Unknown file type.
Amid the bedlam on the field after Ohio’s Mid-American Conference East Division clinching-win over Akron Thursday night, Kalvin McRae emerged from a sea of white on top of two fans’ shoulders pumping his fists in celebration.
The scene was a role reversal of sorts for the junior tailback, who has put the rest of the Bobcats on his shoulders over the past six weeks in pursuit of their first conference championship since 1968.
For a school-record sixth consecutive time, McRae rushed for over 100 yards, helping the Bobcats’ control time of possession, especially in the second half, in the team’s 17-7 win over the Zips.
“It's obvious he has been the main cog in what we're doing offensively in terms of our running game,” Ohio coach Frank Solich said of the tailback, who carried the ball 31 times for 139 yards and a touchdown. “Runs that are generally three or four-yard runs, he gets six, seven or eight-yard runs and keeps drives alive.”
McRae’s touchdown early in the second quarter got the Bobcats started when he capped a 10-play, 69-yard drive with a 3-yard option run and a dive over the left end-zone pylon to give Ohio a 7-0 lead.
It was McRae who also put an end to the Zips’ hopes, pacing the Ohio offense during an 18-play, 73-yard drive that ate nearly 10 minutes of clock at the start of the second half. Although the drive fizzled out near the end, resulting in an 18-yard Matt Lasher field goal, the damage was done. The Zips were left with just a quarter and a half to mount a 17-point comeback.
“It was huge,” said McRae, who ran the ball 10 times for 36 yards and picked up three first-downs during the drive. “It was too bad we couldn’t get six, but it was just huge to get the defense some rest and get some momentum going.”
The Bobcats’ defense had to appreciate the rest following a first half in which they were on the field for 17:02 as Akron quarterback Luke Getsy tried to lead the Zips into the end zone but found no success. The MAC’s second-best passer threw for 116 yards in the half but a non-effective running game made the Zips one-dimensional.
Akron’s best chance at a score came on its first drive of the game when they methodically drove into Ohio territory. Ohio linebacker Tyler Russ put an end to the drive, however, picking off an errant Getsy pass for his second interception of the season.
“They were moving the ball real well. I was just in the right place at the right time,” Russ said. “Momentum-wise, I thought the game kind of shifted after that.”
Ohio’s defense came up with its biggest play of the game late in the second quarter thanks to a special teams’ miscue by the Zips. Attempting to punt, Akron long-snapper Jason Giachetti sent his snap through the legs of punter John Stec, who ended up in a footrace with Ohio defensive lineman Ernie Hodge. Hodge beat Stec to the ball but could not gain control of it, kicking it to the left into a tumbling Matt Muncy, who picked it up for the touchdown, giving the Bobcats a 14-0 lead.
The touchdown was the senior linebacker’s first of the season and the second of his career, but it was the last thing on his mind following the biggest win for the Bobcats in the last 38 years.
“Words can’t describe how this win feels. It hasn’t sunk in yet,” he said. “It’s definitely exciting.”
Muncy was quick to add that the Bobcats are nowhere near satisfied with what they have accomplished this season.
“We accomplished one thing but we want to win the MAC and whatever bowl game we get into.”
After its final regular season game at Miami next Friday, Ohio will take on MAC West Division winner Central Michigan (7-3, 6-0 MAC) in the MAC Championship game Nov. 30 at Ford Field in Detroit.
Although nothing has been officially announced, it is expected the Bobcats will play in the GMAC Bowl Jan. 7 in Mobile, Ala.
Reader Comments
Submit a comment to The Post