The rain poured down throughout the night in Athens, but that did not stop Ohio (7-4 overall, 5-2 Mid-American Conference) from taking care of business against UMass (0-11 overall, 0-7 MAC). Poor weather typically results in teams depending on the running game, and the Bobcats executed that to perfection. They ran 56 of 64 plays on the ground and averaged over six yards per carry throughout the game.
The star of the night was redshirt senior running back Sieh Bangura. The Bowie, Maryland, product has definitely left his mark at Ohio and at Peden Stadium. Despite leaving for Minnesota during the 2024 season, Bangura returned to Athens this season like he never left, entering Tuesday's game with 926 yards and 11 rushing touchdowns.
Bangura and the Bobcats would have to wait through the first of two weather delays before taking the field against UMass. Bangura was quiet on the first drive, but still averaged over three yards on six carries. He really burst to life on drive number two, trusting his blocks and exploding through the defensive line for two runs of nine or more yards.
“I just feel really great running downhill,” Bangura said. “The (offensive) line, as Parker (Navarro) said, I feel really comfortable, I can really put my trust in them. I can take my time and make my reads with that (offensive) line (because) they always block people up.”
The game began to slow down again as the rain picked up. This called for another delay while Ohio was driving down the field. Bangura took advantage right as the teams hit the field again, flashing through the UMass defensive line for his first score of the night. The offensive unit came to life behind this score and began to pull away due to this jolt from Bangura.
The offense continued to explode behind the run game, and Bangura led the way all night with a career-high of 196 yards on over seven yards per carry, as well as another rushing score in the third quarter to help Ohio pull away. The physical running style of Bangura set the tone for the night as he capitalized on his carries.
“There weren't a lot of negative rushes, which is a real reflection on them being targeted correctly and getting movement,” Ohio head coach Brian Smith said. “I think Sieh (Bangura) is playing some really good football right now. I think he's seeing things well, and he's playing very physically.
Unfortunately for Bangura and the other senior athletes in college this year, the end is right around the corner, but he has certainly made the best of every opportunity this year. He has run for over 100 yards six times and for multiple touchdowns four times, including two three-score games. The talent has always been there, but his mentality and support behind him have really been the driving factor to his success this year.
“Glory to God and all the supporters, and all my family at home, everybody that just kept pushing me,” Bangura said. “It was some crazy times, but being able to get through and keep talking to God and keep talking to my mom, my number one supporter, just being able to keep getting out on the field and just keep pushing every day, it means a lot.”
Bangura finished his last game on Frank Solich Field by leaving his mark and adding to the record books here at Ohio. His 196 yards on the ground were a career high. Throughout the game, he joined two illustrious lists. First, he became the fifth Bobcat to surpass 1,000 yards in a season twice, as well as eclipsing over 3,000 career rushing yards. These accolades were important to Bangura, who got to see his five years of hard work pay off at home.
“We put in a lot of work,” Bangura said. “My guys in front of me put in a lot of work. I put in a lot of work with this whole team. So to do this here back in Ohio, it feels great in front of the best fans, if not in the MAC, in the whole nation.”
