YPSILANTI, Mich. (AP) — Nathan Rourke found freshman Cameron Odom from 7 yards out in the second overtime to lift Ohio over Eastern Michigan 27-20 in a Mid-American Conference opener on Saturday.
The winner followed an 8-yard scoring strike from Rourke to Brendan Cope on a play-action fade to the right corner in the first extra session. Rourke finished 19 of 32 for 197 yards for Ohio (3-1, 1-0). A.J. Ouellette carried 26 times for 145 yards.
Ohio benefited from a 46-yard interception return for a touchdown by Bradd Ellis in the second quarter which gave the Bobcats a 10-6 lead at intermission.
Eastern Michigan (2-1, 0-1) forced overtime with a seven-play, 69-yard drive culminated by Ian Eriksen’s 1-yard touchdown plunge.
Brogan Roback went 28 of 47 for 271 yards with a touchdown for Eastern Michigan.

Ohio stats
Ohio 27, E. Michigan 20
Ohio    3    7    3    0    7    7    =    27
E. Michigan    3    3    0    7    7    0    =    20
First Quarter
OHI—FG Zervos 41, 10:46
EMC—FG Fricano 41, 1:11
Second Quarter
EMC—FG Fricano 31, 1:25
OHI—Ellis 46 interception return (Zervos kick), :10
Third Quarter
OHI—FG Zervos 44, 6:22 Fourth Quarter
EMC—Eriksen 1 run (Fricano kick), 10:54 First
Overtime
EMC—Bailey 25 pass from Roback (Fricano kick), :00
OHI—Cope 8 pass from Rourke (Zervos kick), :00
Second Overtime
OHI—Odom 7 pass from Rourke (Zervos kick), :00
A—11,373.
———
OHI    EMC
First downs    19    15
Rushes-yards    47-176    27-45
Passing    197    305
Comp-Att-Int    19-32-0    29-49-1
Return Yards    47    53
Punts-Avg.    8-37.75    8-42.75
Fumbles-Lost    2-2    1-0
Penalties-Yards    4-36    8-85
Time of Possession    30:56    29:04
———
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING—Ohio, Ouellette 26-145, D.Brown 6-32, Ross 4-9, Knock 1-1, Cope 1-(minus 2), Rourke 9-(minus 9). E. Michigan, Vann 10-29, Turner 7-19, Eriksen 3-3, (Team) 1-(minus 1), Banham 2-(minus 2), Roback 4-(minus 3).
PASSING—Ohio, Rourke 19-32-0-197. E. Michigan, Oraha 0-1-0-0, Holder 1-1-0-34, Roback 28-47-1-271.
RECEIVING—Ohio, Meyer 6-44, Odom 5-56, Cope 4-24, Marhefka 2-26, Ouellette 1-42, Mangen 1-5. E. Michigan, Bailey 7-82, Niupalau 4-69, A.Porter 4-41, Sexton 2-27, Kemp 2-20, Johnson 2-16, Vann 2-13, Banham 2-10, Holder 1-12, Turner 1-6, Eriksen 1-5, Daugherty 1-4.
MISSED FIELD GOALS—Ohio, Zervos 47.