Ohio pours it on UAB in Bahamas Bowl
NASSAU, BAHAMAS » Ohio coach Frank Solich knew his Bobcats were better than their record showed. You’ll get no argument from UAB.
Dorian Brown rushed for 152 yards on just 12 carries and scored four touchdowns, Nathan Rourke threw for two scores and Ohio beat UAB 41-6 in the Bahamas Bowl on Friday.
It was a stirring comeback for the Bobcats, who lost their last two games of the regular season to miss a shot at the Mid-American Conference title.
“I feel like eight wins were not enough with this football team, so this ninth win puts a little icing on the cake,” Solich said.
Ohio (9-4) averaged 38.9 points per game during the season, setting a school record with 467 points scored, and the Bobcats exhibited that prowess in the opening half of this one, using big plays to build an insurmountable 27-3 halftime lead.
Brown, a redshirt senior, scored on runs of 74, 9, 25 and 14 yards, two in the second quarter and two in the third as he carried the load for injured A.J. Ouellette.
“It was very important (to go out on a high note),” Brown said. “I had to step up and take my role.”
Brown’s heroics were too much for the Blazers, a feelgood team seeking its first bowl victory on just its second try. The loss spoiled the end of a remarkable first season back for UAB (85), which was predicted to struggle and didn’t.
UAB President Ray Watts had cut the football program in December 2014 because a university report deemed it too expensive. After public outcry, football was reinstated, but NCAA rules required the school to skip the 2016 season to help the players who stuck it out re-adjust to competing at the top level of college football.
The Blazers, under Conference USA Coach of the Year Bill Clark, responded by winning a school-record eight games and finished second in the conference’s West Division. They won six of their final eight games.
On this day, though, ran out of miracles.
“It’s hurts a lot — to not go out with a victory,” senior linebacker Tevin Crews said. “I’m just blessed to be part of a great team with a great coach and a great role model. This is a starting point — our first season back.” WYOMING 37, CENTRAL MICHIGAN 14 » Josh Allen threw three touchdown passes in his final game for Wyoming, and the Cowboys (8-5) took advantage of Central Michigan’s eight turnovers to cruise to a victory in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.
During the postgame award ceremony, the game MVP award declared his intention to give up his final season of eligibility to enter the NFL draft. Wyoming rebounded after losing its last they two regular-season games with Allen sidelined by a sprained right shoulder.
Allen was 11 of 19 for 154 yards with no interceptions. He showed off his arm strength on a perfect 45-yard pass that hit receiver C.J. Johnson in stride in the end zone.
“In today’s world where players are making all kinds of decisions about bowl games, Josh chose to play and I applaud him for that,” Wyoming coach Craig Bohl said before lobbying for Allen to be drafted. “If there’s any NFL team looking for a player out there, you’re never going to find a bigger competitor and a better leader than him.”
Central Michigan (8-5) had won five straight. The eight turnovers broke the previous Famous Idaho Potato Bowl record of six.