Ohio's chance for a MAC title takes a hit after a loss in Buffalo.
Just nine short days ago, Ohio had a fairly realistic shot at pursuing a Mid-American Conference title. It had shined in its non-conference schedule, and had started its conference games 2-0 without allowing a single touchdown to Akron and Miami.
Now, the Bobcats could be seriously wondering to themselves what they’ll be able to salvage from the remainder of the season.
Ohio followed up a 49-14 loss at home against Western Michigan with a 41-17 loss on the road at 3-4 Buffalo on Saturday.
The quality of the defense in the wake of a slew of injuries was the subject of much speculation throughout the past week, but it was the offense that was exposed on Saturday.
Redshirt senior quarterback Derrius Vick throwing a career-high three interceptions, two of which were returned for touchdowns, while the team rushed for just 54 yards on 34 carries.
It was the third time Buffalo has defeated Ohio in the pair’s last five meetings.
The Bobcats (5-3, 2-2 MAC) came into Buffalo with plenty of health-related question marks, particularly in the linebacker set. Ohio’s top four linebackers were all questionable or out entering the game, creating a situation dire enough for sophomore running back A.J. Ouellette to be asked to play on both sides of the ball, splitting time at middle linebacker with redshirt sophomore Chad Moore.
Even with three of those linebackers in action, however, the defense never quite got a fair shot at giving the Bobcats the best chance to win. That was robbed of them by two first half pick sixes thrown by Vick, a passer with a well-earned reputation for not turning over the ball, and entered the game with just three interceptions through Ohio’s first seven games.
From there, there was no undoing the damage caused early. Even as Ohio outgained Buffalo by nearly 50 yards and amassed three more first downs, the points off turnovers (17-0) were more than enough to make the final score a lopsided one.
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If this is the season’s low point for Ohio — and the Bobcats are surely hoping it is — it comes at a nice time, with an upcoming bye week presenting it with 10 days of rest before it heads to Bowling Green.
The final part of that last sentence could present a bigger issue, though. The Falcons (6-2), led by the nation’s single most prolific passer in Matt Johnson, are undefeated in four games of MAC play, and have outscored their last two opponents 107-10.
Even a well-rested, not-even-playing-that-bad-football Bobcat team could find itself on the ugly side of another lopsided score at Bowling Green, all but eliminating Ohio from MAC title contention once and for all, and putting it right back at square one with just three games left in the season and a shot at a bowl berth on the line.
That’s what the past two Saturdays have done to the Bobcats. Just nine short days ago, bowl contention wasn’t supposed to represent the best-case scenario for Ohio’s season.
Things are different now.
aw987712@ohio.edu
@_TonyWolfe_
