Ohio defeats Jacksonville State 29-27 in gritty, rain-soaked 4OT thriller

If a 'Cat has nine lives, Ohio (1-1) may have used them all in this win.

In a performance that will go down in Bobcat history as one of the greats, Ohio left it all on the field physically and mental to earn the win over Jacksonville State (1-2). Willing themselves to victory on their home turf– dubbed "The Frank" for former head coach Frank Solich– the Bobcats found a way to persevere in front, inspired by the frantic home crowd. Jax State must have felt bewildered when the final gun sounded and their monumental effort was not enough to bring a win home to Alabama.

The game started as we figured it would in our game preview, with both Ohio and Jax State set to control the clock on offense by running the ball and that is just what happened--with the visitors getting the early 7-0 advantage in what would prove to be a big offensive half for the Gamecocks.

Ohio received the opening kick and punted after six plays, including five runs. On its first possession, the Gamecocks methodically marched down the field on an impressive drive, led by QB Caden Creel's seven carries for 27 yards and some short plays on screens and or quick throws against off coverage. Creel took it in for six points on a well-executed option around right end.

The Bobcats early offensive execution was a mixed bag, with the uneven performance resulting in third-and-longs and three-straight punts.

However, the punt team stood tall for the 'Cats in the first half, with Magnus Haines and company providing field position by hitting three straight boots inside the twenty, including a 52-yard beauty pinning Jax State in the shadow of its goalpost at its six-yard line.

The Bobcats defense took advantage of the good field position after that punt, forcing a three-and-out. Safety DJ Walker was key on third down of that defensive stand, as his submarine strike sunk the Jax State ball carrier on third down.

The Bobcat's reprieve was short-lived though, as Jax State exploded for a 82-yard touchdown pass to start the second quarter. How it happened was QB Caden Creel, a consistent early running threat, instead feigned the run, pulling up and delivering a strike to a wide-open Luke Gilbert, who outraced the Bobcat defenders on the long run to paydirt.

Down 14-0, Ohio responded with a gritty touchdown to help right the ship, beginning with a somewhat shuffled deck on the offensive line.

After a first down, the drive was extended by 15 yards for a personal foul and Jonavan Carr was ejected for targeting after contacting sliding QB Nick Poulos in the head. With backup QB Matt Vezza in for Poulos, he would eventually hit the on a wide receiver screen to Riley Neer for a score to get the Bobbies on the board at 14-7.

As the second quarter clock wound down, a bizarre series of plays eventually led to a field goal, extending the visitor's lead to 17-7. An illegal man downfield wiped out a long touchdown to Gilbert, who had gotten behind the defense on a play where the Bobcat defender looked a second too long at Creel's run threat. As the action moved on, the Bobcats' defensive end Ike Akerman and safety DJ walker crunched Creel to force a field goal attempt.

On the three-point attempt, Jax State executed the "fire" call to perfection when holder Carter Lewis, who couldn't corral the field goal snap, calmly rolled right and hit Angel Toombs for seven yards and a first down. Jax State worked their way inside the five yard but were ultimately stonewalled in an spirited defensive effort lead by DJ Walker, who stopped Creel when the Gamecocks went to the well on an option similar to the one they used to score in the first half.

What ensued in the final minute of the first half got Ohio back on track.

With less than one minute left, Ohio's kickoff return team electrified the crowd and stunned Jax State, with on a 97-yard return for touchdown by Darren James-Hamilton to close the deficit 17-14. The kickoff return in real time looked textbook, with excellent running and blocking across the board.

The breath-taking first half reached its crescendo when Ohio forced and recovered a Creel fumble in Gamecock territory– but Jax State's superstar defensive lineman Jawaun Campbell blocked a 46-yard field goal attempt by Will Hryszko to preserve the slim lead, 17-14 going into the break.

The second half began as the first did, with the Gamecocks marching down the field on a long drive fueled by Creel runs and short passes for a score to extend the lead to 24-14. On a play duck hunters would have cherished, the visitors got tricky on a handoff to WR Jamill Williams, whose fluttering wobbler thrown back to Creel was hauled in for a 14-yard gain. RB Kristian Lando finished the drive on a four-yard option run, this time to the offense's left.

The 'Cats took control from that point to tie the score late in the fourth quarter. Ohio's next two offensive drives were just what the doctor ordered to turn the tide; combining for over 150 yards and chewing an incredible 17+ minutes off the game clock.

The Bobcats' best drive of the game so far started with a few throws but settled into a ground-and-pound by Vezza, Brune, and RB Victor Rosa. Jax State's defense ultimately stiffened inside the five-yard line but kicker Hryszko hit a 23-yard field goal. After a Bobcat defensive stand, Jax State pinned Ohio at its own 10-yard line. Down seven, Ohio marched 90 yards into Bobcat lore, on an 18-play drive to tie things at 24-all.

Ohio overcame significant adversity through said drive, as both Brune and Vezza (who was already replacing an injured Poulos) departed at some point due to injury.

With the ball first-and-ten at the Gamecock's five-yard line, third-string QB true freshman Levi Davis almost scored on his first Bobcat play, instead handing it to the running back on third down, resulting in Victor Rosa's first touchdown with the Green and White.

Somehow fitting for this contest, both teams had a chance to put the final nail in the coffin multiple times but could not capitalize. On the last play of regulation, Jax State's game winning 38-yard field goal attempt by Garrison Rippa sailed wide right, forcing overtime. In the first overtime, Ohio's defense stopped Jax State's Creel on fourth-and-short, but Will Hryszko's attempt at his own winning field goal attempt was blocked as well.

With neither team able to close it out after three overtimes, the Bobcats found a way to get it done with brilliant plays on both sides of the ball. To open, the unflappable Bobcat QB Levi Davis looked cool as a cucumber, weaving his way up the middle through traffic for the rushing score in front of a raucous crowd who could taste victory. The Gamecocks needed a score on the final play to force a fifth overtime but were denied by inches. On that play, the Bobcats brought a rare blitz, this one up the middle, which hurried Creel's process. The ball was caught by Jax State, but the receiver was tackled just short of the goal line.

Ball game.

NOTES:

With the win, Ohio moves to 23-1 all-time on "The Frank."

The Bobcats' resilience to overcome adversity and their will to win perhaps was at an all-time best. Despite key injuries to players who didn't return, including QBs Nick Poulos and Matt Vezza, running back Duncan Brune, safety DJ Walker, and possibly linebacker Charlie Christopher, Ohio found a way to win.

Offensively, Ohio was inconsistent in the first half but was lights-out in the second half, possessing the ball and draining the clock late in the third and fourth quarter to tie the score at the end of the game. Behind a hard-working offensive line, RB Duncan Brune and QB Matt Vezza kept the chains moving with 67 yards each on the ground.

Defensively, the crew made enough timely plays against a very talent opponent to seal the deal. Several defenders logged a lot of snaps due to the visitor's ball control offense, which had multiple double-digit drives. Safety DJ Walker's play in the second quarter in slowing down Creel was a key to keeping the game within striking distance in the second half. Five Bobcats finished with 9 or more tackles, including linebackers Mick Molnar and Jack Fries, safeties DJ Walker and JT Haskins and defensive end Ike Ackerman. Molnar led with 13.

Hats off to Jax State, who I am certain felt they should have won and played well enough in long stretches to do so.

There are not enough positive adjectives in the dictionary to describe the play of QB Caden Creel, who executed magnificently, particularly in the first three quarters, finishing the day with 265 yards passing, 120 yards rushing, and two touchdowns (1 rush, one pass). When executed like today, Jax State's offense is tough to stop because, for instance, they force you to defend short, then can hit you over the top.

The Gamecocks showed great team defense in the first half, ultimately led by their stars in safety Caleb Nix (9 tackles) and DL Jawaun Campbell (7 tackles, blocked field goal).

These fierce competitors suit up again next week, getting to know the land where the skies are so blue. Ohio heads to South Alabama for a road trip, while Jax State is coming home to host Georgia Southern.