Parker Navarro throws 2 TD passes to Coleman Owen as Ohio rolls past Akron 30-10 in MAC opener

Updated Sep. 28, 2024 8:09 p.m. ET

Associated Press

ATHENS, Ohio (AP) — Parker Navarro threw a pair of touchdown passes to Coleman Owen and ran for a third as Ohio rolled to a 30-10 win over in-state rival Akron in the Mid-America Conference opener for both schools on Saturday afternoon.

Mason Williams recovered an Akron fumble in the end zone for the Bobcat's first touchdown and Marcel Walker-Burgess sacked Akron quarterback Ben Finley in the end zone for a third-quarter safety.

Garrison Smith kicked a 49-yard first-quarter field goal to give Akron the early lead and Finley threw a 17-yard touchdown to Jake Newell to put the Zips up 10-7 with 1:20 left in the first half, but Navarro needed just over a minute to drive Ohio 75 yards in seven plays to take the lead, hitting Owen from 18 yards out to take a 14-10 halftime lead.

Owen and Navarro combined on a 75-yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter, and Navarro put the game away by capping a 10-play, 85-yard drive with a 3-yard score in the game's final minute.

Navarro was 12-of-18 passing for 204 yards and added 113 more on 13 carries. Anthony Tyus had 30 carries for 109 yards while Owen had 130 yards on six catches to lead Ohio (3-2, 1-0).

Finley was 25-of-38 passing for 180 yards with a touchdown but was picked off twice. The Zips (1-4, 0-1) were held to minus-18 yards rushing.

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