Ohio protected one of the most impressive home streaks in the Mid-American Conference on Saturday, holding off Eastern Michigan 24-20 at Frank Solich Field at Peden Stadium in Athens. On a sunny, 68-degree afternoon, the Bobcats built an early lead, lost it by halftime, and then answered in the second half to close out a four-point win.
Ohio struck first, taking a 7-0 lead in the first quarter. The early score gave the Bobcats the start they wanted at home, and through one quarter Ohio had kept Eastern Michigan off the board. That advantage would not survive the second quarter, as the Eagles put together their best stretch of the game before halftime.
Eastern Michigan outscored Ohio 13-3 in the second quarter to take a 13-10 lead into halftime. The swing turned a promising start into a deficit for the Bobcats, who went into the locker room trailing at home. For a team protecting a long home winning streak, the third quarter became the moment when the game — and the streak — would be decided…