ATHENS – Parker Navarro tied a school record with four rushing touchdowns, the defense forced four turnovers, and Ohio ran away with a 35-10 victory against Eastern Michigan on Wednesday night at Peden Stadium.

Navarro’s huge night included 106 yards rushing on 13 carries and 22-of-32 passing for a career-high 277 yards as the Bobcats (7-3, 5-1 Mid-American Conference) remained tied atop the league standings.

It was a shaky start for Ohio, which fell behind 7-0 on Cole Snyder’s 18-yard touchdown pass to Delbert Mimms III with 12:47 left in the second quarter.

After punting one more time following that score, the Bobcats finally got their offense going with a quick five-play drive that included a 21-yard completion to Chase Hendricks, a 34-yard reception by Coleman Owen and then a 31-yard gain by Rodney Harris II. That led to Navarro’s 3-yard touchdown run that tied that game at 7.

Two possessions later, Eastern Michigan (5-5, 2-4 MAC) had a chance to regain the lead, driving to Ohio’s 25-yard line, but Ben McNaboe deflected a Snyder pass near the line of scrimmage and then brought it in to end that threat.

Then on offense, the Bobcats executed a nearly perfect drive with 2:30 remaining, scoring on an Anthony Tyus III 1-yard touchdown run with 13 seconds left in the half to move in front 14-7.

Despite Navarro being intercepted by Quentavius Scandrett on the opening possession, the second half was almost all Ohio. Tank Pearson returned the favor with the second interception of Snyder, and although that did not lead to points for his team, Pearson struck again, and this time, the Bobcats capitalized with a Navarro 25-yard rushing touchdown, making it 21-7.

Eastern Michigan had a chance to get back in it. A questionable targeting penalty on DJ Walker gave the Eagles a first-and-goal from the 4-yard line. However, Snyder fumbled on the next play, resulting in a loss of 2 yards, and then a delay of game pushed the ball back to the 11. After two incompletions, Jesus Gomez kicked a 29-yard field goal to make it 21-10.

Navarro’s 16-yard completion to Eamonn Dennis was just shy of the goal line, and Navarro ran the ball in from a yard out to make it a three-possession game at 28-10 with 7:20 remaining.

On the next play from scrimmage, a McNaboe sack of Snyder caused a fumble, which was recovered by Kaci Seegars at the Eastern Michigan 19-yard line, and that set up Navarro’s final touchdown, a 4-yard run on third-and-goal in which he reached the ball across the goal line. Initially, he was ruled short, but the call was overturned by replay review.

Owen had a huge receiving game for the Bobcats with eight receptions for 139 yards. Hendricks made five catches for 61 yards. In the end, Ohio held a 433-266 advantage in yards.

Snyder went 18-of-30 passing for 155 yards and ran 14 times for 23 yards. Oran Singleton caught five passes for 70 yards, and Delbert Mimms III ran 16 times for 71 yards.

With the victory, Ohio now controls its own destiny in reaching the MAC Championship Game. Miami and Bowling Green both also have 5-1 records in the league but meet in the final game of the regular season.

One of three teams with a 4-2 record in the league, Toledo is next for the Bobcats at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Glass Bowl.