Home sweet Homecoming
The Bobcats outlast VMI for first win
By Nick Piotrowicz, Staff Writer
September 28, 2008 | 4:37 p.m.
The homecoming crowd of almost 20,000 got its money’s worth Saturday at Peden Stadium. The Ohio Bobcats and Virginia Military Institute Keydets treated the home fans to almost 400 yards of total offense, 31 points and five scores--in the first quarter alone.
The Bobcats and Keydets matched one another punch-for-punch early, but Ohio proved to be too much for their FCS Subdivision foes in their 51-31 victory. After a field goal on VMI’s first drive, Ohio quarterback Boo Jackson found Taylor Price in single coverage for a 43-yard touchdown to put the Bobcats ahead, 7-3. That score, however, was only the tip of the iceberg of what was to come.
VMI took little time for a response. A two-play, 79-yard drive was capped off with a 36-yard connection between quarterback Tim Maypray and receiver Michael Rainy-Wiles on a play-action that left Rainy-Wiles wide open. Not fazed by their second three-point deficit, the Bobcats' next offensive play sprang running back Donte Harden 67 yards for their second touchdown in as many plays. Late in the first quarter, VMI looked to be in trouble after Maypray was knocked out of the game by a viscous hit from Ohio safety Mike Mitchell. Backup Kyle Hughes quickly removed all doubts, hitting Mario Scott for a 46-yard touchdown on the first snap after Maypray’s exit, putting VMI ahead 17-14. After an Ohio drive stalled in the red zone, kicker Barrett Way tied the score at 17 with a 23-yard field goal.
The Keydets’ best drive of the day also turned out to be their last lead of the day. They took a 24-17 lead over Ohio with a sustained 11-play, 76-yard drive that lead to a Howard Abegesah one-yard touchdown run. The momentum seemed to be shifting the Keydets’ way with a fourth down stand inside their 20 halfway through the second quarter, when on fourth and six, Boo Jackson’s run and dive left the Bobcats inches short for a turnover on downs. Trying to bury the Bobcats, VMI lost the momentum as quickly as they had gained it with a botched double-pass that led to a nine-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown by Bobcat linebacker Michael Brown.
“On their end of it, they were moving the ball, they were putting points on the board, and they wanted to have a play that was going to set us back,” coach Frank Solich said. “[Trick] plays, sometimes, can set the other team back, or they can set you back. It was a big play for us.”
Energized, the Ohio defense held VMI to a punt, only the second stop in six tries. Boo Jackson took full advantage of his defense’s big play, ending a 65-yard drive with a 22-yard touchdown pass to LaVon Brazill to give Ohio a 31-24 lead at the half. The game proved to be a tale of two halves for the Ohio defense.
After giving up 24 points on 300 yards of total offense in the first half, the 'Cats bared their teeth and held VMI to seven points on 136 yards after halftime.
“After the first half, we came back out ready to play, and we started catching on there at the end of the half,” linebacker Noah Keller said. “Once we came out for the second half we were able to get things clicking. We made a couple halftime adjustments that really helped us out.”
Paced by an outstanding performance from Boo Jackson (16-23, 287 yards, two touchdowns, no interceptions and 47 yards rushing) and excellent line play, the Bobcats controlled the clock for most of the third quarter. “Our offensive line definitely stepped it up this week,” Jackson said. “There were a couple plays out there where no one was rushing. No one was coming around the edges, no one was coming up the middle; I could sit in the pocket if I wanted to and wait for someone to get open and dump it off for a big gain.”
Tim Maypay returned to the game for VMI in the third and busted loose on a 51-yard touchdown run to bring the Keydets within three. On the ensuing kickoff, running back and returner L.J. Flintall went 97 yards for a huge Ohio touchdown, a score from which VMI would never recover.
“We needed to have everyone step up and make the special teams work for us today," Solich said. "It’s going to be critical for us in games coming up."
Ohio picked up another field goal, and backup quarterback Brandon Jones replaced Jackson, hitting Steve Goulet for yet another touchdown and giving Ohio a 51-31 shootout victory.
The green and white begin their first of three consecutive road games next Saturday at Western Michigan. “You’re always looking to get on the winning track, and it took us longer that what we had hoped to get that done, but we are on it,” Solich said. “Our players should feel good about what they accomplished today.”
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