Scott throws 3 TDs, helps Ohio keep MAC title hopes alive in 38-31 win over Northern Illinois

Ohio holds off Northern Illinois 38-31

ATHENS, Ohio — Theo Scott threw three touchdown passes to lead Ohio to a 38-31 win over Northern Illinois on Saturday, keeping the Bobcats’ Mid-American Conference title hopes alive.

Ohio (8-3, 6-1), which won its 200th MAC game, maintained second place in the conference’s East division. The Bobcats host first-place Temple next Saturday with the winner booking a spot in the MAC title game at Ford Field in Detroit on Dec. 4.

Scott finished 16-for-28 with 138 yards for the Bobcats, who sneaked past the second-place team in the MAC’s West Division to set up next week’s showdown. LaVon Brazill caught touchdown passes of 37 and 27 yards, and scored on a 91-yard punt return.

Trailing 28-24 early in the fourth, Scott’s 7-yard TD pass and Julian Posey’s 41-yard interception return put Ohio up 38-28.

Chandler Harnish had 307 yards, two touchdowns and an interception for the Huskies (7-4, 5-2).