Eastern Michigan Athletics
Football Falls to Ohio in Homecoming Tilt
10/2/2010 4:55:00 PM | Football, E-Gridiron Group
Bobcats break 10-10 halftime tie with 20 second-half points
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YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — The Eastern Michigan University football team turned in a great first-half effort only to be out-scored 20-7 in the second half for a 30-17 loss to the Ohio University Bobcats here Saturday afternoon, Oct. 2, at Rynearson Stadium in a Mid-American Conference cross-divisional game. The loss spoiled EMU's Homecoming.
After fighting to a 10-10 halftime tie, the Eagles were not able to contain the Bobcats in the second half as Ohio scored three unanswered touchdowns. With the loss the Eagles fall to 0-5 overall and 0-3 in MAC action while Ohio improves to 2-3 overall and 1-1 in league play.
For the Eagles sophomore quarterback Alex Gillett (Green Springs, Ohio-Clyde) led the way, completing 15-of-30 passes for 208 yards and one touchdown pass. Dwayne Priest (Roanoke, Va.-Fleming-Fork Union Academy) led the Eagles' rushing attack with 117 yards on 19 rushes, his fourth career 100-yard rushing effort.
Ohio was paced by quarterback Boo Jackson who completed 15-of-24 passes for 218 yards and one touchdown. Jackson also led the Bobcats on the ground, gaining 60 yards on 13 rushes.
Three EMU receivers turned in outstanding efforts as well, as sophomore wide receiver Kinsman Thomas (Bennettsville, S.C.-Marlboro County) caught five passes for 57 yards with one touchdown, senior tight end Josh LeDuc (Canton, Mich.-Plymouth) followed with three receptions for 41 yards and sophomore tight end Garrett Hoskins (Grand Rapids, Mich.-Creston) had two grabs for 34 yards.
Ohio struck first in the game, driving 41 yards on the first offensive drive of the day, capping it off with a 42-yard field goal by Matt Weller at the 7:34 mark of the first quarter.
The Eagles rallied to go on top 7-3 when Kinsman Thomas caught a nine-yard touchdown pass from Gillett at the 2:47 mark of the first quarter. Newcomer Sean Graham (Commerce Township-Orchard Lake St. Mary's) added the PAT. That drive went 65 yards on eight plays. The drive was set up by a 32-yard run by senior tight end Ben Thayer (Kalamazoo, Mich.-Hackett Catholic Central) on a fake punt attempt.
Ohio would then fight back to take a 10-7 lead with 10:17 left in the second quarter with tailback Vince Davidson scoring on a two-yard burst through the middle followed by a Weller-PAT kick.
Graham made the first field goal attempt of his career pay off with a 25-yard boot with just 37 seconds left in the first half to tie the game at 10-all.
The Bobcats were first on the board in the second half, moving 67 yards on seven plays, culminating in a seven-yard touchdown run by Vince Davidson at the 9:34 mark of the third. Weller added the PAT boot for a 17-10 Ohio lead.
The visitors than struck quickly, when Jackson connected with Davidson on a 61-yard touchdown pass with Weller adding the PAT for a 24-10 Bobcat lead with 7:44 remaining.
Ohio increased its lead to 30-10 with 24 seconds remaining when Riley Dunlap scored on an 18-yard run. The PAT kick was no good.
The Eagles broke Ohio's streak of 20-straight points by rolling 91 yards on nine plays with Priest knifing in from the one-yard line for a touchdown with 12:30 left in the game. Graham added the PAT to cut Ohio's lead to 30-17.
EMU marched right back down the field to reach Ohio's 25-yard line, but a four-and-five play resulted in a quarterback sack, giving the Bobcats possession with 10:21 left in the game.
The Eagles had yet another chance to enter the red zone when sophomore defensive back Marcell Rose (Orlando, Fla.-Cypress Creek) intercepted a pass and the Eagles advanced to Ohio's 44-yard line, but another fourth down run was short, giving the ball back to the Bobcats with just over six minutes remaining.
EMU will now head to Nashville, Tenn. for a non-league battle with Vanderbilt University, Saturday, Oct. 9.
Team Stats

OHIO 3, EMU 0
OHIO - WELLER, Matt 42 yd field goal 13 plays, 41 yards, TOP 7:26

OHIO 3, EMU 7
EMU - THOMAS, Kinsman 9 yd pass from GILLETT, Alex (GRAHAM, Sean kick) 8 plays, 65 yards, TOP 4:42

OHIO 10, EMU 7
OHIO - DAVIDSON, Vince 2 yd run (WELLER, Matt kick), 13 plays, 77 yards, TOP 7:07

OHIO 10, EMU 10
EMU - GRAHAM, Sean 25 yd field goal 14 plays, 53 yards, TOP 7:15

OHIO 17, EMU 10
OHIO - DAVIDSON, Vince 7 yd run (WELLER, Matt kick), 7 plays, 67 yards, TOP 3:18

OHIO 24, EMU 10
OHIO - DAVIDSON, Vince 61 yd pass from JACKSON, Boo (WELLER, Matt kick) 1 plays, 61 yards, TOP 0:10

OHIO 30, EMU 10
OHIO - DUNLOP, Riley 18 yd run (WELLER, Matt kickfailed), 6 plays, 57 yards, TOP 2:40

OHIO 30, EMU 17
EMU - PRIEST, Dwayne 1 yd run (GRAHAM, Sean kick), 9 plays, 91 yards, TOP 2:49