This is not the senior season Jameson Hartke expected.
Hartke pictured finishing his career with a trip to Detroit ' the site of the Mid-American Conference championship game ' or possibly even a bowl game, but being part of Ohio's worst start since 2003 never entered his mind.
But that's exactly where the decorated defensive end finds himself two-thirds of the way through the season.
I'm not good at dealing with losses
said Hartke, who has 15.5 career sacks, third on the school's all-time list. We've had a lot of things go against us. We haven't really had many big breaks.
Part of the Bobcats' (2-6, 1-3 MAC) problem has been an inability to close out games.
Last week, quarterback Boo Jackson fumbled a hand-off to Chris Garrett with 4:43 to play. Temple turned it into a game-winning touchdown drive in Ohio's 14-10 loss.
It was the fourth time that Ohio failed to win or tie a game late because of a costly turnover.
The Bobcats are turning the ball over an average of 2.6 times per game, the highest average in coach Frank Solich's stint at Ohio. They are ranked 12th in the conference in turnover margin (minus five), behind only Miami.
Ohio has been outscored 75-48 in the fourth quarter.
I think it's really that killer instinct and drive to finish games in the fourth quarter wide receiver Taylor Price said. I think it's a few inexperienced players playing and some players playing different positions and handling the ball.
Despite all of that Hartke and the Bobcats still have a chance to finish their season with a trip to their second MAC title game in three years.
Ohio needs to win its final four games and hope Temple loses one of its final three games.
We just have to have a short memory, Price said. There is still a chance for us to play in a MAC championship game and there are still games to be won.
Ohio will start a three-game home stand tonight against Buffalo.
The Bulls (3-4
1-2 MAC) surprised many MAC teams
including Ohio
when they finished second in the MAC East division last season.
The Bobcats were stunned with a 31-10 defeat in Buffalo last season.
I think we underestimated them last year, Hartke said. Normally, my first few years here, Buffalo has been a team that you can beat year in and year out without playing your best game.
They proved us wrong last year. That program is really coming out.
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26404,2008-10-28 00:00:00,MAC Notebook: Central Michigan holds off Toledo in 4th,",Toledo's bid for a second upset in three games came up just short as the offense sputtered in the fourth quarter against Central Michigan in a 24-23 loss.
Toledo (2-6
1-3 Mid-American Conference) led the game 23-17 heading into the fourth quarter after a 35-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Aaron Opelt to wide receiver Nick Moore. Opelt completed 16-of-26 passes for 216 yards and a touchdown. -
returning to action after missing two games
then led the Chippewas (6-2
5-0 MAC) down the field with both his arm and his feet as CMU ground out a 15-play
68-yard drive capped off by a one-yard rushing touchdown from running back Ontario Sneed.
We were able to get some key third down conversions on that drive, CMU coach Butch Jones said. Our kids didn't panic and that's an attribute to them.
Toledo failed to cross the midfield on either of its next two drives
