Blankenship carries load for Ohio

Another team might have been in a fix when its best running back was in the locker room with the flu in the first quarter of a crucial game.

Ohio University coach Frank Solich, however, simply went to the next man on the depth chart when Donte Harden was unable to continue in a game at Central Michigan on Thursday.

Beau Blankenship, a sophomore transfer from Iowa State, responded by running for 129 yards and two touchdowns on 25 carries in a 43-28 victory.

The week before, Harden had set a team record for a game with 322 all-purpose yards in a victory over Temple.

“We don’t have a back that lacks toughness,” Solich said. “What Beau did speaks for the depth that we have.”

Harden started fast with 29 yards on six carries before leaving. Blankenship knew what to do because his playing time has increased during the season.

Solich said he looked at Blankenship and saw “a confident look, an excited look.”

“He did what he was supposed to do,” Solich said, “and that included blocking assignments.”

This week might be the biggest test for the Bobcats. They play at Bowling Green on Wednesday, meaning they have one fewer day to prepare for the game. Plus, final exams begin on Thursday.

Ohio (7-3, 4-2) has a half-game lead over Temple and a one-game lead over Kent State and Miami University in the Mid-American Conference East Division.

Ohio Dominican speeds to finish

Ohio Dominican coach Bill Conley went to work yesterday wanting to get ready for another game rather than begin recruiting.

Who could blame him for wanting more on his plate?

The Panthers ended their second season in NCAA Division II with a 38-26 victory over Indianapolis. The fourth straight victory gave them a final record of 7-4.

“And it was the third win we had in four games over a ranked team,” Conley said. “You know things are going good when you don’t want the season to end. We’re on cloud nine.”

There is no guarantee that the chemistry will carry into next season. Quarterback Jeremy Fudge and record-setting tailback Mike Noffsinger are seniors.

Conley made sure to address the underclassmen about attitude.

“I told the younger guys to make an appointment with the older guys and learn from them,” he said. “Each team has a different personality, no matter how many players are back. It’s not a given that we can pick up where we left off. That’s the challenge.

“We think we can meet that challenge.”

Toledo’s defense out of gas

Toledo coach Tim Beckman didn’t enjoy talking about the history the Rockets wrote in a 66-63 victory over Western Michigan last Tuesday.

Yes, the Rockets moved the ball down the field and into the end zone. But they also played some of the worst defense in team history in allowing 635 yards, including 548 passing.

The teams combined to set MAC records for touchdowns (18) and yards (1,439) and a Glass Bowl record for points (129) in a game.

“It came down to who could outscore the other,” Beckman said. “I’ve been in the Big 12 where they score a lot of points, but nothing like that in the last two weeks (including a 63-60 loss to Northern Illinois the previous week). We’ve given up too many big plays. We’ve missed too many tackles. We looked like a tired football team.”

Toledo will have had 10 days off before playing at Central Michigan on Friday night. Beckman treated the first few days like a bye week; final exams began the day after the Western Michigan game.

The staff is concerned that the defense has lost its legs.

“We needed a little break,” Beckman said. “I don’t know if we practiced a little too hard or a little too long. We’ve got to play football — defensive football. Our tackling has been atrocious. That is unacceptable.”

Collaros out at Cincinnati

Cincinnati will find out quickly whether sophomore quarterback Benton “Munchie” Legaux lives up to the status of a three-star prospect, his tab as he came out of high school in New Orleans.

Senior Zach Collaros underwent surgery on a broken right ankle yesterday and will be out until at least the bowl game. He was injured running into the end zone in a 24-21 loss to West Virginia on Saturday.

“That’s football, and we’ve got to move on,” coach Butch Jones said. “I’m positive and upbeat. We get to see our future a little early. Munchie doesn’t have to win the game. He just has to manage our offense.”

Legaux completed 10 of 21 passes for 144 yards and one interception against West Virginia. He ran for 113 yards and one touchdown.

The Bearcats (7-2, 3-1) have a one-game lead in the Big East over Rutgers, West Virginia, Louisville and Pittsburgh going into a game at Rutgers on Saturday. They hold tiebreakers over Louisville and Pittsburgh.

mznidar@dispatch.com