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Ohio quarterback Nathan Rourke (No. 12) runs the ball in a play against Kent State in the Bobcat's final October game held at Peden Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2019.

Football: Final thoughts after Ohio's 45-38 win over Kent State

All games on a 12-game schedule are the cliched “must win.” But that mantra held true ahead of the Bobcats’ contest against Kent State on Saturday, and they did just that in their 45-38 win.

Ohio (3-4, 2-1 Mid-American Conference) needed this win in order to hold some ground in the MAC standings. The Bobcats had heard all week about the shaky defense and how important the game was, and it knew the potential aftermath if they had lost.

The defense made plays when it needed to, including the game-defining play, and Nathan Rourke had another career day.

In note of Rourke’s four touchdowns Saturday, here are four final thoughts about the MAC East Division game.

Rourke is Ohio

How much more can you say about the senior quarterback that hasn’t already been said? He goes out and does more than what’s expected of him, and win or lose, it’s always on to the next game.

In his postgame press conference, coach Frank Solich gushed when he was asked about what it meant to have someone like Rourke at the quarterback position.

“I’m so proud of that man in terms of how he’s contributed to this program from day one,” he said.

Rourke had over 400 total yards of offense against Kent, including over 300 passing yards – a career first.

He did all of that despite missing his top two running backs, Julian Ross and O’Shaan Allison, for most of the game. Wide receivers Isiah Cox and Ty Walton had big days that carried the offense to its largest total yardage this season with 571 yards.

Hagan’s ball hawk abilities save the day

The redshirt senior safety has made an impact in each of the Bobcats’ games this season, even if it’s mainly been by just being there.

But in the moment where Ohio needed the defense to make a play, he came through.

Hagan’s acrobatic, one-handed pass deflection with just a little over five minutes left forced Kent to punt, and the Bobcats scored on their next drive, which gave them a two-possession lead.

The defense has mostly struggled to make those big plays thus far, but if it was going to start making them, that was the time.

Building blocks

It seems silly to say that with the mix of experience and inexperience that Ohio has, it can use a Week 8 game as a stepping stone.

But that’s exactly what this was.

It didn’t matter how it won. All it needed was a win. The Golden Flashes came into Saturday’s game at the top of the MAC East standings with a perfect 2-0 conference record. Ohio’s abysmal failure against Northern Illinois, however, didn’t appear to slow it down. The Bobcats brought a short-term memory, and that’s a good thing with three more division games left and games against two of the top opponents in the MAC West.

Farkas’ viral kick

With 13 seconds left in the first half, Ohio’s kickoff unit trudged onto the field following Rourke’s 3-yard touchdown run.

Kicker Michael Farkas did his usual routine walk back and held his arm up to signal he was ready.

He crow hopped to the ball and hit it with the side of his foot, and the line-drive bounced off the helmet of Kent wide receiver Isaac Vance and into the arms of Ohio wide receiver Camryn Snow.

The kick was intentional, and he’s done it three times in the last two seasons.


The kick went viral minutes later. ESPN, Deadspin, CBS Sports, Yahoo Sports and Barstool all tweeted out the clip of the improbable kick.

Ohio took two shots to the end zone but ended the half without converting on the miracle chance.

@matthewlparker5

mp109115@ohio.edu 

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