ATHENS, Ohio — Isaiah Rodgers stood near the sideline covering Ohio receiver Cameron Odom when Bobcats quarterback Nathan Rourke looked to his right and threw. Odom was gone, but Rodgers snagged the open interception and ran 55 yards for UMass’ second touchdown in the game’s first four minutes.

That defensive effort didn’t show up for the rest of the game.

After a quick start and a 14-0 lead, the Minutemen fell to Ohio, 58-42 on Saturday. UMass gained 451 yards of total offense, but allowed an Ohio record 664 yards to be gained against.

Quarterbacks Andrew Ford and Ross Comis put together consecutive touchdown drives in the first quarter. Ford drove the Minutemen 75 yards in six plays after just 1:41 of game time. A 39-yard strike to Andy Isabella put points on the board.

Comis followed closely with a three-play, 69-yard drive that culminated with another Isabella touchdown reception. Isabella finished with 12 receptions for 198 yards and three scores. Overall for the men behind center, Ford and Comis combined for a 30-for-43 day passing for 410 yards, five touchdowns and one interception.

“Andrew had the interception, but again, he’s throwing to Izzy and he gets mugged. Other than that they made some good plays,” UMass coach Mark Whipple said. “They just didn’t get any takeaways; they didn’t get any splash plays on defense. We needed to make one there at the end and that was the difference; we couldn’t do it. They did; they got the interception and picked up the flag.”

On Sunday, Whipple was suspended for one week without pay for comments he made during a radio interview following the game.

According to a transcript of the incident from the Athens Messenger, Whipple was asked during his postgame radio interview with WHYN-560 AM about the officials picking up a flag and deciding against calling pass interference against Ohio in the middle of the fourth quarter. The penalty would have negated a Bobcats interception and given UMass a first down in Ohio territory trailing by 13 points.

In his response, the veteran coach said, “We had a chance there with 16 down and they rape us, and he picks up the flag,” referencing the manner in which the Bobcats defense interfered with Isabella on the play. The comment was omitted from the postgame quotes distributed to the press, which were nearly identical to the transcript from the Messenger.

“I am deeply sorry for the word I used on Saturday to describe a play in our game,” Whipple said in a statement released by UMass Sunday night. “It is unacceptable to make use of the word ‘rape’ in the way I did and I am very sorry for doing so. It represents a lack of responsibility on my part as the leader of this program and a member of this university’s community, and I am disappointed with myself that I made this comparison when commenting after our game.”

That interception came with 5:28 left in the game with UMass trailing 55-42. Ford attempted a deep pass to the left side of the field and was intercepted by Javon Hagan. Initially, a defensive pass interference penalty was called on the Bobcats, but it was taken away. Whipple was given an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty which aided a field goal scoring drive for Ohio.

“It’s the same guy that called two holds on us,” Whipple said of the non-flag on the interception Saturday. “I mean, we all saw it down that way and we got a little momentum, but it’s hard enough to win on the road. Like I said, I understand if it’s the SEC, but we’ve had that crew before. It is what it is. As I said to the guys, we’ve got to move forward and they fought.”

UMass was called for eight penalties for 77 yards to Ohio’s four flags for 45 yards.

“Our guys played hard; they have a good team,” Whipple continued about the officiating. Mid-American Conference “got their revenge on us, officiating-wise — that’s the worst I’ve ever been a part of. I’ve been in the SEC, I’ve been in the NFL and I’ve never seen anything so bad: six holds against none until the end. At least when I got a 15-yarder the guy finally threw a flag. I thought our guys fought hard at the end there. We couldn’t make enough plays.”

Ohio converted 34 first downs, which tied the program record for second-most in a game. The UMass defense also allowed an Ohio record for total offense with those 664 yards.

Rourke after his interception led Ohio (2-2) on six consecutive touchdown drives. With his legs, Rourke had a career-high 189 yards with a score. Rourke, who entered the game completing less than half of his passes, was 23-for-32 for 270 yards with three touchdowns. Redshirt senior running backs Maleek Irons and A.J. Ouellette combined for 210 yards rushing with three more scores.

Marquis Young led UMass on the ground with just 45 yards on 13 carries. In total, the rushing game was stifled for 41 total yards (Ford and Comis had minus-13 yards total) and no touchdowns.

The Minutemen (2–4) will return home on Saturday for a bout with undefeated South Florida.

Staff Writer Josh Walfish contributed to this report.