ATHENS – Linebacker Cam Hollobaugh returned an interception for a touchdown on the game’s opening possession and also forced a fumble that led to a score as Ohio topped Bowling Green 35-20 to open Mid-American Conference play Saturday at Peden Stadium.

The Bobcats (3-2, 1-0 MAC) forced four turnovers, also getting interceptions from DJ Walker and Tank Pearson, to overcome three of their own.

"It was a great team win," Ohio coach Brian Smith said. "I think there were tremendous things on all sides of the ball, and you could see that as the game went on.”

Jay Crable deflected Drew Pyne’s pass after Bowling Green began the game with good field position on Cameron Pettaway’s 49-yard kick return. Hollobaugh came down with it and raced 71 yards to the end zone to give Ohio a lead just 2:01 into the game.

Then in the middle of the third quarter, with the Bobcats leading 21-13, Hollobaugh got a blindside hit on Lucian Anderson III to force a fumble that Crable recovered. That gave Ohio a short field that led to a Parker Navarro 5-yard touchdown run for a 15-point advantage.

"(Hollobaugh) continues to get better," Smith said. "He's a kid that's just an athlete. ... The thing that stood out to me when we started recruiting him was that he was a multi-sport athlete, and he was also a really good baseball player in college. As a two-sport athlete, you can see a lot of that transitioning, where he can make plays with the ball in his hands."

Pearson’s interception in the second quarter likely prevented Bowling Green points. Down 21-10, the Falcons drove to the Bobcats’ 26-yard line when Pearson’s interception in the end zone ended a promising drive. Walker’s interception late in the game allowed Ohio to run out the block.

All of the Bobcats’ turnovers were in the second half. Parker Navarro was picked off by JoJo Johnson on a miscommunication with Chase Hendricks on a fourth-and-3 play in the third quarter.

Navarro also fumbled when he was hit from behind by Myles Bradley, leading to Isaiah Thomison’s recovery only three plays before Hollobaugh delivered a similar play with the same result.

With 11:29 remaining, Navarro was ruled to have fumbled on an a play where he seemed to try to stop a throw, with Bowling Green’s MJ Cannon recovering. That led to a Chris McMillan 15-yard touchdown run to get the Falcons to within 28-20 with 9:41 to go.

Ohio answered with ultimately a clinching drive, getting a 28-yard Sieh Bangura touchdown run and then a 34-yard Navarro scoring run on the very next play with 6:13 remaining.

The Falcons answered the Bobcats opening defensive score with a Pyne 27-yard touchdown pass to Kaderris Roberts, but on their first offensive possession, the Bobcats went back in front for good on a Mason Williams 19-yard touchdown pass from Navarro.

Jackson Kleather kicked a 26-yard field goal late in the first quarter, making it 14-10, and Ohio extended its lead to 11 points on Navarro’s 25-yard touchdown pass to Hendricks.

Kleather connected on a 33-yard field goal with 45 seconds left in the half. The Bobcats had a chance to answer before the break, but Brack Peacock’s 38-yard field goal was off the left goalpost.

Bangura finished with 115 yards rushing on 18 carries, while Navarro had 66 yards on 11 carries and went 17-of-25 passing for 208 yards and two touchdowns. Williams had a career game with eight catches for 93 yards, while Hendricks, who led all of FCS in receiving yards coming into the game, was limited to just the touchdown reception.

Pyne went 19-of-29 passing for 170 yards and a touchdown. McMillan had 89 yards on just 11 carries, while Pettaway had 54 yards on eight attempts.

In addition to the fumble recovery and deflection that led to an interception, Crable’s huge day included three sacks and seven tackles.

Ohio hits the road to take on Ball State at noon next Saturday Scheumann Stadium.