ATHENS, Ohio — Anthon Samuel ran for 181 yards and two touchdowns to help Bowling Green beat Ohio 26-14 on Wednesday night for its sixth straight victory.
Samuel reached 100 yards for the 10th time in his first 18 games for the Falcons (7-3, 5-1 Mid-American), and pushed his season rushing total to 906 yards. The sophomore had 29 carries and caught a pass for 5 yards.
Matt Schilz was 7 of 17 for 91 yards and a touchdown for Bowling Green, fighting Kent State for the East Division title. Kent State, 5-0 in conference play, is at Miami of Ohio on Saturday.
Tyler Tettleton was 21 of 34 for 145 yards and had a touchdown pass and scoring run for Ohio (8-2, 4-2). Beau Blankenship led the Bobcats in rushing with 97 yards on 18 carries.
After Ohio cut it to 19-14 in the third quarter on Tettleton’s 3-yard touchdown pass toChase Cochran, Bowling Green countered on Samuel’s 4-yard scoring run early in the fourth.
Tettleton opened the scoring on a 5-yard run in the first quarter, but Bowling Green scored 19 straight points in the second quarter to take a 19-7 lead. Samuel had a 15-yard touchdown run, Schilz threw a 55-yard scoring pass to Chris Gallon, Tyler Tate added a 35-yard field goal, and the Falcons added a safety when Ohio punter Matt Weller was tackled in the end zone after a low snap slipped through his hands and went between his legs. Weller, the Bobcats’ kicker, took over the punting duties after Grant Venham had a punt blocked and was tackled short of a first down after mishandling a snap.