Ref who missed false start fired

The NFL fired down judge Hugo Cruz on Oct. 25 for inadequate performance, people familiar with the firing told The AP.

Cruz is in his fourth season as an NFL official. The people spoke on condition of anonymity because the league has not publicly announced the move.

Cruz, a part of referee Carl Cheffers’ crew, was involved in a missed call in the Chargers-Browns game that led to a Los Angeles touchdown on Oct. 14. Chargers tackle Russell Okung false-started on the play and nothing was called. But he was fired for his overall work over a sustained period, not just for one specific play.

Cruz’s firing was first reported by FootballZebras. com, a website dedicated to officiating which said it’s the first in-season firing by the league of an official because of performance in the Super Bowl era.

College football

OHIO DOMINATES BALL STATE>> Nathan Rourke threw a touchdown pass and ran for two scores and Ohio gained 411 yards on the ground in the Bobcats’ 52-14 victory over Ball State on Thursday night.

Ohio (5-3, 3-1 MidAmerican Conference), averaging 208 yards on the ground, rushed for 208 yards and three touchdowns in the first half to help build a 31-7 lead. The Bobcats extended it to 52-7 with three rushing touchdowns in the third.

Ohio had its first 400yard rushing game since 2005. The Bobcats have won five straight MAC home games,

Ohio capitalized on a Ball State fumble as A.J. Ouellette capped a 40yard drive with a powerful run up the middle for a 17-7 lead. Rourke made it 24-7 on a 2-yard sneak with 1:23 left in the half and he connected with Andrew Meyer from 21 yards on their next drive.

Riley Neal threw a touchdown pass for Ball State (3-6, 2-3), and backup quarterback Drew Plitt had a rushing score.

TOLEDO TOPS WESTERN MICHIGAN >> Eli Peters replaced injured starter Mitchell Guadagni and threw three second-half touchdown passes to help Toledo beat Western Michigan 51-24 on Thursday night.

Guadagni appeared to hurt his shoulder late in the second quarter and Peters opened the third with a 34-yard touchdown pass on a flea flicker to Reggie Gilliam for a 3017 lead. Western Michigan fumbled on its next possession, and Peters found Cody Thompson for an 18-yard touchdown for a 20-point advantage.

Peters threw for 107 yards for Toledo (4-4, 2-2 Mid-American Conference). Guadagni was 10of-18 passing for 140 yards and two touchdowns. Jameson Vest made three second-quarter field goals to move into second on Toledo’s career list with 67.

Freshman Kaleb Eleby threw for 293 yards and two touchdowns in his Western Michigan debut (6-3, 4-1), which had its six-game winning streak snapped.