Despite evidence to the contrary, Ohio head coach Frank Solich insists his team hasn't resigned itself to merely mailing in the rest of a disappointing season.

The Bobcats were lethargic, lifeless and basically non-competitive in a 28-3 loss to visiting Bowling Green on Nov. 8. Ohio (2-8, 1-5 Mid-American Conference) has lost three straight, including two in a row at home, and displayed nothing in the latest setback that would indicate a turnaround could happen soon.

Ohio was held to without a touchdown for the first time since a 27-3 loss at Akron on Nov. 15, 2005. Solich benched starting quarterback Boo Jackson in the fourth quarter, and the defense failed to force any turnovers or any three-and-outs.

A funeral home had nothing on the atmosphere during this cold, cloudy afternoon in Peden Stadium. Solich insisted his team was still battling.

"The want was there, I think the will was there to do it, but I don't think we had enough electricity, energy out there to really take that game over," he said.

Perhaps that's a scarier prospect. The Bobcats are trying, but simply lack the ability now to compete.

"It was a poor effort I think from every aspect," said linebacker Noah Keller.

"We were just not playing the way we should have been. We gave up big plays on things we practiced and repped on all week. Just a big disappointment."

The Bobcats have plenty of time to mull things over. Ohio will have a bye next week, and will not play again until they face Akron, at home, on Nov. 22.

SEASON RECAP

Wyoming 21, Ohio 20 -- Dax Crum's 23-yard touchdown pass with 7:28 remaining put the Cowboys on top for good and gave Wyoming a one-point win over the Bobcats for a second straight year. Ohio gained only 39 yards on the ground and was flagged 12 times for 115 yards.

Ohio State 26, Ohio 14 -- The Bobcats held a lead until the fourth quarter but couldn't hang on for the upset. The Buckeyes capitalized on five Ohio turnovers, including three in the fourth quarter, and clinched the win with 69-yard punt-return touchdown by Ray Small with 5:57 remaining.

Central Michigan 31, Ohio 28 -- The Bobcats opened up a 14-0 lead, and then nearly erased a 10-point deficit in the final nine minutes. QB Boo Jackson fumbled away the ball as he was crossing the goal line for the go-ahead score with three minutes remaining.

Northwestern 16, Ohio 8 -- The Wildcats took a 16-0 halftime lead and then held on behind their defense. The Bobcats had two fumbles, two interceptions and two blocked field goals as they dropped their fourth-straight winnable game.

Ohio University 51, VMI 31 -- Ohio gave up 339 rushing yards but racked up 575 yards itself and outscored the Keydets 34-7 in the last two-plus quarters to pick up its first win of the season. The Bobcats scored touchdowns on offense, defense and special teams for the first time this season.

Western Michigan 41, Ohio 20 -- The Broncos exploded for 30 points and nearly 300 yards of offense in the second half to expand on an 11-7 halftime lead. WMU QB Tim Hiller torched the Ohio defense for 347 yards and four touchdown passes.

Ohio 26, Kent State 19 -- Struggling K Barrett Way tied a school record with four field goals and Donte Harden added 115 rushing yards and a touchdown as the Bobcats snapped a five-game road losing skid.

Temple 14, Ohio 10 -- The Owls scored two touchdowns in the last 11 minutes to erase a 10-point deficit and stun the Bobcats. Temple had just 143 total yards, but an Ohio fumble on its own 18-yard line with just 4:39 to go set up the winning score.

Bowling Green 28, Ohio 3: The lifeless Bobcats were held without a touchdown for the first time in three seasons, while Bowling Green quarterback Tyler Sheehan threw touchdown passes and caught a third. The Falcons scored 14 points in 1:54 in the third to pull away.

Copyright (C) 2008 The Sports Xchange. All Rights Reserved.