarro, a sideline route to the end zone is complete to Coleman Owen from 25 yards out. Ohio 28- Miami 3. Drive: 6 plays 75 yards 2:21
Miami takes a short kickoff return on their own 22. After a first down throw of ten yards, Gabbard goes to the shotgun and the ball is dropped. The Red Hawks are stone cold since an opening drive field goal to start the game. TOP: Ohio 21:39- 12:21.
Taking a punt, Ohio picks up the drive after the officials had to huddle more than once on a penalty and an Ohio punt return fumble. It ends up in a do over and once again, the Bobcats are on the march. They stick to the run for the bulk of their success. Tyus III runs three times for 13 yards and rushes when Navarro does not. A pair of holding calls on OHIO and a sack and Ohio attempts a 53-yard field goal and connects. Ohio 31-Miami 3. TOP: 11 plays 31 yards 6:40.
Miami starts their drive on their own 25 and goes three and out.
Ohio’s Tyus goes for 7 yards on first down going off right tackle. Navarro runs for 11 on the next play. A pair of Navarro passes are broken up. His third and ten pass to Coleman Owen was overthrown and its the first punt of the game for Tim Albin’s squad.
Miami is running the football trailing by 28 and Keyon Mozen runs left side for eight. A first down throw by Gabbard to Jack Coldiron for 14 gives the Red Hawks first down life. The quarter ends. Ohio 31- Miami 3. Key State: Ohio Rushing 159- Miami 29.
Fourth Quarter
Miami is picking up steam for the first time since the first quarter. On fourth and two on the Ohio 30 and nothing to lose, their four wide set from Gabbert to Javon Tracy is good for three yards and a Red Hawks first down. Gabbert goes to Tracy for nine more yards and a short run gets the Red Hawks a first down on the Ohio 15. True to form, an Ohio interception by Tank Pearson gives Ohio the football and Miami a terrible, no good, very bad day.
Can Ohio run out the clock with 12:22 to go? Here’s hoping.
Ohio takes over and looks to make it six wins in a row dating to October 26th against Buffalo. All wins were by at least 17 points. Tyus runs twice for another first down to open the drive. He is over 100 for the day. Tyus III with two more runs and a first down. Navarro finds Max Dotarte for 20. Dotarte did a great job on the fake to earn about 18 yards of YAC. Tyus III ends the drive with a 21 yard run for the TD. He has 27 carries for 151 yards and a TD. Ohio 38- Miami 3. OHIO drive 9 plays 80 yards 5:37.
Miami takes the kickoff and has a first down at their own 25 with 6:45 to go. Henry Hesson takes over at QB for the Red Hawks. A pair of Brunson runs earns a first down. Sticking to the ground, , Hesson and company stall out as they go for it on the Ohio 43. A tackle for loss by the Bobcats’ RJ Keuchler gets the TFL.and Ohio looks to mop up the final two minutes on the clock. With Ohio mopping up the clock and Miami not stopping it, the game ends Ohio 38- Miami 3.
Ohio Coach Tim Albin
“Offensively, a masterful game plan by our offensive staff,” said Tim Albin, the fourth-year head coach who came to Ohio as an assistant in 2005, in a TV interview. “We were on schedule all day. Time of possession; our defense was watching. … This has to be the best four quarters of football I’ve ever seen in my 36-year career. For sure, my 20 years here at Ohio.”
Prior to the introduction of the league title game, the Bobcats’ last MAC championship came in 1968.
Roy J. Akers is the publisher and the main reporter for www.skyviewsports.net
Vern Smith Leadership Award Winner: Harold Fannin Jr., TE, Bowling Green
Offensive Player of the Year: Harold Fannin Jr., TE, Bowling Green
Defensive Player of the Year: Shaun Dolac, LB, Buffalo
Special Teams Player of the Year: Malcolm Gillie, KR, Ball State
Freshman of the Year: Kadin Semonza, QB, Ball State
2024 All-MAC First Team Offense
Quarterback – Brett Gabbert, Miami
Offensive Lineman – Alex Wollschlaeger, Bowling Green
Offensive Lineman – Reid Holskey, Miami
Offensive Lineman – J.J. Lippe, Northern Illinois
Offensive Lineman – Addison West, Western Michigan
Offensive Lineman – Jacob Gideon, Western Michigan
Tight End – Harold Fannin Jr., Bowling Green
Wide Receiver – Javon Tracy, Miami
Wide Receiver – Coleman Owen, Ohio
Wide Receiver – Jerjuan Newton, Toledo
Wide Receiver – Junior Vandeross III, Toledo
Running Back – Terion Stewart, Bowling Green
Running Back – Jaden Nixon, Western Michigan
Placekicker – Dom Dzioban, Miami
2024 All-MAC First Team Defense
Down Lineman – CJ Nunnally, Akron
Down Lineman – Brian Ugwu, Miami
Down Lineman – Devonte O’Malley, Northern Illinois
Down Lineman – Bradley Weaver, Ohio
Linebacker – Joseph Sipp Jr., Bowling Green
Linebacker – Shaun Dolac, Buffalo
Linebacker – Red Murdock, Buffalo
Linebacker – Matt Salopek, Miami
Defensive Back – Jordan Oladokun, Bowling Green
Defensive Back – Raion Strader, Miami
Defensive Back – Nate Valcarcel, Northern Illinois
Defensive Back – Maxen Hook, Toledo
Punter – Avery Book, Akron
2024 All-MAC First Team Specialists
Kickoff Return Specialist – Malcolm Gillie, Ball State
Kickoff Return Specialist – Jacquez Stuart, Toledo
2024 All-MAC Second Team Offense
Quarterback – Parker Navarro, Ohio
Offensive Lineman – Jon Mucciolo, Ball State
Offensive Lineman – Brayden Swartout, Central Michigan
Offensive Lineman – John Champe, Northern Illinois
Offensive Lineman – Logan Zschernitz, Northern Illinois
Offensive Lineman – Parker Titsworth, Ohio
Offensive Lineman – Carson Heidecker, Ohio
Tight End – Tanner Koziol, Ball State
Wide Receiver – Adrian Norton, Akron
Wide Receiver – Oran Singleton, Eastern Michigan
Wide Receiver – Chrishon McCray, Kent State
Wide Receiver – Reggie Virgil, Miami
Running Back – Keyon Mozee, Miami
Running Back – Anthony Tyus III, Ohio
Placekicker – Jesus Gomez, Eastern Michigan
2024 All-MAC Second Team Defense
Down Lineman – Kobe Stewart, Buffalo
Down Lineman – Corey Suttle, Miami
Down Lineman – Roy Williams, Northern Illinois
Down Lineman – Darius Alexander, Toledo
Linebacker – Bryan McCoy, Akron
Linebacker – Jordan Kwiatkowski, Central Michigan
Linebacker – James Djonkam, Eastern Michigan
Linebacker – Ty Wise, Miami
Defensive Back – Donte Kent, Central Michigan
Defensive Back – DJ Walker, Ohio
Defensive Back – Avery Smith, Toledo
Defensive Back – Tate Hallock, Western Michigan
Punter – John Henderson, Bowling Green
