DETROIT – Parker Navarro ran for two touchdowns and passed for two more and Ohio defeated Miami (OH) 38-3 in the Mid-American Conference Championship game played at Ford Field on Saturday.

Anthony Tyus III rushed for 151 yards and scored on 27 carries to help the Bobcats (10-3) win their first MAC championship game in six games since the title game was introduced in 1997. Season loss to the RedHawks (8-5), with whom they tied for the MAC regular season title at 7-1.

Before the introduction of the league title game, the Bobcats’ last MAC championship was in 1968.

“Offensively, a masterful game plan from our offensive team,” fourth-year head coach Tim Albin, who came to Ohio as an assistant in 2005, said in a television interview. “We were on schedule all day. time of ball possession; our defense was watching. … This has to be the best four quarters of football I’ve ever seen in my 36-year career. Certainly my 20 years here at Ohio.”

Ohio scored touchdowns on every complete possession except two, which ended in a field goal and its only punt in the final minute of the third quarter.

Navarro was 20 of 27 passing for 235 yards – more than 2,000 this season – and ran for 67 more.

Brett Gabbert threw for 127 yards with one interception for the RedHawks, who rushed for just 62 yards and were outrebounded 467-189.

Miami scored on its first drive with a 25-yard field goal from Dom Dzioban, but Ohio scored touchdowns on its three first-half possessions to take a 21-3 lead.

Navarro scored from 4 yards on an 11-play, 75-yard drive and then completed an 18-play, 82-yard drive spanning more than 10 minutes with a 1-yard run. The latter TD came two plays after Navarro was dropped for a 7-yard loss, but a face mask penalty put the Bobcats up 1st.

After a three-and-out by the RedHawks, Ohio rushed downfield again, gaining 75 yards in 10 plays and scoring on Navarro’s pass to Mason Williams on a 15-yard pass that the tight end took into the end zone.

Ohio took over the second-half kickoff and increased the lead to 27-7 when Navarro rolled to his right and hit Coleman Owen for a 25-yard touchdown. Gianni Spetic added a career 52-yard field goal. Anthony Tyus III scored on a 21-yard run late in the game.