Eastern Michigan defeated by Ohio 24-20 after 100-yard kickoff return by Bobcats

Eastern Michigan lost 24-20 to Ohio on Saturday night after Darren James-Hamilton returned a kickoff 100 yards with 3:40 left to play, and the Bobcats defense made four goal-line stops late in the game.

The victory extended Ohio's home winning streak to a nation-best 17 straight.

James-Hamilton's return came after the Eagles went 98 yards in eight plays to take a 20-17 lead on Brogan McCaughey's 24-yard pass to Joey Mattord.

Eastern Michigan then ended up on the Bobcats' four after a fourth-down pass interference penalty with less than 30 seconds to go. McCaughey threw two incompletions before getting flagged for intentional grounding while being sacked by Michael Molnar. The fourth-down pass from the 16 wasn't close.

Nick Poulos threw for a touchdown and ran for another for the Bobcats (6-2, 4-0 Mid-American Conference). He was 19-of-29 passing for 266 yards, including a 78-yard catch-and-run connection with Dom Dorwart for a 7-0 lead.

Aaron Kearse had a 25-yard scoop-and-score after Ronn Hardin sacked Poulos and Rudy Kessinger's field goal as time expired gave the Eagles (4-5, 3-2) a 13-10 lead at the half.

Poulos had a 1-yard scoring run in the third quarter.

Up next

Eastern Michigan: At Central Michigan on Nov. 4.

Ohio: At Akron on Nov. 3.