For two quarters, Miami looked as if it was the team fresh off a Mid-American Conference East Division title. But as the game wore deep into the second half, the true division champions would not be denied.
The Bobcats overcame a sluggish first half start and a late Miami rally to best the rival RedHawks, 21-14.
It was Ohio’s sixth-straight win in the battle of the bricks — its first six-game win streak since 1937 through 1942.
“Usually you don’t play well early on because seniors are pretty emotional and the young guys want to win for the seniors,” Ohio coach Frank Solich said. “Sometimes it’s just difficult to stay focused and stay on track. ”
Although Miami’s offensive attack was one-dimensional, Ohio struggled to slow down the RedHawks’ aerial assault.
Miami quarterback Zac Dysert completed 35 of 53 passing attempts for 372 yards and one touchdown. He was also the team’s leading rusher with 57 yards and a touchdown.
“We knew they were going to come out and try to air it out as much as they could,” Ohio lineman Jeff King said. “It’s frustrating because when they get a rhythm it’s hard to stop them.”
Dysert’s 2-yard touchdown scamper in the first quarter gave Miami the 7-0 lead at the half.
It was the first time Ohio had been shut out in the first half all season, and the first time since a 43-7 loss to Ohio State last season.
“We just came out real slow in the first half. We made some adjustments and put some points on the board,” Ohio quarterback Tyler Tettleton said. “We didn’t back down at all. We responded well and came out firing in the second half.”
Outgained in nearly every statistical category in the opening half, the Bobcats would respond after the break.
On Ohio’s second drive of the half, Tettleton methodically moved his offense down the field and scored on a 4-yard touchdown pass to Jordan Thompson.
Another 4-yard touchdown pass, this time to Donte Foster, gave Ohio the 14-7 lead on the opening drive of the fourth quarter.
Tettleton completed 18 of 26 passing attempts for 203 yards and three touchdowns. He was also Ohio’s leading rusher with 111 yards on 12 carries. It was the second-straight game Tettleton rushed for more than 100 yards.
“The last two teams we’ve played have been excellent up front,” Solich said. “It’s hard to just rush the ball in traditional ways. You’ve got to start involving your quarterback.”
A quick defensive stop gave the ball back to Ohio’s offense. On the first play of the drive, Tettleton rushed for 48 yards down to the Miami 2-yard line. Three plays later, Tettleton found Dunlop in the back of the end zone for his third 4-yard touchdown pass of the game to give his team the 21-7 lead.
Miami would pull to within a score on a 16-yard pass from Dysert to Nick Harwell and regained possession with 4:17 remaining in the game.
Dysert led the RedHawks all the way down to the Ohio 14.
But on the brink of the tying score, Dysert threw three-straight incomplete passes before being sacked on fourth down and turning the ball, and the game, over to Ohio.
Ohio’s bevy of blitzes on the final drive kept Dysert off balance.
“I was closing my eyes after the first two,” Solich said. “We utilized our speed down the stretch, and that helped us with the blitzes.”
The game meant nothing in the MAC East standings but was a must-win for 17 seniors on Ohio’s sideline.
“With it being a rivalry game, we knew we wanted to do it for these seniors and gets some momentum going into (the MAC Championship) game,” Tettleton said.
During the win, Tettleton became Ohio’s single-season completion leader, but after the game, all the focus was on the seniors.
“It feels pretty good,” King said. “I’ve never lost to Miami, and I didn’t plan on losing to them in my last game.
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