Papi White had three first half touchdowns Saturday — two receiving and one rushing on a trick play — to propel Ohio to a 49-14 rout of Bowling Green on Homecoming at Peden Stadium.
White finished the game with 92 yards receiving on just two receptions, both touchdowns. His one rush came on the trick play. What seemed to be a speed option turned out to be a White reverse, which gave the Bobcats an early lead. White’s only hiccup was a muffed punt near midfield in the second half, but he scored on every other touch he had.
Quarterback Nathan Rourke has favored White all season. White has 632 receiving yards and six touchdown catches through seven games this season for the Bobcats (4-3, 2-1 Mid-American Conference). The game against the Falcons (1-7, 0-4 MAC) was no exception in White’s production.
White and Rourke both saw their Homecoming game cut short. With the Bobcats in a commanding position, the duo was able to relax for much of the fourth quarter, as were many of the Ohio starters.
The Bobcats were up 42-14 after three quarters, and Rourke’s day was done. The signal caller finished 8-of-12 for 193 yards passing and four touchdowns. He added 101 yards and a touchdown on the ground.
The Bobcats didn’t just find success through the air, though. They totaled 392 yards on the ground, using a joint effort from Rourke, A.J. Ouellette, Maleek Irons and a host of others.
As an offense, Ohio had 599 total yards, and it averaged 9.5 yards per play.
Ohio led 35-14 at the half, and it was seemingly over after that.
In the first half, Ohio and Bowling Green traded touchdowns early. The Falcons scored on their first possession, and took just one minute and six seconds to score. The Bobcats answered, with a methodical 78-yard drive that took 12 plays to complete. They ran the ball on every play of the drive, and it ended with White’s touchdown run.
From there, Rourke and White took control. Rourke found White on a 16-yard touchdown pass on the next Ohio possession to take the lead. After the Falcons tied it up again, the Bobcats put the clamps on Bowling Green’s offense.
Bowling Green’s final three possessions of the first half were: interception by Ohio linebacker Evan Croutch, punt, and fumble, which was recovered by Will Evans. Those sloppy Falcon possessions — and impressive Ohio defensive stops — allowed the Bobcats’ offense to create separation, and White was again a contributor.
White’s third touchdown was a 76-yard catch and run from Rourke, the longest touchdown catch of White’s career.
The Bobcats will have a quick turnaround in the upcoming week. They’ll host Ball State on Thursday at 7 p.m. at Peden Stadium.
