ATHENS, Ohio (AP) — 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 Mid-American 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 400-yard 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 40-yard 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.

Ball St. 7 0 0 7 = 14
Ohio. 0 31 21 0 = 52
First Quarter
BALL—R.Miller 18 pass from Neal (Hagee kick), 4:06
Second Quarter
OHI—Irons 6 run (Zervos kick), 14:54
OHI—FG Zervos 23, 9:54
OHI—Ouellette 9 run (Zervos kick), 7:08
OHI—Rourke 2 run (Zervos kick), 1:23
OHI—Meyer 21 pass from Rourke (Zervos kick), :02
Third Quarter
OHI—Rourke 3 run (Zervos kick), 9:42
OHI—Ouellette 44 run (Zervos kick), 8:15
OHI—Irons 1 run (Zervos kick), 4:47
Fourth Quarter
BALL—Plitt 8 run (Hagee kick), 2:53
A—13,774.
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BALL OHI
First downs 11 30
Rushes-yards 23-80 57-411
Passing 162 143
Comp-Att-Int 16-32-1 12-21-1
Return Yards 71 86
Punts-Avg. 8-36.25 1-43.0
Fumbles-Lost 3-2 1-0
Penalties-Yards 6-54 3-20
Time of Possession 21:09 38:51
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INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING—Ball St., Gilbert 9-52, Neal 3-20, Plitt 6-5, Dunner 2-4, Hurt 3-(minus 1). Ohio, Ouellette 13-135, Irons 16-102, Rourke 8-77, Burroughs 7-50, Neatherton 10-38, Maxwell 3-9.
PASSING—Ball St., Neal 7-15-0-76, Plitt 9-17-1-86. Ohio, Rourke 11-18-1-127, Maxwell 1-3-0-16.
RECEIVING—Ball St., J.Hall 4-42, Hohlt 3-33, R.Miller 2-30, D.Reece 2-22, Gilbert 2-7, Tyler 1-31, Ke.Williams 1-5, Dunner 1-(minus 8). Ohio, Meyer 4-50, P.White 3-35, Ouellette 2-18, Odom 2-16, Cox 1-24.
MISSED FIELD GOALS—Ohio, Zervos 42.