ORLANDO, Fla. — In a thrilling matchup at the Cure Bowl, Parker Navarro shined for Ohio, scoring three rushing touchdowns and throwing for another in the first half, leading the Bobcats to a 30-27 victory over Jacksonville State. This clash was notable for featuring two conference champions, with the Bobcats representing the Mid-American Conference and the Gamecocks from Conference USA.
The Ohio Bobcats (11-3), who achieved a record-setting seventh consecutive victory, surged to a 27-7 lead at halftime. Navarro was instrumental in this effort, with explosive runs of 24, 8, and 7 yards. His passing game also proved effective, connecting with Anthony Tyus III on an 11-yard touchdown pass.
Jacksonville State (9-5) faced challenges during the match, notably hitting the upright on a field goal attempt in the second quarter and suffering a turnover within the red zone in third quarter action. Although they struggled to score in the second half, Ohio managed to consume over seven and a half minutes of the clock, adding a field goal to extend their lead to 30-14.
Tre Stewart did his part for the Gamecocks, driving his team down the field for two short touchdown runs. However, they were unable to convert a critical two-point attempt after the first touchdown. With a little over three minutes left in the game, Stewart found the end zone again, yet Ohio maintained control of the clock, aided by a pivotal 30-yard run from redshirt freshman Rickey Hunt Jr. after starting from their own 12-yard line.
Both teams entered the game with new coaching hierarchies. Jacksonville State’s Rich Rodriguez was back for a second term at his alma mater, while interim coach Rod Smith filled in. On the other side, Ohio’s Tim Albin took a position at Charlotte, prompting the promotion of offensive coordinator Brian Smith to head coach.
In terms of individual statistics, Navarro completed 19 of his 28 passes for 227 yards and one interception, alongside 119 rushing yards on 14 carries. Tyus contributed significantly to the ground game, rushing for 123 yards on 26 carries, while Coleman Owen was a key target, hauling in 11 receptions for 111 yards.
For Jacksonville State, quarterback Tyler Huff showed impressive form, completing 21 of 33 passes for a total of 363 yards, with one interception. He connected for a standout 75-yard touchdown pass to Cam Vaughn, who had an outstanding performance with 10 receptions totaling 181 yards. Additionally, Jarod Bowie helped the offense with four catches amounting to 107 yards.
The game exemplified the competitiveness and unpredictability of college football, highlighting both teams’ determination and skill throughout the season.
