Although Akron plays at InfoCision Stadium, Ohio might as well have renamed it Precision Stadium during its 43-3 win against the Zips on Saturday.
The Bobcats, which held the Zips to only a field goal, have not allowed their opposition to score a touchdown in consecutive games for the first time since 1999.
Despite moments of torrential downpour, the Bobcats (4-1, 1-0 Mid-American Conference) ultimately doomed the Zips, beginning with a statement on Akron’s first possession of the game, when Ohio forced a safety to take an early 2-0 lead.
Redshirt senior defensive end Ty Branz said one of Ohio’s defensive goals is to get a score, and the Bobcats did that, also limiting the Zips to 157 yards. Ohio also compiled eight sacks.
Ohio’s defense held Akron’s explosive junior running back Jawon Chisholm to 60 yards in the contest and rattled sophomore quarterback Kyle Pohl, who went 11-of-26 for 101 yards. Akron also had 12 penalties that totaled 135 yards, further setting back its offensive efforts.
“We all were flying around the ball, the whole defense, we were all out there doing real good things as a unit,” Branz said. “That’s just awesome to be a part of that with 11 guys out there that fly around and make tackles and make plays.”
Ohio’s offense wasn’t in sync to begin the game and failed to score during its first three drives, but Ohio coach Frank Solich said the Bobcats’ offense started to find its rhythm soon thereafter.
“The first part of that game was really frustrating, especially from the offensive side of it,” Solich said. “I think as the game went on we settled in and played much, much better and played the kind of football that we were capable of playing. We were not about to let weather take us out of the football game.”
The Bobcats racked up 362 yards of total offense, and redshirt senior quarterback Tyler Tettleton finished the game 14-of-21 for 171 yards and two touchdowns.
Tettleton also passed former Kent State quarterback Joshua Cribbs for 25th all-time on the MAC passing list.
“Rain, snow, sleet, whatever it is, we don’t care what we play in, we’ve just got to come out and execute and make adjustments to what we’re playing in,” Tettleton said. “I think we did a really good job of not letting that get to our heads, coming out executing and making plays.”
The Bobcats’ offensive onslaught began after an Akron field goal with 7:17 remaining in the first quarter, when Tettleton connected with redshirt senior wide receiver Donte Foster for a 13-yard touchdown pass, which gave Ohio a 9-3 lead.
Foster finished the day with four catches for 76 yards, and Tettleton’s touchdown pass to Foster placed him in third place on the program’s all-time touchdown receptions list.
The Bobcats led 30-3 at halftime after a 21-point second quarter.
Redshirt junior safety Thad Ingol, who had an interception and a fumble recovery Saturday, said the Bobcats made a statement by limiting Akron’s rushers to 1.4 yards per carry.
“I think it’s a big boost for us because Akron has a strong running game,” Ingol said. “They have a good running back in Chisholm, and I think our D-line stepped up big for us today. If we can keep playing like that, it will be a great season for us.”
mk277809@ohiou.edu
