clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Look at what Ohio can do when they're healthy

The Independence Bowl became a rout at the hands of the Ohio Bobcats, who shook off the crutches and frustrations of the season, taking it out on Louisiana-Monroe.

USA TODAY Sports

Hey, so ... about that.


Final - 12.28.2012 1 2 3 4 Total
Ohio Bobcats 14 10 14 7 45
ULM Warhawks 0 7 7 0 14

Complete Coverage >


After me being worried that Ohio was chewing off more than they could swallow, all they did was decimate Louisiana-Monroe by 31 points, and this became the second biggest bowl win in MAC history in terms of margin of victory. In 2005, Toledo topped UTEP 45-13 in the GMAC Bowl, so that blowout retains its record. And as wonderfully pointed out by @justcoverblog, that's the game in which a Toledo football player was paid $500 to fumble intentionally. (And they still won by 32!)

But in a clean, pure performance the Ohio Bobcats did everything we thought they might all season. They didn't look like a team that lost three of their last four. Tyler Tettleton threw for as many yards in his first five attempts than BGSU did during the entire Military Bowl. Beau Blankenship ran for four touchdowns, equalling his total from their last four games. But much of this was due to injuries finally healing. Carl Jones, one of two defensive lineman carted off after the same play against Ball State, had a couple tackles for loss, including a sack. Tremayne Scott, who missed the last seven games due to an injury, recorded two sacks an incredible leaping interception at the line of scrimmage.

This game certainly validated the hard luck peppered throughout their injury report. The luck began with Travis Carrie to start the season — and he'll be back next year — all the way down the line. The Bobcats' theme this year was "Unfinished Business," and you can be certain that with how this season finished, they might as well cut and paste that motto into 2013's campaign. Their goal next year will not be to win the Independence Bowl.