ATHENS – Ohio racked up 523 yards of offense and wore down Stonehill in a 35-7 victory Saturday at Peden Stadium.

Despite missing starting running back Duncan Brune for the second straight week, the Bobcats (2-2) rushed for 301 yards and had a fairly efficient passing day from Matt Vezza, who started at quarterback for the second week in a row.

The Skyhawks (2-3) finished with just 124 yards of offense, including minus 1 on the ground, and yet they hung around in the first half, trailing just 14-7 at the break. But they could not stay in it after that as Ohio scored touchdowns on three straight second-half possessions.

"I'll say this, 300 yards rushing (and giving up minus 1 rushing yards), that's big for us," Ohio coach John Hauser said. "That's exactly what we're trying to do."

Irving Brown had a career day with 97 yards on just eight carries, and Victor Rosa added 87 yards on 20 attempts. Mike Taylor Jr. ran another 10 times for 48 yards.

After turning the ball over on downs on its opening possession, Ohio took the lead on its next opportunity, this time converting a fourth-and-3 with a Vezza 5-yard completion to Preston Bowman. Vezza capped the drive with a third-and-8 scramble for 18 yards.

Jack O’Connell’s 32-yard touchdown pass to Cole Clarke, but those were the only points of the day for Stonehill.

The Bobcats went right back in front on the ensuing drive. Riley Neer had a 34-yard catch, Taylor Jr. converted a fourth-and-1, and Rosa scored on a 4-yard run to make it 14-7.

Ohio looked to add to its lead in the closing minute of the second half, driving inside the Stonehill 10, but Vezza’s pass was tipped at the line and intercepted by defensive end Tyler Bannon, keeping it a one-touchdown game.

Dom Dorwart picked up 21 yards on a double-reverse, and on the next play, Vezza threw a 42-yard touchdown pass to Dorwart, making it 21-7 with 8:01 left in the third quarter.

"We were running it well, and we were kind of picking our spot to throw it down there," Hauser said. "Great execution. Great ball by Vezza, and then Dom reaching out for it after he ran the reverse."

Brown’s 60-yard run set up a Vezza 1-yard touchdown run with 4:27 left in the period.

The Skyhawks’ most successful drive of the second half ended on a downs early in the fourth quarter, and the Bobcats struck again one more time on a Rosa 6-yard touchdown run with 7:13 remaining.

Both Brune and starting quarterback Nick Poulos are said to be close to returning, but they were not needed Saturday. Vezza was 14-of-20 passing for 207 yards, and Neer had another huge receiving game, making five catches for 113 yards.

O’Connell was 11-of-18 passing for 117 yards, completing five passes for 64 yards to Clarke.

Ohio begins Mid-American Conference play with a trip to Kent State at 3:30 p.m. Saturday.