Ohio wrapped up its storybook season Friday afternoon with a 30-27 Cure Bowl Victory against Conference-USA champion Jacksonville State. Bobcat quarterback Parker Navarro led the way with an MVP-worthy performance in the Bowl Game that included four total touchdowns.
The Bowl game was Ohio coach Brian Smith’s first game and first win in his new position as head coach after Tim Albin left the team following the MAC Championship Game.
The accolades for the historic 2024 season seem almost endless. The Cure Bowl victory capped off the program’s first-ever 11-win season and also its sixth straight bowl game victory.
“This is a fun team to watch play,” Smith said. “They play the right way, and you can see how much they enjoy playing with each other. It’s been a fun team to coach.”
Parker Navarro crosses the goal line for a rushing touchdown
Navarro started his big day early with three rushing touchdowns in the first quarter alone. The graduate student quarterback ended the season with 18 rushing touchdowns, the second-best mark in the program's history.
“You couldn’t be more excited about a kid's success,” Smith said about Navarro. “He works so hard, he cares so much and he has such a strong faith.”
Ohio’s first touchdown was set up by a great rushing attack all-around. Running back Anthony Tyus had a big run on third and long that went for 26 yards, setting up the Ohio offense inside the red zone.
Tyus and Navarro finished with more than 100 yards rushing each while combining for all four of Ohio’s touchdowns.
One of the game's best plays came via Navarro's connection to Tyus in the passing game. Facing heavy pressure in the pocket, Navarro rolled left and shoveled a pass 11 yards into the end zone for a score.
“Parker Navarro is the most athletic quarterback I’ve ever played with,” Tyus said.
While the offense played at its best, the defense had an equally impressive impact on the game. Facing two 1,000-yard rushers in Jacksonville State quarterback Tyler Huff and running back Tre Stewart, the Ohio defense held its opponent to less than 10 total yards on the ground in the first half.
“Whichever of those defensive linemen are in there, those four guys come to play every day,” Ohio linebacker Blake Leake said. “I would hate being the offensive line on the other team.”
With the Gamecock’s driving in the second half, Leake was responsible for a momentum-shifting interception that all but ended Jacksonville State’s hopes for a historic comeback. Playing with a cast on his right arm, Leake was able to use the arm he did have to pick off Huff inside Ohio territory.
“I’ve dropped several balls at practice that should have been caught so I didn’t have the highest of hopes in catching an interception once I had that club on,” Leake said. “It just all worked out perfectly.”
Ohio bent but didn’t break in the second half. The Gamecock offense figured it out at halftime and outscored the Bobcats 20-3 in the second half. However, it wasn’t enough to overcome Ohio’s 20-point halftime lead.
Anthony Tyus III (2) hurdles Fred Perry (6)
Upon conclusion of the season, the 2024 Ohio team will go down as one of the greatest in program history. Along with the 11 wins, MAC Championship and Bowl victory, Ohio has had a slew of individual records broken.
With a few catches in the Cure Bowl, receiver Coleman Owen broke the program record for receiving yards in a season with 1,216. With another incredible day on the ground, Navarro surpassed 1,000 rushing yards in the season, a mark that Tyus had reached a few weeks ago.
The trio of Tyus, Owen and Navarro is undoubtedly one of the best in Ohio history.
“(This team) is special,” Navarro said. “I think for the people of Athens and the Bobcat community, to do something that hasn’t been done here means a ton.”
