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Bobcats fans can share a smile after Ohio's 35-17 win over Temple. The victory gives Ohio a share of the MAC East title and a berth against Central Michigan in next week's MAC title game.

Just how much - and how effectively - Scott will be able to participate in that contest remains to be seen. Even as Ohio fans were beginning to savor the impending victory, Scott was injured late in Friday’s showdown. Although he could walk and move around, he was using crutches on the sideline prior to the game’s conclusion.

Scott’s mobility was a major factor in the win over a Temple squad that was hungry for a school-record 10th win, as well as the MAC Championship berth.

Scott led Ohio in rushing with 69 yards. Two of his six carries went for touchdowns, including a 43-yard fourth quarter burst down the right sideline for the Bobcats final touchdown. Matt Weller later added a 38-yard field goal for the final score of the day.

Scott’s legs – and experience – also helped him in the passing game, which played a key part in the Bobcats victory. Temple came into the game ranked No. 1 in the MAC against the run, but was eighth of 13 teams in pass defense.

Scott was able to move around and buy time on a number of occasions. He completed 17-of-21 passes (81 percent) for 324 yards with no interceptions and three touchdowns. He also had three passing TDs in a critical 38-31 win against Northern Illinois the previous week.

“I thought Theo did a great job,” Ohio head coach Frank Solich said. “His decision-making has really improved in these last two ball games, and that was huge in what we were able to get accomplished offensively today.”

“It’s felt good the last couple games,” Scott said. “We’ve been going out there and have been executing and staying focused.”

The three TD tosses gave Scott, who took over starting QB duties in Week 3, 19 for the season. That tied Cleve Bryant for the school record. The five TDs in a game – three passing and two running – ties the mark for second in school history.

”I’m really not concerned with anything else. My main concern is winning right now and trying to win the MAC championship,” Scott said. “Everything else will fall into place.”

“He made plays with his feet and throwing the ball. When he scrambled, he had his eyes down the field and found receivers,” Temple coach Al Golden said. “He executed better than we did. That’s the difference in the game.”

Temple, which ranked No. 2 in rushing among MAC teams with a 209.4 ypg. average, played the entire contest without Bernard Pierce. The 6-0, 212-pound freshman leads the MAC in rushing with an average of 118.9 ypg., and he had 1,308 total yards before injuring his shoulder last week against Kent State.

Matt Brown, a 5-5, 167-pound freshman, stepped into the role Friday and rushed 25 times for 172 yards (6.9 ypc) and one touchdown. The Owls gained 378 yards on the ground and picked up another 123 through the air. Chester Stewart completed 7-of-22 for 92 yards with one interception, while Vaughn Charlton completed 4-of-12 for 31 yards and threw two late interceptions.

Ohio drew first blood, going 89 yards in eight plays to score on its first possession. Scott hit Steven Goulet for

Theo Scott had a hand in five TDs Friday. File photo by Mike Smith

a nine-yard score and Weller added the PAT.

Temple got on the board two plays into the second quarter when Brandon McManus hit a 24-yard field goal.

Ohio responded three plays into its next drive when Scott found LaVon Brazill down the middle, and he raced into the end zone to complete a 65-yard play.

Temple narrowed it to 13-3 with 3:03 left before intermission when Kee-ayre Griffin rushed 17 yards for a TD. The ruin capped a 12-play, 74 yard drive.

As it did to start the first half, Ohio scored on its first possession in the second half. Scott completed a 32-yard pass to Terrence McCrae and later hit Goulet on a 15-yard pass during a six-play, 73-yard drive. Scott covered the final 17 yards himself. Weller’s PAT gave the hosts a 20-10 lead.

After a Temple punt, Ohio went to work again. Scott’s 50-yard pass completion to Taylor Price along the right sideline gave the Bobcats a first down at the Temple four-yard line. Scott then hit McCrae with a pass in the right corner for the score. Weller’s PAT attempt was blocked.  It was just the second PAT miss of the year for Weller, who converted 27-of-28 entering the game.

Down 26-20, the Owls needed a touchdown. They got it on their next possession by driving 66 yards in nine plays – all runs – for a TD. Matt Brown, who had seven of the carries, went in from nine yards out to complete the drive. McManus’ kick made it a 26-17 game.

Weller, who entered the game No. 1 among MAC kickers in field goal percentage (78.3 percent with a long of 52 yards), missed a 30-yard try two plays into the fourth quarter. He also had another extra point miss when Temple blocked the PAT kick after Ohio scored on its next possession.

Starting at their own 26-yard line, the Bobcats used  five plays to go 74 yards. Scott’s 43-yard run down the right sideline finished the drive and all-but-finished the ground-oriented Owls.

Chester Stewart’s pass on the first play after the kickoff was intercepted by Ohio’s Conor Reilly at the 17-yard line and returned four yards. After losing a yard over two plays, Scott looked for a receiver on third down, but was sacked and got up limping. Weller kicked a 38-yard field goal on the next play.

Temple lost the ball on downs on its next drive, and Tyler Tettleton replaced Scott at the Bobcats’ offensive helm.

Temple had two more possessions, but both ended with Ohio interceptions of Vaughn Charlton passes.

“They’re a good running team, but if you get a couple stops here and there and the offense keeps putting points on the board, they’re going to be forced to pass,” Ohio linebacker Noah Keller said. “That’s where we started to get interceptions at the end.”

“We didn’t play well enough to win the game,” Golden said. “Give all the credit to Ohio, who played well and executed. They made explosive plays, and we did not. We didn’t convert in the red zone, and they did.”

“They came in on nine-game winning streak,” Solich said. “You knew that they were very talented. You look at them on film, and you know that they’re very physical. That’s a tough combination to beat – a talented and physical football team.

“We’ve been able to make big plays throughout the course of the year, and though they were running the football … well…, they weren’t able to get a lot of points on the board,” Solich continued. “We were coming back with quick plays and long strikes.”