Ohio fought, fumbled and fell to 0-3
By Britton Dove, Staff Writer
September 13, 2008 | 7:09 p.m.
Ohio coach Frank Solich had never seen a game like the one last Saturday against Central Michigan Chippewas, at least to his recollection.
The Bobcats took control of this thrilling big-play match-up early by stopping the Chippewas offense from scoring on their first three series. On offense, Boo Jackson had his first career Division I start, a start in which he threw a 44-yard pass to running back Taylor Price that set up the 12-yard touchdown run by Garrett, a 45-yard touchdown pass to Chris Garrett in his second series to advance 14-0 and a 77-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter to Garrett to make the game 31-28 in favor of the Chippewas.
Unfortunately, that would be the last explosive play for the Bobcats as they dropped to 0-3 on the season losing 31-28.
“I feel badly for our players because I liked the way they prepared for all three games and how they battled through all three games,” Solich said. “It’s in our control. We need to find a way to get it done at the end.”
Ohio opponents have outscored the Bobcats by only 16 total points in the first three games, but according to Jackson it doesn’t matter how many points you lose by--he hates losing. And what an awful way to lose for Jackson who completed 17 of 31 passes, threw for 365 yards (fourth all-time at Ohio) and had single-game record of 413 total offensive yards.
Although Ohio was trailing in the fourth quarter by 3 points, a key sack by Chris Meyers (the first sack on Central Michigan’s quarterback Dan LeFevour in the game who finished 28-42 for 361 yards) forced the Chippewas to punt. Ohio, led by Jackson at quarterback, advanced the ball inside the ten yard-line with less than four minutes to play. On third-and-goal Jackson scrambled to the right side and fumbled the football into the Chippewas end zone for a touchback, ultimately ending the Bobcats hope.
“I wanted to limit my mistakes, but I ended having two costly fumbles,” Jackson said. “Records don’t matter right now… but to be down 31-28 and to fumble on the goal line is unacceptable.”
Jackson also fumbled with one minute left in the game after the Bobcats forced the Chippewas to punt by stopping them from advancing after recovering the football in the end zone.
This was the first time that Ohio had lost three straight games to start the season and the first time they had lost a home opener since 2002.
Although Solich would rather have won his first three nail-biters of the season he has seen some optimism in this team for future games.
“I was encouraged by a lot of things that happened in the fourth quarter,” Solich said. “I thought our team had a better fourth quarter than what they have had in the previous two games and that is something that we tried to move forward with… We gave ourselves chances to win, but we just didn’t capitalize on them.”
Ohio faces Northwestern next Saturday in a non-conference game and their second Big Ten opponent of the year.
Game Notes:
Boo Jackson finished 17-31, 3 TD, 365 yards and 2 fumbles.
Chris Garrett rushed for 51 yards, 1 TD and had 124 receiving yards for 2 TDs including a 45 and a 77-yard reception.
Central Michigan's LeFevour finished with 361 yards (28-42). He did not throw a touchdown pass for the first time since Sept. 29, 2007 versus Northern Illinois.