ATHENS, Ohio -After suffering its only loss of the season last weekend against Miami (Ohio), Ohio University rediscovered its comfort zone Thursday night at Peden Stadium and defeated Eastern Michigan, 45-14.
The Bobcats scored 28 unanswered points to end the game and finished with 559 yards of total offense, including 304 yards on the ground.
Ohio (8-1, 4-1 Mid-American Conference), which plays its final home game of the regular season next Wednesday night against Bowling Green, moved into a tie with the Falcons for second place in the MAC's East Division. Eastern Michigan falls to 1-8 and 0-5 in MAC West Division.
Eastern Michigan put up a valiant fight for nearly two full quarters. On the game's opening drive, the Eagles drove down to the Bobcat 22 but placekicker Dylan Mulder missed a 39-yard field goal attempt when the ball hit the left upright.
Ohio's offense then set into motion and on their first three plays from scrimmage, the Bobcats gained 68 yards behind a pair of completions from quarterback Tyler Tettleton to Derek Roback (32 yards) and Donte Foster (13 yards), and a 23-yard run from Beau Blankenship.
Two plays later, Blankenship punched it in the end zone from the 2 and placekicker Matt Weller converted the first of six extra point attempts. Only 5 minutes into the game, Ohio led 7-0.
Fact Box
OHIO 45, E. MICHIGAN 14
E. Michigan7700-14
Ohio717714-45
First Quarter
Ohio-Blankenship 2 run (Weller kick), 9:30.
EMU-Brumfield 17 pass from Benz (Mulder kick), 4:04.
Second Quarter
Ohio-FG Weller 25, 11:41.
Ohio-Cochran 7 pass from Tettleton (Weller kick), 8:08.
EMU-Brumfield 3 run (Mulder kick), 2:08.
Ohio-D.Foster 19 pass from Tettleton (Weller kick), :11.
Third Quarter
Ohio-D.Foster 79 pass from Tettleton (Weller kick), 2:13.
Fourth Quarter
Ohio-Boykin 13 run (Weller kick), 5:40.
Ohio-Patterson 29 run (Weller kick), 1:33.
A-16,789.
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EMUOhio
First downs1825
Rushes-yards52-18242-304
Passing138255
Comp-Att-Int9-21-119-28-1
Return Yards366
Punts-Avg.7-42.93-35.7
Fumbles-Lost0-01-1
Penalties-Yards8-854-33
Time of Possession33:0027:00
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INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING-E. Michigan, Hill 25-121, Brumfield 15-39, Benz 10-22,
Sherrer 1-0, Team 1-0. Ohio, Boykin 18-128, Blankenship 11-72,
Patterson 2-37, Vick 3-32, Tettleton 7-32, Hammonds 1-3.
PASSING-E. Michigan, Benz 9-21-1-138. Ohio, Tettleton 19-27-1-255,
Team 0-1-0-0.
RECEIVING-E. Michigan, Gillett 3-42, Russell 2-26, Brumfield 2-23,
Do.Scott 1-33, Hoskins 1-14. Ohio, D.Foster 7-164, Futrell 4-17,
Blankenship 3-12, Roback 1-32, L.Smith 1-14, Boykin 1-8, Cochran 1-7,
Bussey 1-1.
Ohio's second offensive series resulted in a turnover when Eastern Michigan recovered a fumble at the Bobcat 28. The Eagles took advantage and tied the game at 7 when quarterback Tyler Benz connected with Ryan Brumfield for a 17-yard touchdown pass with 4:04 remaining in the first quarter.
On the ensuing possession, Ohio chewed seven-plus minutes off the clock after covering 64 yards on 18 plays. The Bobcats converted four times on third down to keep the drive alive before settling for Weller's 25-yard field goal with 11:41 left before halftime.
After a three-and-out by Eastern Michigan, Ohio needed just five plays to cover 61 yards for its second touchdown. Tettleton's 7-yard TD pass to Chase Cochran was set up by Ryan Boykin's 57-yard run. Boykin finished with a game-high 128 yards on 18 carries.
At the 2:08 mark of the second quarter, Eastern Michigan trimmed the deficit to 17-14 when Brumfield scored from 3 yards out.
The Eagles' last drive of the first half resulted in a three-and-out and Ohio took over at its own 35 with 55 seconds showing. Under the direction of Tettleton, who completed all but one of eight pass attempts, the Bobcats were able to make its way into the red zone and increase the advantage to 24-14 when Foster hauled in a 19-yard reception with 11 ticks left on the clock.
Foster finished with a career-high 164 yards receiving and tied a career best with seven catches.
Eastern Michigan had several scoring threats to open the second half.
On their first series, the Eagles nearly reched the red zone, but a holding call followed one play later by Neal Huynh's quarterback sack for an 8-yard loss forced them to punt despite holding onto the ball for nearly nine minutes.
Moments later, Tettleton and Foster hooked up again - this time for a 79-yard touchdown pass at the 2:13 mark of the third quarter which put the Bobcats in front 31-14.
The Eagles' last push across midfield resulted in an interception by Ohio's Keith Moore at his own 7 in the early stages of the fourth quarter.
In the final six minutes, Ohio iced the win with a 13-yard TD run from Boykin and a 29-yard TD run from Daz'mond Patterson.
With 255 yards through the air, Tettleton moved into second place on the school's all-time career passing yards list with 5,330 in his career. He also passed former Bobcats' quarterback Anthony Thornton for second all-time in career completions.
