With the end zone inches away and an improbable comeback within sight, Boo Jackson had a potential victory slip through his finger tips.
After marching Ohio down the field trailing 31-28, Jackson fumbled the ball as he approached the goal line.
The Chippewas recovered the ball in the end zone and the 31-28 margin would stand pat, with the Bobcats (0-3, 0-1 Mid-American Conference) forced to stomach their third straight, gut-wrenching loss.
I scrambled out and I got one guy on the juke and I thought I was free for the end zone
Jackson said. I knew someone was going to come and hit me and right as I was going to put the ball away I was diving forward and I got hit and it just popped out.
Ohio had another chance following a Central Michigan punt, but Jackson fumbled again on the Ohio 46, sealing its fate.
In his first Division I start, the junior-college transfer totaled 413 yards, including 365 through the air, the fourth-best passing performance in Ohio history. Jackson wanted nothing to do with his performance though, instead focusing on what could have been.
Records don't matter right now; the only record that matters is that we are 0-3 Jackson said. It's a bit of a disappointment on my behalf. Losing a fumble on the goal line is not acceptable.
The game was a wild affair, featuring 944 yards of total offense. Ohio jumped out to an early 14-0 on its first two drives thanks to the play of Jackson.
Jackson hooked up with wide receiver Taylor Price for 45 yards on a 3rd and 11 from 12 yard line to get the Bobcats into Central Michigan field position on the first drive. Running back Chris Garrett, who added 215 total yards in the game, punched the ball in from 12 yards away, the first rushing touchdown of his career.
On the second Ohio drive, Jackson found Garrett for a 45-yard touchdown on the first play of the Bobcats'-
Ohio coach Frank Solich said. To give it away was a little rough. As I see it
it's the third straight game that we've lost the turnover ratio.
You usually don't win ball games against good football teams when that is the case.
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Steve Gartner
