On Monday, it was announced that veteran receiver Jacoby Jones was out for the season with an injury. Come Homecoming, junior Miles Cross filled Jones’ role with 125 receiving yards and two touchdown receptions. Cross’ big game helped lead to a 42-17 Ohio victory.
“We know what Jacoby (Jones) brings to the room; he’s a very versatile guy,” Cross said. “Like coach always says, it’s next man up. When one guy goes down, somebody has to be ready.”
Cross’ big game was aided by a big game from Quarterback Kurtis Rourke. Ohio’s quarterback had one of his best games of the season, with 300 passing yards and three passing touchdowns while committing zero turnovers.
Of his three passing touchdowns, two were to Cross.
One of the game's biggest plays was a touchdown early on in the third quarter by none other than Cross, a deep ball in the back of the end zone for a 22-yard reception that was good for a touchdown. Cross tipped the pass to himself over the man in coverage, allowing the ball to fall into his outstretched grasp right before tumbling out of bounds.
The score from Cross made it a 28-10 game while also sucking the life out of the deflated Kent State defense.
“It was a good ball from Kurtis (Rourke),” Cross said. “He put it in a spot where the DB couldn’t get to it. We throw the ball over the top in practice, so he just trusts me to make a play on it.”
In the first quarter, Cross had dropped a pass where he had appeared to be wide open for a touchdown. Only a few plays later, Cross redeemed himself and the offense with another impressive grab and his first of two touchdowns on the day.
“You can’t catch every pass ... you want them to, but they don’t, but man, do they bounce back,” Ohio Head Coach Tim Albin said. “They didn’t let the previous play affect the next one. That’s a big thing for us. I’m really, really proud of Miles (Cross) and Sammy (Sam Wiglusz) bouncing back and making some unbelievable catches.”
With Jones out of the game, Ohio needed somebody to step up. For the Bobcats on Homecoming, Cross was their guy.
“I’m just so happy for him,” Albin said. “He’s just what you’re after. He’s got a quiet demeanor, but he plays large, he plays loud ... He’s the total package, he can block and we’re going to need him to continue to make plays like he did today with Jacoby missing.”
