Add linebackers Tyler Russ and Hugh Grant to the list of injured Ohio players. Both suffered injuries against Kentucky.
Russ suffered a variety of knee injuries, including torn ligaments that will definitely keep him out for the season, perhaps even longer. He had to be carted off the field after taking a chop block in the fourth quarter. Grant suffered a strained groin.
Fortunately for Ohio, linebacker Chuck Terry, who has been out since the second game of the season with a shoulder injury, returns to the playing field this week.
Terry said he must play big in his first game back.
Everyone that goes down is very important to the team
he said. Everyone has to step it up be stronger than they were before and just bring it.
Freshman linebacker Matron Church also will be expected to play a bigger role. He said he is ready but wishes his opportunity did not have to come the way it did.
Don't get me wrong I love my chance that I have now
but I'd rather not be because we have two people hurt right now
Church said. If they throw me in there
I've been waiting for it
so it's just time for me to step up.
Russ' last game a good one
Russ earned Ohio Reality/GMAC Real Estate Football Player of the Week/MVP honors for his performance against Kentucky.
Before getting injured, Russ led the team with nine tackles and also had a fumble recovery. On the season, Russ had accumulated 49 tackles in seven games, including seven for loss. He also had one sack, one interception, two fumble recoveries and a blocked kick.
Quarterbacks improving
All three quarterbacks were throwing the ball in practice this week, but the injuries to Fred Ray and Ryan Hawk are not completely healed.
As a result, any of the three could start or play against Buffalo, coach Brian Knorr said, depending on their conditions.
Freshman Austen Everson has started each of the last two games.
This and that
Ohio ranks sixth in the nation in average time of possession at 33:31. The only game where an opponent controlled the ball more than Ohio was the Iowa State game... Ohio's 200.1 rushing yards per game is second in the Mid-American Conference to Bowling Green's 202.6. Ohio has led the MAC each of the past seven years... The homecoming crowd at Kentucky's Commonwealth Stadium was the fifth largest crowd an Ohio team has ever played in front of. The announced attendance was 61,107.
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Lonnie McMillan
