Mountaineers cash in Bobcats' chips

by Joe Arnold
Staff Writer

You have to know when to hold them, and know when to fold them. The Ohio football team's game against West Virginia put new meaning to the old Kenny Rogers song.

On three separate occasions Ohio tested lady luck and fell short: a few yards short, to be exact. The Bobcats failed to convert on two fourth down attempts and on one fake punt attempt in a 20-3 loss to the Mountaineers.

Playing in front of 52,995 hostile fans, Ohio began the day at its own six-yard-line and constructed a 22-play, 94-yard drive that ate up nearly 10 minutes. The drive put the Bobcats at the West Virginia half-yard line. The Mountaineers stuffed Ohio quarterback Dontrell Jackson on fourth and goal, however, to end the threat.

"The call was a triple-option play, and I didn’t get (the snap) clean," Jackson said. "I knew if I would have tried to go through with the triple-option play, there would have been a fumble, so I just tried to follow my center and get it in."

After stopping the West Virginia offense, Ohio began its second drive in good field position at the West Virginia 35-yard-line. The Bobcats were faced with a fourth and two decision three plays later. Opting against a field goal, Jackson's option-keep was again sniffed out by the Mountaineers' defense.

West Virginia utilized a no-huddle offense to capitalize on the Bobcats' mistakes. Kicker Brenden Rauh broke the scoreless tie with a 24-yard field goal with 12:28 left in the half.

Ohio linebacker Tom Weilbacher said the no-huddle offense is effective because it keeps the defense off balance.

"(West Virginia's offense) makes you think twice, and they make you worry," he said. "I mean, you've got a million and a half things running through your mind in 15 seconds."

Hoping to answer the Mountaineers, Ohio marched 49 yards on nine plays to the West Virginia 29-yard-line. But kicker Kevin Kerr pushed the 46-yard kick wide left, and Ohio went into halftime down 3-0.

The Bobcats finally got on the board with 6:11 remaining in the third quarter on a 26-yard field goal by Kerr. Ohio's used its balanced, sideline to sideline attack to put together the 75-yard scoring drive.

With the Mountaineers reeling, Ohio took possession with 4:53 left in the third quarter. Following two rushes for little gain, the Bobcat passing attack came alive. A tight end screen to Chris Knaack resulted in a 36-yard completion, but West Virginia cornerback Lance Frazier stripped the ball. The Mountaineers recovered the ball at their own 5-yard-line.

With momentum on its side, West Virginia's subsequent 95-yard drive ended with a four-yard plunge by running back Avon Cobourne, putting the Mountaineers ahead 10-3.

Ohio's next possession proved to be its undoing as a botched fake punt led to another West Virginia touchdown.

The fake punt, coupled with a fumbled kickoff return two series later, effectively ended the Bobcats' chances for victory.

Ohio coach Brian Knorr said the fourth quarter meltdown occurred because of a combination of mental errors.

" The big thing in the fourth quarter was just blown opportunities, turnovers," he said. "The punt opportunity and the kickoff right back to back. Our kids were playing hard. I really thought we had a great surge in the third quarter. I thought we had momentum on our side, and then we get the unfortunate turnover on the pass."

Jackson finished the day with 46 yards on 16 carries and was 5-for-8 passing for 86 yards.

Cobourne exploded for 173 yards on 35 carries, and Mountaineers quarterback Brad Lewis passed for 134 yards. Despite surrendering 350 total yards, Ohio linebacker Tom Weilbacher said the defense is improving.

" I thought we stepped up against some of the sudden changes," he said. "It's demoralizing not seeing our offense get in the endzone, but it's the game of football and things happen."

The Bobcats will look to improve this week before they travel to North Carolina State for a 7:30 p.m. showdown Thursday in Raleigh, N.C.