Ohio reaches bowl eligibility with a 52-3 win against Akron
Ohio WR evades tackle on 53-yard TD
Ohio QB Nathan Rourke passes to a wide-open DL Knock, who catches and evades a tackle on his way to complete a 53-yard touchdown.
AKRON, Ohio -- Nathan Rourke threw for 308 yards and four touchdowns and Ohio routed Akron 52-3 on Tuesday night.
The Bobcats (6-6, 5-3 Mid-American) clinched bowl eligibility for the 11th year in a row and for the 13th time in 15 years under head coach Frank Solich. Ohio also recorded a winning record in the conference for a fifth straight year.
Rourke threw two touchdown passes in the first quarter, two more in the second and accounted for a fifth with a 1-yard run in the fourth. He threw a 53-yarder to DL Knock, 39 and 11 yards to Shane Hooks and 9 yards to Ryan Luehrman. Ja'Vahri Portis ran it in from 3-yards out with 6:41 remaining to end the scoring.
Ohio outgained Akron (0-12, 0-8) in total yardage, 603-74, amassed 25 first downs to seven for the Zips and converted 10 of 15 third-down opportunities.
Peter Hayes-Patrick gained 42 yards on 14 carries for Akron.
The Zips ended the season with a 17-game losing streak dating to last season. Their last win was in a 17-10 contest against Central Michigan on Oct. 27, 2018.
Game Information
2024 Mid-American Conference Standings
| Team | CONF | OVR |
|---|---|---|
| Western Michigan | 4-0 | 5-3 |
| Miami (OH) | 3-1 | 4-4 |
| Ohio | 3-1 | 5-3 |
| Bowling Green | 3-1 | 4-4 |
| Buffalo | 3-2 | 5-4 |
| Toledo | 3-2 | 6-3 |
| Ball State | 2-2 | 3-5 |
| Eastern Michigan | 2-3 | 5-4 |
| Northern Illinois | 1-3 | 4-4 |
| Central Michigan | 1-3 | 3-5 |
| Akron | 1-4 | 2-7 |
| Kent State | 0-4 | 0-8 |
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