ATHENS, Ohio – The Ohio University football team suffered its first home loss of the 2012 season Wednesday night, falling 26-14 to Bowling Green State University. With the loss, the Bobcats fell to 8-2 overall and 4-2 in the Mid-American Conference.
Junior Beau Blankenship (Norman, Okla.) led the offensive attack for Ohio, gaining 97 yards on 18 carries, while classmate Tyler Tettleton (Norman, Okla.) completed 21-of-34 passes for 145 yards and became the all-time leader for career passing yards (5,475). Tettleton also scored one touchdown on the ground.
With 97 yards, Blankenship moved into the top-five in single season yardage (1,194). Bakari Bussey (West Chester, Ohio) led the Bobcats in receiving, catching six balls for 39 yards. Redshirt sophomore Chase Cochran (Lebanon, Ohio) was the recipient of Tettleton’s lone touchdown pass.
Senior defensive end Corey Hasting (Miamiville, Ohio), Gerald Moore (Mitchellville, Md.), and Carl Jones (Arlington, Texas) all had six tackles to lead the way for the Bobcats’ defensive unit, which held the Falcons to 288 yards of total offense. The Ohio secondary had a strong showing, holding BGSU quarterback Matt Schilz to 91 yards on 7-of-17 throwing.
Ohio received the game’s opening kickoff and immediately marched 67 yards down the field for the score as Tettleton snuck in the endzone on a five-yard quarterback keeper to put the Bobcats in front 7-0 early.
Just eight seconds into the second quarter, Bowling Green (7-3;5-1 MAC) got on board for the first time with a 15-yard touchdown run by Anthon Samuel. The run capped a four-play, 20-yard drive and tied the game at seven with 14:52 left in the first half.
After back-to-back empty drives by the Bobcats, Bowling Green took its first lead of the game with a little bit of trickery as Falcons’ QB Matt Schilz found Chris Gallon streaking down the sideline for a 55-yard touchdown reception to put Bowling Green ahead 14-7. BGSU tacked on a field goal and a safety to make in 19-7 going into halftime.
After the intermission, the Ohio defense stepped up with a big stop by forcing Bowling Green to punt on its first drive of the half. Ohio then took over at its own 5-yard line and put together an impressive scoring drive to get back in the game.
With the assistance of Blankenship, Ohio marched 95 yards down the field on a scoring drive which was capped by a touchdown reception by Cochran to bring Ohio within five at 19-14 with 6:54 left in the third quarter. The 95-yard touchdown drive by Ohio was the longest allowed by Bowling Green this season.
The Bobcats’ defense forced a three-and-out on the next BGSU possession, giving the offense a chance to take its first lead since the game’s opening possession. The drive stalled; however, and the Falcons took over on the Ohio 29-yard line with a chance to increase their lead. Seven plays and 3:14 later, Samuel found the paydirt for the second time to put BGSU ahead 26-14 with 14:50 remaining in the game.
Samuel led the offensive attack for BGSU with 181 yards on 29 carries, while Chris Gallon led the way with 55 receiving yards and one touchdown. Samuel’s 181 yards and 29 carries were both career highs.
The loss marks just the second midweek loss for Ohio since 2009. The Bobcats are now 9-2 in midweek games in the last four seasons. It was also Ohio’s first loss when wearing black jerseys. The Bobcats are now 4-1 in such games.
The Bobcats return to action Wednesday, Nov. 14 for a MAC matchup against Ball State in Muncie, Ind. Game time is slated for 8 p.m. (ET) and is scheduled to be broadcast on ESPNU.