Ohio’s quest for three consecutive bowl victories came up short, as it fell to East Carolina 37-20 in the Beef ‘O’ Brady’s Bowl on Monday. The Bobcats hung with the Pirates for three quarters, but East Carolina used a fourth quarter surge to seize control of the game. Here are ten takeaways from Ohio’s season-ending loss:
1) Carrie’s pass interference call changed the game: Following a flag for pass interference on redshirt senior cornerback Travis Carrie, the Pirates went on to score 21 unanswered points. It was a huge momentum swing as East Carolina seized full control of the game.
2) Ohio opened its playbook: The Bobcats offense pulled out all the tricks with flea flickers, play action and rushes from wide receivers. The Bobcats’ offense was heavily criticized for being bland much of the season, but they certainly showed a great deal of flash against the Pirates. However, with all the razzle dazzle, the Bobcats had trouble generating a consistent attack, especially on the rushing end. Redshirt senior Beau Blankenship’s longest run of the day was just seven yards.
3) Third Down Conversions: Ohio’s offense was unable to move the ball on third down, as they were 8-of-22 on third down conversions. Defensively, East Carolina converted seven of its 16 attempts, which further fatigued Ohio’s defense.
4) Missed Opportunities: The Bobcats made its share of significant plays, but were inconsistent when it mattered most. A prime example was Nathan Carpenter’s dropped interception immediately after the Bobcats knotted the score at 14 apiece. After taking its first lead of the game, Ohio was unable to capitalize following an onside kick recovery, which could have changed the game’s course.
5) Tyler Tettleton concludes career: The redshirt senior quarterback is the owner of 27 school records, but exited with a less than stellar performance. Though he threw for more than 200 yards and a touchdown, he also tossed three costly interceptions, including a pair in the fourth quarter.
6) Vick, Patterson bring energy: Backup quarter back Derrius Vick and running back Daz Patterson where potent on offense whenever they touched the ball. Patterson finished the contest with 77 receiving yards and a touchdown, while was 3-for-3 passing with 100 yards and a touchdown to Foster in the second quarter, which tied the game.
7) Yazdani shines: Redshirt sophomore kicker Josiah Yazdani converted a pair of field goals to help the Bobcats’ cause. His first tied the game at 17 in the third quarter and his second put Ohio on top 20-17. He followed his important field goal with a perfectly executed onside kick with 13 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. However, he missed his first field goal attempt of the season late in the fourth quarter, which could have put Ohio ahead six points.
8) ECU was not billed as advertised: The Bobcats were a 14-point underdog entering the contest and East Carolina’s offensive numbers were certainly eye-popping. The Pirates’ junior quarterback Shane Carden only threw for one touchdown and Ohio hung close most of the contest, something that was not expected. The Pirates were also 0-for-2 on fourth downs and did not put the Bobcats away until the fourth quarter.
9) Frank Solich can lead a team in big games: After East Carolina jumped out to an early 14-0 lead, the Bobcats showed resiliency when they tied the score in the second quarter. There is something to be said about Solich and big games, especially bowl appearances. Similar like last year, Ohio ended the season on a downward slump and lost its last three games, but won the AdvoCare V100 Independence bowl. The Bobcats played with passion against the Pirates, a component that was lacking the majority of the season.
10) The seniors’ last hurrah: The most prolific senior class in school history exited stage left of Tropicana Field with a loss after winning two straight bowl games. The end of the season signals a new era of Ohio football without the Oklahoma trio of Tettleton, Blankenship and Foster.
mk277809@ohiou.edu
@Brandon_Kors
