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GAS |
OHIO |
Reserves Hunt, Navarro lead Ohio to 41-21 victory over Georgia Southern in Myrtle Beach Bowl
CONWAY, S.C. (AP) Rickey Hunt woke up edgy and nervous Saturday, having no idea he would soon have one of the best performances in Ohio football history.
Hunt, a freshman, ran for four touchdowns and caught a fifth as Ohio overcame a host of transfer portal losses to win its fifth-straight bowl game, beating Georgia Southern 41-21 at the Myrtle Beach Bowl.
“I did not see this coming at all," said Hunt, pressed into service when the Bobcats top two running backs in Sieh Bangura and O'Shaan Allison entered the portal after combining for 1,263 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Hunt's five touchdowns were the best single-game showing ever for the Bobcats. He finished with 115 yards and had scoring runs of 2, 6, 40 and 9 yards. Hunt also had an 18-yard TD catch off a jump pass from fill-in quarterback Parker Navarro.
“The last two weeks, it was shaky,” Hunt said. “We lost some big players.”
Along with Bangura and Allison, Ohio played without starting quarterback Kurtis Rourke, who threw for 2,207 yards and 11 touchdowns, but also went to the portal and committed to Indiana earlier this week.
The Bobcats (10-3) forced five turnovers, four off Eagles quarterback Davis Brin, to win 10 games in consecutive years for the first time in program history.
Navarro made his first career start after four seasons as a backup at UCF and Ohio.
“He played phenomenal,” Hunt said of his quarterback, who passed for 120 yards and ran for 71.
Ohio's defense made it all stand up. They held Georgia Southern (6-7) to 35 yards in the first half. Brin, who won this game's MVP in 2021 in leading Tulsa to a 30-17 victory, threw an interception on the game's fourth play to safety Jeremiah Wood.
Things didn't get much better after that with a pick by safety Adonis Williams Jr. before losing the ball on a fumble when Brin was sacked from behind by Wood.
“I'm not going to lie, that may have been one of the best defensive games we've played in my time here,” said Wood, whose been with Ohio the past five seasons.
Ohio also sacked Brin five times.
Georgia Southern found some offensive rhythm in the second half and cut its deficit to 34-21 after Brin threw scoring passes of 65 yards to receiver Derwin Burgess Jr. and 15 yards to tight end Jjay Mcafee. But the Eagles could get no closer.
Brin finished 32 of 42 for 350 yards to break the record he set with Tulsa (294) here two years ago.
Georgia Southern receiver Khaleb Hood had seven catches for 101 this season, the fifth time in Sun Belt Conference history a player has reached the century mark.
“I feel like we needed to play better early in this football game,” Eagles coach Clay Helton said. “You look at the turnovers early, that really got us behind the eight ball.”
THE TAKEAWAY
Georgia Southern: The Eagles have put up identical 6-7 seasons in Helton's first two years. They'll need to cut down on the mistakes that caused them to finish with five straight losses after starting 6-2.
Ohio: Hunt and Navarro gave Ohio's offense an intriguing taste of what next year could bring. The expanded College Football Playoff means more opportunity for Group of Five teams with double-digit wins.
CHANGING ON THE FLY
Ohio coach Tim Albin was worried with so many offensive starters not playing in this one, he would have to go with a more balanced game plan to compete with Georgia Southern. He thought Hunt at running back and Navarro at quarterback executed it perfectly. “It's a testament to a damn, good plan,” he said.
UP NEXT
Georgia Southern opens the 2024 season at home against Boise State on Aug. 31.
Ohio starts next season at Syracuse on Aug. 31.
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D. Brin
5 QB 350 PaYds, 2 PaTDs, 3 INTs, -23 RuYds |
|
R. Hunt Jr.
28 RB 115 RuYds, 4 RuTDs, 18 ReYds, ReTD, REC |
Team Stats | ||
---|---|---|
1st Downs | 16 | 17 |
Rushing | 5 | 7 |
Passing | 10 | 8 |
Penalty | 1 | 2 |
3rd Down Conv | 6-12 | 10-15 |
4th Down Conv | 2-4 | 0-1 |
Total Net Yards | 383 | 349 |
Total Plays | 63 | 63 |
Avg Gain | 6.1 | 5.5 |
Net Yards Rushing | 33 | 229 |
Rush Attempts | 21 | 47 |
Avg Rush Yards | 1.6 | 4.9 |
Yards Passing | 350 | 120 |
Comp. - Att. | 32-42 | 11-16 |
Yards Per Pass | 6.7 | 7.5 |
Penalties - Yards | 6-70 | 6-60 |
Touchdowns | 3 | 5 |
Rushing TDs | 1 | 4 |
Passing TDs | 2 | 1 |
Other | 0 | 0 |
Turnovers | 5 | 0 |
Fumbles - Lost | 2-2 | 0-0 |
Int. Thrown | 3 | 0 |
Punts - Avg | 2-36.5 | 3-38.3 |
Return Yards | 0 | 40 |
Punts - Returns | 0-0 | 0-0 |
Kickoffs - Returns | 0-0 | 0-0 |
Int. - Returns | 0-0 | 3-40 |
Safeties | 0 | 0 |
|
Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT |
D. Brin
5 QB
|
D. Brin | 32/42 | 350 | 2 | 3 |
Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG |
D. Mbadinga
31 RB
|
D. Mbadinga | 4 | 44 | 1 | 29 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Martin-Burgess
31 DB
|
J. Martin-Burgess | 1 | 9 | 0 | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Cobb
17 WR
|
D. Cobb | 2 | 8 | 0 | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||
O. Arnold
22 RB
|
O. Arnold | 5 | 6 | 0 | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. White
25 RB
|
J. White | 1 | -2 | 0 | -2 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Brin
5 QB
|
D. Brin | 9 | -23 | 0 | 5 |
Receiving | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG |
D. Burgess Jr.
2 WR
|
D. Burgess Jr. | 6 | 6 | 117 | 1 | 65 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
D. Cobb
17 WR
|
D. Cobb | 10 | 7 | 109 | 0 | 39 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Mcafee
9 TE
|
J. Mcafee | 5 | 5 | 62 | 1 | 20 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
K. Hood
7 WR
|
K. Hood | 11 | 7 | 31 | 0 | 12 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
D. Mbadinga
31 RB
|
D. Mbadinga | 4 | 4 | 20 | 0 | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
O. Arnold
22 RB
|
O. Arnold | 2 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
J. White
25 RB
|
J. White | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
C. Mathis
21 DB
|
C. Mathis | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Thompson
24 WR
|
J. Thompson | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Defense | T-A | SACK | INT |
S. Bartholomew
17 DB
|
S. Bartholomew | 3-4 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. Stampley II
22 DB
|
M. Stampley II | 2-2 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Rhodes
91 DL
|
D. Rhodes | 2-6 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. Williams
6 DB
|
C. Williams | 2-2 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. Watson-Trent
1 LB
|
M. Watson-Trent | 2-4 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Rhodes
88 DL
|
J. Rhodes | 2-6 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. Jackson
9 LB
|
K. Jackson | 2-5 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Smith
5 DB
|
T. Smith | 2-2 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Ferguson
52 DL
|
J. Ferguson | 2-3 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
A. Jackson
25 DB
|
A. Jackson | 1-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
R. Dedman
39 LB
|
R. Dedman | 1-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. Stroud
18 DL
|
M. Stroud | 1-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Gilmore
15 LB
|
D. Gilmore | 1-2 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
L. Bullard
57 DL
|
L. Bullard | 1-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Davis
16 DB
|
T. Davis | 1-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Davis
90 DL
|
D. Davis | 1-4 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
E. Fall
94 DL
|
E. Fall | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. Strong
57 OL
|
C. Strong | 0-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. Smith
99 DL
|
K. Smith | 0-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Ferguson
11 LB
|
J. Ferguson | 0-1 | 0.0 | 0 |
Kicking | FG | LG | XP | PTS |
M. Lantz
98 K
|
M. Lantz | 0/0 | 0 | 3/3 | 3 |
Punting | NO | AVG | IN20 | LG |
A. Smith
90 P
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A. Smith | 2 | 36.5 | 0 | 38 |
Kickoff Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
D. Buchannon
15 WR
|
D. Buchannon | 4 | 19.8 | 28 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
D. Mbadinga
31 RB
|
D. Mbadinga | 1 | 17.0 | 17 | 0 |
Punt Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT |
P. Navarro
13 QB
|
P. Navarro | 11/16 | 120 | 1 | 0 |
Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG |
R. Hunt
28 RB
|
R. Hunt | 17 | 115 | 4 | 40 | ||||||||||||||||||||
P. Navarro
13 QB
|
P. Navarro | 15 | 71 | 0 | 24 | ||||||||||||||||||||
N. McCormick
21 RB
|
N. McCormick | 11 | 40 | 0 | 17 | ||||||||||||||||||||
W. Kacmarek
87 TE
|
W. Kacmarek | 1 | 5 | 0 | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||
S. Wiglusz
12 WR
|
S. Wiglusz | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Receiving | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG |
S. Wiglusz
12 WR
|
S. Wiglusz | 7 | 5 | 64 | 0 | 31 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
C. Hendricks
16 WR
|
C. Hendricks | 3 | 3 | 25 | 0 | 11 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
R. Hunt
28 RB
|
R. Hunt | 1 | 1 | 18 | 1 | 18 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
T. Foster
86 TE
|
T. Foster | 4 | 1 | 9 | 0 | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
R. Harris II
11 WR
|
R. Harris II | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 4 |
Defense | T-A | SACK | INT |
B. Houston
32 LB
|
B. Houston | 5-3 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Cox Jr.
7 CB
|
T. Cox Jr. | 5-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
W. Reynolds
26 S
|
W. Reynolds | 4-3 | 0.0 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
B. Weaver
94 DE
|
B. Weaver | 3-0 | 2.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||