With time ticking down in the third quarter and the Bobcats clinging to a two-point lead, punt returner Mark Parson fumbled away a chance at history.
Parson sat waiting at the Buckeye 25-yard line with 1:20 to play in the third quarter and the Bobcats leading the No.3-ranked Buckeyes 14-12. Ohio was attempting to knock off its first ranked opponent in 14 tries and be the first in-state school to defeat Ohio State since 1921.
Instead, Parson let the A.J. Trapasso punt slip through his arms. The fumble was recovered by the Buckeyes’ Shaun Lane as it teetered on the out-of-bounds line.
The Buckeyes turned the fumble into a touchdown drive that was capped off by a 2-yard run by running back Brandon Saine to put the Buckeyes ahead 19-14.
It was the first time the Bobcats had trailed since the 6:56 mark in the second quarter.
“I was pressing too hard to make a play,” Parson said. “I forgot about my technique and then let the ball slip through. I should have had my elbows together.”
It was the Bobcats’ third of five turnovers in the game.
Quarterback Boo Jackson threw three interceptions after starter Theo Scott went down in the second quarter with a left shoulder injury.
Scott also threw an interception before being carted off Ohio’s sideline with his left arm in a sling.
“You don’t win football games with that, period,” coach Frank Solich said. “To play a top-ranked program like Ohio State and have a (5-to-1 turnover ratio), you’re fortunate to be in the game.”
Another special teams gaff ended any chance the Bobcats had at a comeback.
With 5:57 to play, Ohio punter Matt Schulte sent a booming 48-yard kick to Ohio State’s Ray Small, who then returned it 69 yards for a touchdown to put the Buckeyes up for good at 26-14.
“Special teams, my fumble and the punt return really hurt us,” Parson said. “I think that’s what did us in ultimately. We’re just going to have to get it back together and get ready to play.”
Before the special teams mistakes, the Bobcats had silenced the 105,002 fans in attendance at Ohio Stadium.
Ohio (0-2) led at the half and for more than 22 minutes throughout the game.
The Bobcat defense held the Buckeyes (2-0) to just 272 yards of total offense and gave the Bobcats a big surge of momentum when defensive end Curtis Meyers took the ball out of quarterback Todd Boeckman’s legs in the end zone for a touchdown and a 14-6 lead. They held the Buckeye’s passing game to 110 yards of offense.
“We were really excited,” defensive end Kris Luchsinger said. “But we knew we had to keep our composure.”
The Bobcats have now lost their opening two games by a total of 13 points.
“We’re not very happy about it,” Solich said. “We made plays, we just didn’t make enough plays. We had some opportunities.
“If we could have played a little better game in terms of taking care of the ball it would have been helpful to us.”
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