ATHENS – In what could be a preview of the Mid-American Conference championship game, Ohio dominated the second half and routed Toledo, 38-10, on Wednesday night at Peden Stadium.

The Bobcats (8-2, 5-1 MAC) were able to slow the high-powered offense of the Rockets (8-2, 5-1 MAC) and continued to power over opponents with their rushing attack.

Ohio racked up 532 yards of offense, including 393 on the ground, while Toledo was limited to 316 yards, including just 58 rushing.

Leading 10-7 to start the second half, Ohio stretched its lead to 10 points on a Nathan Rourke 8-yard touchdown run. Then two plays after a three-and-out by Toledo, Dorian Brown broke a 62-yard touchdown run to make it 24-7.

The Rockets answered back with a Jameson Vent 38-yard field goal, but Ohio extended its lead to 21 points on a 12-yard touchdown pass from Rourke to Brendan Cope. After forcing a turnover on downs, the Bobcats scored their final touchdown on a Brown 1-yard touchdown run.

Turnovers perhaps kept Ohio from taking control earlier. Rourke lost a fumble at the Toledo 15-yard line on the Bobcats’ opening possession.

Ouellette’s 6-yard touchdown run gave the Bobcats a 7-0 lead on their second possession, but their third chance on offense ended with a Rourke interception. Ouellette fumbled at the Toledo 21-yard line late in the second quarter, and Toledo evened the game with a Logan Woodside 34-yard touchdown pass to Dionte Johnson.

Johnson fumbled on a possession late in the half, though, and Javon Hagan recovered, and that led to a Louis Zervos field goal to make it 10-7 before the break.

For the second straight year, Brown had a big game against Toledo, finishing with 17 carries for 142 yards and two scores. Ouellette had 70 yards on 18 carries, and Rourke ran 14 times for 115 yards and completed 7-of-15 passes for 139 yards. Papi White had three catches for 91 yards.

Woodside was 24-of-35 passing for 263 yards and was sacked four times. Johnson had nine catches for 144 yards. Shakif Seymour ran 11 times for 77 yards.

With the win, the Bobcats move a game ahead of Akron for first place in the MAC East. Toledo and Northern Illinois each have one loss in the MAC West, but the Rockets have a head-to-head win agains the Huskies.

Ohio can clinch the MAC East in its next game. The Bobcats play the Zips at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Akron.