|
 ATHENS, OH -- Athough the Ohio Bobcats were able to gut out a 17-10 victory against Kent State Saturday at Peden Stadium, their first victory over the Flashes since 2008, came at a huge cost.
The already snake-bitten Bobcats saw more key players go down with injuries that may have an effect in the coming weeks.
Defensive lineman Neal Huynh and cornerback Omar Leftwich will both likely be out for the season, according to head coach Frank Solich. Adding to medical woes, cornerback Xavier Huges and quarterback Tyler Tettleton also suffered less severe injuries during the contest. Even with the losses, the Bobcats were able to pull out a victory in their MAC opener.
“We’ve got some good depth here with the DBs,” linebacker Nate Carpenter said. “Everyone stepped up, and they did their job.”
As the two teams struggled to find a rhythm in the first quarter, Kent State appeared to gain momentum early when Luke Batton blocked a Matt Weller field goal attempt on the opening drive. Their flame was soon extinguished , however, as the ensuing Flashes drive ended with an interception by linebacker Nate Carpenter. The 5-9, 184-pound freshman continued his stellar 2011 season by making 10 tackles and one sack, in addition to the interception.
“As a defense we wanted to come out and get this win,” Carpenter said.
Another special teams gaffe late in the first quarter, this one a punt blocked by Anthony Meray, put Kent in control at the Ohio 23. That threat ended on the very next play when a botched halfback pass play ended up in the hands of safety Gerald Moore
Ohio finally opened the scoring with a 43-yard Weller field goal with 11:45 remaining in the first.
Kent got yet another break midway through the second frame when Tyler Tettleton fumbled the ball on the Ohio 25, and it was recovered by Dana Brown. The Flashes finally broke through with a one-yard Spencer Keith run to put Kent up, 7-3.
Ohio answered with a 10 play, 58-yard drive that was capped by Tettleton finding LaVon Brazill in the back of the end zone for a four-yard TD pass, giving the Bobcats a 10-7 lead at half.
The defensive struggle continued into the second half. Ohio seemed to put the game away with a 13-play, 56-yard drive scoring drive. Tettleton completed a screen pass to Ryan Boykin, who ran it seven yards to the end zone to make it 17-7 with 2:15 remaining in the third.
Boykin put in a good effort while filling in for the injured Donte Harden, who was a last minute scratch.
"Boykin is one of those guys that is always getting yards on a play,” Solich said. “One-on-one, he's a tremendous back to bring down."
“Nobody on Kent’s team cares if Donte goes down,” Boykin said. “I’m happy I’m doing an alright job filling in for him.”
Kent cut the deficit to seven when Freddy Cortez made a 32-yard field goal with 5:42 remaining in the game.
Ohio was able to hold on, however, led by the speedy Phil Bates, who took over at quarterback after Tettleton’s leg injury forced him out of the contest.
Although the Bobcats were not able to light up the scoreboard, they still had a fair day offensively, gaining 391 yards.
“It was a tough physical football game. That seems to be that it's always the case when these two teams meet up," Solich said.
With the amount of injuries that have accumulated, Ohio limps into its game with Buffalo next week.
“I know these guys will do everything they can in terms of getting treatment and (do) whatever it takes for them to get healthy,” Solich said. “We’ll take a good team to Buffalo.”
Kent falls to 1-4 and will be looking for its first victory against an FBS opponent when the Flashes travel to Northern Illinois Saturday (3:30 p.m. ET).
|
