Ohio won its 2015 MAC opener 14-12 on Saturday afternoon in Akron.
OHIO 14 (4-1, 1-0 MAC)
AKRON 12 (2-3, 0-1 MAC)
There were no inspirational quotes necessary on the final drive.
As linebacker Quentin Poling put it, stopping Akron on its last offensive possession was essentially the only option.
Jumping out to a 14-3 lead, Ohio’s offense went stale, and Akron clawed back with mildly dull offensive possessions ending with field goals.
Forcing a three-and-out with 1:09 remaining, the Ohio’s defense shut down Akron and sealed a 14-12 win on a rainy Saturday afternoon in Akron.
“It was good to see them play the way they did right at the very end on the last drive to win the ball game for us,” Ohio coach Frank Solich said.
Battling injuries all week, Saturday afternoon offered minimal hints of attractive play. Instead, it was enough to give the Bobcats a win in their Mid-American Conference opener.
“Anytime you beat a team in the MAC it’s a good win,” quarterback Derrius Vick said. “Now we’re at the top of the MAC East and that’s all you can ask for. You lose your first MAC game and you’re climbing the rest of the season.”
Vick, who entered the game already injured, got out to an efficient start for Ohio in the first half, going 12-17 for 127 yards and a touchdown pass to tight end Keith Heitzman.
But Vick faltered in the third quarter, when Ohio’s offensive blocking saturated and Vick struggled to maneuver the pocket. Vick only had 11 passing yards in the third quarter.
And that’s when Akron slowly fought back into the contest.
Third-string quarterback Greg Windham was brought in as a backup for Vick, but he threw an interception at the goal line.
“Our offence is predicated on a dual-threat quarterback being able to carry the ball,” Vick said. “And right now, I’m not carrying the ball as well. It doesn’t help our running game at all.”
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Even Solich acknowledged after the game that Vick told him he wouldn’t be able to run the ball individually as the game wore on.
So it was the defense, the one unit repeatedly called on by Ohio to close out a win, which completed its objective.
“After the first half, it was our game to win the entire time,” linebacker Poling said. “The offense put us in a position that we were up, so it was really only the defense’s game to lose.”
Poling finished the game with 11 tackles, including a sack and two for Akron losses, as well as an interception.
“Guys have to step up, have to make plays,” he said. “And that’s what we did today.”
@Charliehatch_
