Ohio survives two late field-goal chances to beat Kent State 13-10

Will Hryszko's 44-yard field goal late in the third quarter held up as Ohio beat Kent State 13-10 Saturday at Dix Stadium. The Bobcats survived two fourth-quarter chances to tie the game, blocking one field goal before Sean Leonard missed a 32-yard attempt with 10 seconds left.

Ohio won its Mid-American Conference opener and its first road game of the season. The result required special teams to do more than supply the winning points: Caleb Chamberlain blocked an early punt, and Jack Fries got a hand on Leonard's 49-yard field goal try in the fourth quarter.

The official Ohio Football account shared its halftime images Saturday, with the Bobcats leading 10-3 after Matt Vezza's long touchdown run.

Two late chances for Kent State

Michael Leonard's Akron Beacon Journal live report described Fries getting into the backfield to partially block the 49-yard attempt. Ohio kept its three-point lead, but Kent State's defense gave its offense another opportunity.

With 2:30 remaining, the Golden Flashes stopped Duncan Brune for no gain on fourth-and-one at their own 39. Dru DeShields then moved Kent State 46 yards in 10 plays, reaching the Ohio 15. The drive stalled there, and Leonard's 32-yard field goal went wide. Ohio needed only a kneel-down to finish the game.

Kent State had already tied the score in the third quarter. After a fumble recovery, Mason King finished the ensuing possession with a one-yard touchdown run. Hryszko answered at the end of Ohio's next drive, making his second field goal of the afternoon with 15 seconds left in the period.

Ohio wins with the run and its defense

Vezza scored Ohio's only touchdown on a 35-yard scramble in the second quarter. The run came after Michael Molnar intercepted a deflected pass, giving the Bobcats a possession in Kent State territory. Hryszko had opened the scoring with a 40-yard field goal following Chamberlain's blocked punt.

Vezza and Levi Davis combined to complete eight of 14 passes for 72 yards. Davis added 42 rushing yards. Brune carried 18 times for 86 yards.

DeShields completed 20 of 35 passes for 217 yards for Kent State, but Ohio intercepted him twice. Molnar had one interception and Kendall Bannister the other. Fries led the Bobcats with 10 tackles, and Molnar added eight tackles and a sack.

Ohio's official report said the punt block and field goal block were its first two blocks in the same game since 2007. Coach John Hauser pointed to a simpler achievement: the Bobcats had been 0-2 away from home and found a way to win on the road.

Ohio improved to 3-2 overall and 1-0 in the MAC. Kent State fell to 2-3 and 1-1. The Bobcats host Central Michigan next Saturday; the Golden Flashes travel to Western Michigan.