Tyler Tettleton and Donte Foster put on a clinic Saturday at Peden Stadium, as the Oklahoma duo hooked up for three touchdowns.
The Bobcats (6-2, 3-1 Mid-American Conference) defeated archrival Miami 41-16, as they had the look of revenge, while methodically picking apart Miami the entire contest to avenge last season’s loss the RedHawks (0-8, 0-4 MAC) in Oxford.
Ohio’s first drive featured key contributions that Ohio fans are used to seeing from a trio of redshirt seniors, Tyler Tettleton, Beau Blankenship and Donte Foster on an opening touchdown drive which took 2:34.
The Bobcats have scored six of the last seven times with a touchdown on their opening drive.
On that first drive, Tettleton surpassed 8,000 career yards, which makes him the first Bobcat to pass that mark.
Tettleton finished a game with more than 300 yards for the eighth-time in his career, as he tossed 306 yards with three touchdowns on the day.
Blankenship was also sharp the entire contest, as he rushed for 172 yards for his first game over the century mark of the season.
He partially credited the return of redshirt senior right guard Jon Lechner to the successful rushing attack.
“(The offensive line) did a great job up front, making some holes,” Blankenship said. “(We did) more off-tackle stuff, not so much up the middle, so it was a wider run game.”
The Bobcats struck early, as Blankenship carried the ball for 53 yards and Tettleton finished the opening drive finding Foster for a two-yard touchdown pass.
Foster finished the contest with eight receptions for 122 yards and three touchdowns.
With those catches, he became the all-time leader on Ohio’s receiving touchdown list, passing former Bobcat Terrance McCrae.
Foster said he was honored to break the record with former Bobcat wide receiver LaVon Brazill in attendance.
“It feels surreal,” Foster said. “But that’s definitely the best half of football I’ve ever played,” he said. “The record feels even better because Lavon (Brazill) was here on the sidelines.”
But Miami made things interesting in the second quarter after senior tight end Dustin White had his first touchdown reception of his career, catching a 22-yard pass from redshirt senior Austin Boucher to cut the score to 14-10.
After Ohio’s offense stalled on three consecutive drives, the Bobcats found life again when redshirt senior cornerback Travis Carrie intercepted Boucher.
On the following drive, Tettleton proceeded to find Foster again for a five-yard touchdown, making the score 20-10.
Coach Frank Solich said he was pleased with the victory, but there is still room for improvement, evidenced by Ohio’s inability to finish drives.
“At times, I think we played really well,” Solich said. “And then at times, we tailed off and we weren’t playing as well as we’re capable of, or as well as I’d like them to play — all and all, the effort was really good and I thought there were some special plays made.”
Ohio’s defense swarmed the RedHawks all day, as they recorded seven sacks.
With 23 seconds remaining in the second quarter, Ohio redshirt sophomore kicker Josiah Yazdani converted a 24-yard field goal, as the Bobcats headed into halftime leading 24-10 and the Bobcats closed out the half in emphatic fashion, sacking Boucher.
Ohio then tacked on seven points during the fourth quarter with a seven-yard touchdown run by redshirt senior running back Ryan Boykin.
Miami pounced on redshirt sophomore quarterback Derrius Vick’s fumbled snap later in the quarter, resulting in an eventual three-yard touchdown run by redshirt sophomore quarterback Drew Kummer.
Vick punched in a seven-yard touchdown run for the final score of the contest.
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