West Virginia’s matchup with Ohio is what some call a “trap game,” with the potential of College GameDay coming to Morgantown for the Backyard Brawl against Pitt. The Mountaineers fell into the trap pretty hard.

WVU lost to Ohio 17-10 on the road, handing the Mountaineers the first loss of the second Rich Rodriguez era. WVU is now 1-1 on the season, and it was the first loss out of 13 meetings with the Bobcats.

“I’m very disappointed,” Rodriguez said. “It starts with me. I told the guys that I failed them this week.”

The game wasn’t completely out of reach.

The defense had a couple of blown coverages, but did everything it could to allow the offense to come and win the game. However, the offense just couldn’t get anything going all day.

They started off hot, with a big Jahiem White touchdown, putting WVU on the board first 7-0, with 3:22 to play in the first quarter. Nicco Marchiol hit Cam Vaughn on a big pass, setting up the touchdown run.

From there, the offense couldn’t get anything going. WVU had three straight three-and-outs, which resulted in short Oliver Straw punts. On the fourth drive, WVU finally moved the chains, but shortly after, punted again.

It didn’t help that starting running back Jahiem White was carted off after a facemask and a horse collar tackle was called on him. He couldn’t walk. Wide receiver Jaden Bray was also carted off late in the game. Linebacker Reid Carrico was also out early.

During the post-game press conference, Rodriguez hadn’t received an update on White.

“It didn’t look good from the sideline,” Rodriguez said.

After the touchdown, all the offense had to show was a field goal to start the second half, and it finished with 250 yards. The offense was so lost that Rodriguez subbed in quarterback Jaylen Henderson for two drives.

Henderson couldn’t get anything going either. He missed a wide-open pass to Cam Vaughn and was 0 for 4. Under Henderson, the offense netted -7 yards.

Marchiol came back in, but couldn’t get anything going either. He ended the day 15 for 26 and 178 yards.

Zac Alley’s defense had a tough task, corraling Ohio quarterback Parker Navarro, and kept him pretty at bay. At the beginning of the game, Alley’s defense held, and even made Ohio kick a long field goal by sacking them a couple of times after the Bobcats had first-and-eight.

When Ohio was threatening, Alley’s defense also picked off Navarro three times. Safety Darrian Lewis, who was called for a big pass interference, and linebacker Ben Cutter intercepted Navarro. Chase Wilson added another pick when Navarro’s pass was tipped at the line of scrimmage. All three times, the offense couldn’t take advantage.

But after all the short offensive drives, Alley’s defense started to wear out. Navarro completed a couple of big passes on blown coverages and scrambled a couple of times to pick up the yard to gain.

Navarro completed a 37-yard pass to his favorite target, Chase Hendricks, making it 17-7 with 25 seconds left in the half. Hendricks exited eight catches for 121 yards. The touchdown made it 17 unanswered for the Bobcats.

Navarro, the known dual threat, led the Bobcats in rushing with 87 yards. Running back Sieh Bangura was just behind and punched in Ohio’s opening score. Through the air, Navarro completed 22 of 31 for 247 yards and a touchdown.

After getting multiple chances, Marchiol was hit as he threw and was picked off by Ohio’s Cam Hollobaugh. Navarro scrambled a couple of times, running out the clock.

WVU had its chance but couldn’t capitalize.

“They’re a great team,” Cutter said. “We saw what we did against Rutgers last game, and we had a plan. We just couldn’t get it done.”