ATHENS, Ohio (AP) — Nathan Rourke accounted for 263 yards of offense and three touchdowns and Ohio defeated Rhode Island 41-20 in a season opener on Saturday.
Rourke, an All-MAC selection as a junior in 2018, completed 16 of 22 passes for 188 yards with two touchdowns. He carried 10 times for a team-high 75 yards and another touchdown as the Bobcats rushed for 278 yards.
After Louie Zervos gave Ohio a 27-13 lead late in the third quarter, the Bobcats held on downs deep in URI territory. De’Montre Truggle capped a short 15-yard drive with a 6-yard run, then added a 55-yard touchdown run on Ohio’s next possession for a 41-13 lead. Truggle carried three times for 65 yards and Julian Ross led the Ohio running backs with 68 yards on 14 carries.
Vito Priore passed for 291 yards and two touchdowns for the Rams. He hit Aaron Parker for a 34-yard score in the third quarter and in the fourth quarter connected with Isaiah Coulter for 38 yards and the last score of the game. Parker caught nine passes for 144 yards.
Ohio U. Stats
Ohio 41, Rhode Island 20
Rhode Island 0 6 7 7 = 20
Ohio 7 10 17 7 = 41
First Quarter
OHI—N.Rourke 5 run (Zervos kick), 5:50
Second Quarter
RIL—FG Carrick 35, 13:34
OHI—FG Zervos 37, 10:18
OHI—Tupa 22 pass from N.Rourke (Zervos kick), 3:00
RIL—FG Carrick 19, :12
Third Quarter
OHI—R.Luehrman 4 pass from N.Rourke (Zervos kick), 10:01
RIL—Parker 34 pass from Priore (Carrick kick), 8:09
OHI—FG Zervos 42, 4:16
OHI—Tuggle 6 run (Zervos kick), :40
Fourth Quarter
OHI—Tuggle 55 run (Zervos kick), 11:12
RIL—Coulter 38 pass from Priore (Carrick kick), 9:24
A—16,665.
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RIL OHI
First downs 21 23
Rushes-yards 23-84 38-278
Passing 291 188
Comp-Att-Int 22-42-1 16-23-1
Return Yards 65 53
Punts-Avg. 4-34.0 0-null
Fumbles-Lost 0-0 2-1
Penalties-Yards 4-37 7-70
Time of Possession 28:52 31:08
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INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING—Rhode Island, Bryant 17-89, Dorsey 1-9, Pires 1-4, Priore 3-1, (Team) 1-(minus 19). Ohio, N.Rourke 10-75, Ross 14-68, Tuggle 3-65, Allison 6-38, Portis 4-33, (Team) 1-(minus 1).
PASSING—Rhode Island, Priore 22-42-1-291. Ohio, N.Rourke 16-22-0-188, Mischler 0-1-1-0.
RECEIVING—Rhode Island, Parker 9-144, Dorsey 4-59, Coulter 2-53, Pires 2-13, Bryant 2-2, Warren 1-9, Frimpong 1-6, Kenny 1-5. Ohio, Tupa 3-49, Buckner 3-48, Cox 3-26, Allison 2-9, Hooks 1-30, Odom 1-10, A.Luehrman 1-7, Walton 1-5, R.Luehrman 1-4.
MISSED FIELD GOALS—None.