Rourke sparks Ohio to 27-26 comeback win over Kent State
Ohio seals comeback win with INT
Ohio DB Javon Hagan goes airborne for the game-clinching interception on Kent State's final drive.
KENT, Ohio -- Nathan Rourke passed for 284 yards and a touchdown and scored on an 8-yard run with 1:28 remaining to rally Ohio to a 27-26 victory over Kent State in its Mid-American Conference opener on Saturday.
Kent State used two first-quarter TD passes from Woody Barrett -- including a 75-yarder to Isaiah McKoy -- and three field goals by Matthew Trickett to take a 23-14 lead into the final quarter.
The Bobcats (3-2) used a 5-yard TD run by A.J. Ouellette to pull within 23-21 with 12:45 left. Trickett added his fourth field goal to push the Golden Flashes lead to 26-21 with 5:12 remaining. But Rourke directed a nine-play, 81-yard drive, ending with his TD run to give Ohio a 27-26 lead.
After Kent State (1-5, 0-2) stopped Ohio on a two-point conversion run, the Golden Flashes saw their bid for a comeback fall short when Javon Hagan picked off Barrett with 1:15 to go.
Justin Rankin carried 16 times for 123 yards for the Golden Flashes. Barrett passed for 271 yards and McKoy had eight catches for 118 yards.
Game Information
2023 Mid-American Conference Standings
Team | CONF | OVR |
---|---|---|
Miami (OH) | 7-1 | 11-3 |
Ohio | 6-2 | 10-3 |
Bowling Green | 5-3 | 7-6 |
Buffalo | 3-5 | 3-9 |
Akron | 1-7 | 2-10 |
Kent State | 0-8 | 1-11 |
Team | CONF | OVR |
---|---|---|
Toledo | 8-0 | 11-3 |
Northern Illinois | 5-3 | 7-6 |
Eastern Michigan | 4-4 | 6-7 |
Western Michigan | 3-5 | 4-8 |
Ball State | 3-5 | 4-8 |
Central Michigan | 3-5 | 5-7 |