Ohio (6-3, 4-1 Mid-American Conference) opened up the midweek MAC slate with a dominant win over a struggling Kent State (0-9, 0-5 MAC) by a blank score.
The Bobcats came off of their mini-bye week and put on an absolute clinic against the Golden Flashes, putting together an impressive game in all four quarters and in all three phases of the game.
“You want to be playing your best ball in November,” Ohio head coach Tim Albin said. “I certainly know that we got a long way to go, but I know we're damn sure excited about getting in front of the fans at our first MACtion (game) at home.”
The season debut of midweek games for Ohio started with a bit of a surprise on the opposing sideline as walk-on true freshman quarterback Ruel Tomlinson came off the sidelines for Kent State to start at quarterback, the first start of his young career.
It was an interesting choice to throw out Tomlinson for his first start against a stout Ohio defense, and the Bobcats made that point early in the first quarter, forcing three straight three-and-outs from the Golden Flashes offense.
“John (Hauser) did a good job again, mixing up the pressure,” Albin said. “In the first half, we were doing a lot of twisting (upfront).”
Ohio capitalized on the impressive defense and marched down the field to get on the board first, thanks to a 42-yard field goal from Gianni Spetic.
On Ohio’s next drive, they would ride the legs of star running back Anthony Tyus, who came into the game questionable to play but looked incredible early on the game, scoring the game's first touchdown on a 19-yard run to put Ohio up by 10.
“Being out here with these guys, it's incredible,” Tyus said. “But being out here today felt great. Defense put up the goose egg, the office put up points today. So it was a great win.”
The incredible defensive performance from the Bobcats wouldn’t slow down, as Adonis Williams Jr. got his hands on another Tomlinson pass before the end of the first quarter, deflecting onto the facemask of a Kent State receiver.
The ball rocketed into the air and into the hands of Ohio cornerback Roman Parodie, who made a good return to set up the offense with great field position.
“We called it Cover Three. I was in the right place at the right time, running to the ball,” Parodie said. “It was in the air forever so if I didn't catch that one, I don't deserve to be on the field. It just came right to me.”
Ohio’s offense was able to turn the turnover into points with another field goal from Spetic, and after yet another stop, Parker Navarro and the offense got the ball back, putting together a great touchdown drive that ended with a Navarro speed option, and the quarterback getting the six points for Ohio.
After the touchdown, the score sat at 20-0, the same score that Ohio went into halftime with.
It wouldn’t take long for the fireworks to start after the halftime break, as Ohio return man Eamonn Dennis went untouched for a 96-yard kickoff return touchdown on the opening kick of the half. The Michigan transfer showed off his blistering speed on his way to the endzone.
“He's got tremendous speed, breakaway speed,” Albin said. “It was really the first time we were able to show it. He was blocked well, but he saw the opening, hit the jets, and outran everybody to the end zone.”
That wasn’t the only special teams touchdown Ohio would score in the third quarter; however, as a Kaci Seegars sack set up Kent State’s punter in a bad spot, punting the ball to an awaiting Coleman Owen, who had plenty of space.
Like the Dennis return, Ohio’s punt unit blocked it perfectly, and Owen turned on the jets on his way to the endzone.
“Coach Smith, our punt return guy, he told us this is the one. We're gonna bring this one back,” Owen said. “All the guys were juiced in the huddle…we were all just hyping each other up, telling each other this is going to be the one, because we've been talking about it for weeks, and finally it happened.”
That touchdown, followed by some more incredible Ohio defense and a late Bryce Butler touchdown from a throw from Nick Poulos, allowed the Bobcats to leave Kent with a 41-0 shutout victory, the first shutout since 2022 for Ohio.
Ohio will return home next Wednesday night to face Eastern Michigan in another important conference matchup.
