Box Score
ATHENS, Ohio – Ohio backup quarterback Derrius Vick passed for 199 yards and four touchdowns, and Beau Blankenship rushed for 109 yards to lead Ohio to a 44-10 win over Norfolk State on Saturday afternoon at Peden Stadium.
Vick, playing in place of injured starter Tyler Tettleton, passed for three touchdowns in the first half to stake the Bobcats (4-0) to a big lead. The Spartans (2-2), meanwhile, were done in by five turnovers and 11 penalties, and also fell victim to Ohio's excellent field position throughout.
The Spartans received the kickoff to begin the game, but fumbled on their first play from scrimmage. Five plays later, Vick found Donte Foster for a 10-yard TD pass, starting off a string of four straight Bobcats' possessions that ended in points.
On Ohio's next possession, Ryan Clark returned an NSU punt 30 yards to the Spartan 30-yard line. Three plays later, Vick hit Blankenship for a 24-yard TD, making it 14-0.
A short punt and NSU personal foul set up the Bobcats with good field position on their next drive at the NSU 42. NSU's defense stiffened, but Ohio's Matt Weller kicked a 49-yard field goal to extend the lead to 17-0.
The Wildcats' went up 24-0 on Blankenship's 2-yard TD run with 15 seconds left in the first quarter. A 46-yard pass from Vick to Derek Roback was the key play in the four-play, 71-yard drive.
The Bobcats added 10 more points in the second on Vick's 15-yard scoring pass to Jordan Thompson and on a 40-yard Weller field goal with two seconds left in the quarter, which sent Ohio into the break with a 34-0 edge.
Ohio padded its lead to 44-0 in the third quarter. The Bobcats capitalized on two NSU fumbles, the first of which led to Vick's 13-yard TD pass to Foster and the second leading to a 31-yard Weller field goal.
Six of Ohio's eight scoring drives began in NSU territory.
The Spartans showed fight in the fourth quarter and scored twice, including their first-ever touchdown in five games against Division I FBS foes. Backup quarterback Jake Basmagian led a 13-play, 80-yard scoring march. The Spartans converted four third downs on the drive, which Randy Maynes capped with a 7-yard scoring run with 4:28 left.
After a short Ohio punt, the Spartans got one last chance to put some points on the board. Kicker Everett Goldberg obliged, hitting a 42-yard field goal with 33 seconds left in the game.
Ohio outgained NSU 378-241 in total offense. Takeem Hedgeman led the Spartans with 39 rushing yards and Maynes had 32 on eight carries. Quarterbacks Basmagian and Nico Flores combined to complete 16-of-31 passes for 132 yards. Derrick Demps led all players with six receptions.
Vick completed 14-of-20 passes for 199 yards. Blankenship ran 25 times for 109 yards, his fourth straight 100-yard game.
The Spartans jump back into MEAC play with a key road contest at South Carolina State next Saturday. Kickoff is at 2 p.m. in Orangeburg, S.C.
