Turnovers have plagued the Bobcats all season, and on Saturday it was no different.
With 6:54 to play in the game and the Bobcats trailing 16-8 deep in Northwestern territory, wide receiver LaVon Brazill fumbled and the Wildcats' John Gill recovered.
It was Ohio's fourth turnover of the game, and the second time they lost the ball near the red zone.
Earlier in the game, with Ohio trailing 6-0, Jackson threw an interception in the back of the end zone.
It was frustrating
Jackson said. We get a couple of drives going and have a turnover and/or blocked field goal in the red zone.
We had a little bit of something going in the second half, but again turnovers were the key to the game.
For the first time this season Ohio won the turnover ratio ' Northwestern committed five ' but unlike the Wildcats
the Bobcats were unable to do anything with their takeaways.
The Bobcats mustered just four yards on the ground and a total of 232 yards of offense in the game.
Jackson was forced to escape the pocket throughout the game
as Northwestern's defense was able to get consistent pressure on the junior quarterback.
Our offensive line didn't hold up, coach Frank Solich said. We tried to get the running game going, but it became clear that wasn't going to happen.
Another problem for Ohio has been the Bobcats' special teams play. And
like the turnovers
it came back to bite them once again on Saturday.
This time it was the field goal unit that was causing the problems.
Kicker Barrett Way missed a 42-yard field goal in the first quarter and had two others blocked.
Cornerback Idris Lawrence appeared to get the momentum back for the Bobcats when he forced Northwestern punt returner Eric Peterman to fumble
and Ohio cornerback Thad Turner recovered.
But the Bobcats were unable to convert as Way's 38-yard field goal attempt was blocked.
Ohio would not threaten again until Brazill's fumble.
It was a huge part of the game, Solich said. We had some chances for our field goal unit to put some points on the board and didn't.
The lack of offense put pressure on the Bobcat defense to perform
and for most of the game
they did.
After giving up 200 yards of total offense in the first half
Ohio gave up just 80 yards in the second half. They consistently got pressure on Northwestern quarterback C.J. Bacher. He threw four interceptions against the Bobcats after throwing just one in the previous three games.
But it wasn't enough.
We were putting our defense on the field a lot early in the game, Solich said. I thought the defense played exceptionally well.
The Bobcats are 0-4 for the first time since 2002
