ATHENS – Ohio limited Austin Peay to 298 yards in a 38-0 shutout to cap off non-conference play Saturday at Peden Stadium.

It was the Bobcats' first shutout since a 38-0 defeat of Buffalo on Sept. 25, 2004.

"This was huge for us,” Ohio defensive end Ty Branz said. “It has been a long time if ever that we've got a shutout and that's what everybody on defense was pushing for and hoping for. That was our goal."

Tyler Tettleton went 13 of 15 for 213 yards to top 7,000 for his career. He threw for three touchdowns as the Bobcats rolled to 494 yards of offense despite sitting their starters most of the second half. Matt Waters caught a pair of touchdown passes.

Ohio (3-1) scored on three of its four possessions. After forcing a three-and-out, the Bobcats needed to go only 43 yards for their first score – a 6-yard pass from Tettleton to Waters.

Donte Foster got behind the defense for a 53-yard touchdown reception to give Ohio a 14-0 lead with 2:56 left in the first quarter, and on a third-and-22 play, Tettleton hit Waters again for a 23-yard touchdown pass at the 13:50 mark in the second quarter.

Ryan Boykin extended Ohio’s lead to 28-0 on a 1-yard run less than five minutes into the second half. It was set up by a 32-yard Daz’ Patterson run to the Austin Peay 3-yard line.

Josiah Yazdani connected on a 47-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter that capped off a 50-yard drive that consisted mostly of runs by Tim Edmond and Derrius Vick.

Ohio’s final score came with 5:08 remaining. After Ian Wells blocked a field goal try by the Governors, Patterson went 46 yards on three plays with a 13-yard run up the middle accounting for the final score.

Despite gaining just 11 yards on its first four possessions, Austin Peay had chances to put points on the board later in the game, but in addition to the blocked field goal attempt, the Governors (0-4) had missed field goals of 32 yards in the fourth quarter and 26 yards in the fourth quarter. They also shanked a punt that set up the Bobcats’ third touchdown.

The Governors committed no turnovers and failed to take advantage of three lost fumbles by the Bobcats.

Chase Cochran caught a 59-yard pass from Tettleton down to the Austin Peay 5-yard line early in the third quarter, but fumbled the ball into the end zone for a touchback.

Later in the third, two plays after a missed field goal, Patterson lost a fumble, giving the Governors possession at Ohio’s 30-yard line, but it led only to another missed kick.

With time winding down, the Governors got a 33-yard pass completion on a jump ball catch by Rashaan Coleman to the Ohio 10-yard line on a fourth-and-22 play. Austin Peay had time for one more play but Timar Mitchell threw well short of Coleman after being forced out of the pocket.

"They made a couple of big plays and pushed us back but the big thing is that we bend but don't break on defense,” Branz said.

Matt Green’s field goal troubles continued with a 48-yard miss in the second quarter that was way left, and Yazdani made good on his one field goal try and two extra points in the second half.

Patterson finished with 94 yards on just seven carries for Ohio. Boykin had 57 yards on 14 attempts, while Beau Blankenship and Edmond finished with 38 and 36 yards, respectively, on nine rushes each.

"Running the ball has been great for us today,” Patterson said. “Lately we have not been able to get much in the running game but if we can get that going then it opens up for touchdowns a lot more."

Cochran led Ohio in the receiving game with 84 yards on four catches. Waters’ four grabs were good for 55 yards, while Foster made two catches for 64 yards.

Austin Williams led Austin Peay with 103 yards on 13 carries. Much of that came on a 57-yard run in the fourth quarter. Tim Phillips carried 16 times for 69 yards.

Governors starting quarterback Andrew Spivey went 11 of 22 for 114 yards. Kameron Johnson made five receptions for 46 yards.

Reserve linebacker Blair Brown made the most of his extended playing time with eight tackles to tie Jovon Johnson for team best. Ty Branz,
Tarell Basham and Nieco Teipel had sacks for the Bobcats. Seven different players had tackles for loss.

Craig Salley led Austin Peay with 10 tackles.

Ohio has a week off before opening Mid-American Conference play at 2 p.m. Oct. 5 at Akron.