ATHENS, Ohio (AP) — Nathan Rourke threw for three touchdowns and rushed for another, A.J. Ouellette had 196 yards rushing and three total scores, and Ohio upset Buffalo 52-17 on Wednesday night.
Ohio (7-4, 5-2 Mid-American Conference) needs to beat Akron next week and have Buffalo (9-2, 6-1) lose at Bowling Green to clinch the MAC East Division. Buffalo was closing in on a Top 25 ranking after receiving 29 votes in The Associated Press poll.
Rourke completed 17 passes for 209 yards and carried it seven times for 77 yards. Ouellette rushed it 26 times with two scores and made two grabs for 16 yards and a TD. The Bobcats scored 31 unanswered points in the first half before Buffalo made a 40-yard field goal as time expired.
Ohio won the turnover battle, 5-1, moving into a tie for fourth in the FBS with 24 takeaways this season.
Tyree Jackson, who was intercepted twice, carried it three times for 70 yards and a score.
Buffalo 7 3 0 7 = 17
Ohio 14 17 14 7 = 52
First Quarter
BUF—T.Jackson 4 run (Mitcheson kick), 12:42
OHI—Irons 2 run (Zervos kick), 6:45
OHI—Rourke 2 run (Zervos kick), 1:35
Second Quarter
OHI—Buckner 60 pass from Rourke (Zervos kick), 14:02
OHI—FG Zervos 22, 10:29
OHI—Ouellette 8 run (Zervos kick), :53
BUF—FG Mitcheson 40, :00
Third Quarter
OHI—Ouellette 8 pass from Rourke (Zervos kick), 9:44
OHI—P.White 27 pass from Rourke (Zervos kick), 6:34
Fourth Quarter
BUF—Marks 13 run (Mitcheson kick), 13:14
OHI—Ouellette 33 run (Zervos kick), 8:36
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BUF OHI
First downs 13 33
Total yards 277 646
Rushes-yards 22-157 56-437
Passing 120 209
Comp-Att-Int 10-23-3 17-27-1
Return Yards 57 62
Punts-Avg. 3-35.66 1-35.0
Fumbles-Lost 3-2 1-0
Penalties-Yards 3-20 4-55
Time of Possession 16:18 43:42
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INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING—Buffalo, T.Jackson 3-70, Marks 9-54, Jar.Patterson 8-23, T.Anderson 1-8, Reed 1-2. Ohio, Ouellette 26-196, Irons 12-92, Rourke 7-77, Maxwell 4-45, Neatherton 5-19, Burroughs 2-8.
PASSING—Buffalo, T.Jackson 9-21-2-116, D.Johnson 1-2-1-4. Ohio, Rourke 17-26-1-209, Maxwell 0-1-0-0.
RECEIVING—Buffalo, A.Johnson 6-95, Jones 2-16, Nunn 1-8, Marks 1-1. Ohio, P.White 8-84, Meyer 4-41, Ouellette 2-16, Buckner 1-60, C.Brown 1-5, Odom 1-3.
MISSED FIELD GOALS—None.