2025 Scooter’s Coffee Frisco Bowl, Ohio vs. UNLV, 12-23-25 | Photo Gallery

Ohio came into the 2025 Scooter’s Coffee Frisco Bowl against Mountain West Conference runner-up UNLV (10-4, 6-2) seeking its ninth win. This would not be an easy task. MWC Offensive Player of the Year Anthony Colandrea led a Rebels offense averaging nearly seven yards per play. Along with first-team All-MWC running back Jai’Den Thomas, the duo led a unit which scored 30 or more points 11 times in 2025.

Additionally, the Bobcats were without head coach Brian Smith, fired just six days before the contest. Taking his place was assistant head coach/defensive coordinator John Hauser. Ohio named him the team’s interim coach on December 1, 2025, when Smith went on administrative leave. Hauser’s 2024 defense ranked ninth nationally and first in the MAC in points allowed.

Checkmate

From the start, this game turned into a chess match. Ohio’s defense -still led by Hauser as coordinator- often used Fool’s Mate to confuse Colandrea. In its first six offensive possessions, UNLV punted three times, lost a fumble, threw an interception and turned the ball over once on downs.

Colandrea had his moments, but his rhythm was interrupted on third downs. After he drove the Rebels down to the Bobcats nine-yard line, Hauser brought a well-timed zone blitz. The zone pressure attacked UNLV’s man protection rules away from its half-slide.

First, he brought junior safety Jalen Thomeson off of the slot to occupy right tackle Austin Boyd. Secondly, a twist from LB Charlie Cristopher and DE Ike Ackerman left RG Alani Makihele and RB Jai’Den Thomas isolated to pick up the pair. Thirdly, as both players took Christopher, it left Ackerman free to the quarterback. As a result, he sacked, forced and recovered the fumble he caused on Colandrea.

Ackerman (6’4, 249) -a seldom-used freshman- flashed throughout the contest. He finished with five tackles, a quarterback sack, two tackles for loss, a forced fumble and fumble recovery. For a player without a tackle heading into the bowl, it was a strong showing.

Ohio shut down the UNLV rushing attack. For the night, they allowed 3.3 yards per carry (97 yards rushing). It forced UNLV’s hand in a tightly-contested affair.

Running away with it

Conversely, UNLV did not have an answer for Ohio’s two-headed monster of running back Sieh Bangura and quarterback Parker Navarro. The MAC’s top-rushing attack cleared the 200-yard mark for the eighth time in 2025.

Bangura earned Frisco Bowl Offensive MVP honors after rushing for 149 yards and one touchdown on 19 carries. Navarro added 43 yards and a score on the ground. Their zone read chemistry forced the UNLV defensive ends to stay at home on the edges. Ohio first-team All-MAC offensive guard Davion Weatherspoon and center Nick Marinaro opened holes inside for Bangura much of the night.

The 17-10 bowl victory represented a significant accomplishment for Hauser in his first-ever game as a head coach. It won’t be his last. Just three days after the bowl, he was named Ohio’s 31st head coach.

We review more of the game’s stars and atmosphere in our photo gallery recap.

The Ohio Bobcats entered the Scooter's Coffee Frisco Bowl -played in the Ford Center at The Star- ready for action.

Ohio interim head coach John Hauser continued to call the defensive plays for the Bobcats. After a stellar performance in getting the team ready for the game, Hauser was named the team's head coach.

UNLV guard Alani Makihele (No. 73 pictured) pulls to his left as first-team All-MWC running back Jai'Den Thomas fakes the pitch to quarterback Anthony Colandrea.

2025 Frisco Bowl Defensive MVP Adonis Williams, Jr. (No. 5 pictured) attempts to fill the alley versus UNLV running back Jai'Den Thomas (No. 9 pictured).

UNLV first-team All-MWC center Reid Williams -a Chattanooga transfer- battles Ohio DT Pius Odjugo (No. 10 pictured) in the briar patch.

UNLV punter has his punt blocked by Miles Cremascoli (No. 18 pictured) in the first quarter of the 2025 Scooter's Coffee Frisco Bowl.

Cremascoli (No. 18 pictured) -a freshman wide receiver- was excited after his blocked punt.

2025 Mountain West Conference Offensive Player of the Year Anthony Colandrea was one of just four FBS quarterbacks to pass over 3,000 yards (3,459) and rush for over 500 yards (649) this past season.

The Ohio band put on a sterling performance during halftime with a dance routine that matched its tunes.

UNLV LB Marsel McDuffie (No. 8 pictured) - a second-team All-MWC selection- gets his hands up to affect the pass from Ohio QB Parker Navarro.

UNLV wide receiver Troy Omiere (6'4, 210) gets a step on Ohio CB Michael Mack II down the field. Omiere averaged 16.6 yards per reception on his 31 catches (5 TDs) in 2025.

The Ohio Bobcats and UNLV Rebels lock up at the line of scrimmage as quarterback Parker Navarro hands off to Duncan Brune behind the goal line.

UNLV defensive end Tunmise Adeleye fends off OT Jordon Jones to keep Sieh Bangura from reaching the edge.

A pair of all-conference performers battle as Jordon Jones (No. 55 pictured) gets pushed back by Tunmise Adeleye on the edge. UNLV is Adeleye's fourth stop in the last four seasons (Texas A&M, Michigan State, Texas State).

Adonis Williams, Jr. (No. 5) holds up the Defensive MVP trophy after the game as Ohio RB Sieh Bangura (No. 5 pictured) holds the Offensive Player of the Game award.

Hauser (seen holding up the Scooter's Coffee Frisco Bowl championship trophy) earned Division III All-American honors as a safety at Wittenberg.

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Corey Chavous

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