Quarterback Parker Navarro laughed. Wide receiver Coleman Owen smiled and shook his head in disbelief. These were the only appropriate reactions upon hearing the total rushing yards that the Ohio defense gave up to Akron on Saturday.
Negative 23 ended up being the final number and one of many outrageous statistics from yet another standout performance from the Bobcats’ defensive unit. It was the first time since 2006 that Ohio held a team to negative rushing yards for the game.
“Our defense played outstanding," Ohio coach Tim Albin said. “I think they were (0-11) on third down, you know, basically zero yards rushing and one dimensional."
Akron was extremely one-dimensional, and it came into the game like that as well. The opening drive saw Akron kick a field goal after not calling a single designed run play. The Zips’ running backs finished the day with just eight combined carries while their quarterback, Ben Finley, threw the ball 38 times.
Even when throwing the ball, Akron found trouble getting first downs and moving the ball down the field, as Ohio’s secondary stepped up and made big plays. Two of those players were safeties DJ Walker and Austin Brawley, both of whom snagged interceptions from Finley.
The safety duo is clearly building some impressive and dynamic chemistry on the field together.
“Me and DJ manifested this together before the game,” Brawley said. “That's why you can see us jumping up in front of each other so excited. It just keeps building confidence.”
Walker was quick to add to Brawley’s statement.
“Right after I got mine, I told him, I said, it's your turn. It's your turn to get work,” Walker said. “And he went and did that, and I was just so happy for him.”
The safeties and secondary didn’t do it alone, however, as multiple players on the defensive line came through in huge spots. Arguably none bigger than when Finley was sacked in his own end zone by Marcel Walker-Burgess for a game-changing safety.
It takes a team effort to put up defensive numbers like 0-11 on third down and -23 yards rushing, something that Walker-Burgess is well aware of.
“The biggest thing is, we can't do that without (the secondary) doing their job,“ Walker-Burgess said. "So, you know, it goes hand in hand. We won't be able to go, get back there, get a third down stop, force a punt without them doing their job … just as much as we get a pat on the back, they get the pat too.”
The entire defense will certainly be getting the pat from the coaching staff after its dominant performance. All three levels showed up and showed out in an incredible effort holding Akron to just 10 total points and no points in the second half.
The defense was the catalyst to a big win for Ohio, starting Mid-American Conference play 1-0 with Saturday’s win over Akron.
“1-0 every week, that’s one, but we have plenty more to go,” Walker said.
Although the focus remains on the rest of the season, Albin and his team are happy to get a big win at home to start the MAC season.
“We certainly defended Frank Solich field, and our guys are happy,” Albin said.
