Ohio heads to Buffalo this weekend with something to prove.
Last year in Athens, the Bobcats beat the Bulls, 34-32, on a field goal in the final seconds of the game. Ohio held a 21-3 lead at the half, but Buffalo came back to take a one-point lead with less than five minutes remaining.
They think it was a fluke because we got them on a field goal
Ohio running back Brad Young said. So this year we have something to prove to them. We're coming out and we're going to bring it.
Buffalo (0-8 overall, 0-4 Mid-American Conference) made a late run against Marshall last week. After spotting the Herd a 19-3 lead in the first half, the Bulls cut the deficit to 19-16 before Marshall was able to seal the win on a touchdown with 5:06 remaining. The score came after a 15-yard penalty set the Herd up at the Bulls' 44-yard line.
They are playing hard and they are playing with more confidence
Ohio coach Brian Knorr said. They get better each week. It's going to be an atmosphere where both teams will continue to play better. We just need to take care of ourselves.
Two years ago in Buffalo, the Bulls blew out the Bobcats, 44-0. Knorr said few of the current players made that trip, but there are enough of them to remember that if they do not play hard they will be embarrassed.
Last time we went up there
they handed it to us
said outside linebacker Willie Sherman, who played in the 2001 Buffalo game. They are going to attack us
and we are just going to have to step up and be physical and come out and play our game this time.
Ohio (2-5, 1-2 MAC) looks for its first road win Saturday, while Buffalo aims for its first victory of the season.
We definitely need a road win to give us confidence
Young said. Everybody needs a little confidence booster to up their game a little bit. That win could bring a lot of confidence and a lot of hope for the rest of the season.
A win this weekend would even Ohio's conference record and set them up for the bulk of the season that is yet to come. The Bobcats beat the University of Central Florida two weeks ago to tally their first MAC win after losses to Western Michigan and Northern Illinois.
Our goal is to compete for that division title
and we are still competing for it
Knorr said. To get back to .500 would put us right in the thick of it.
The Bobcats are coming off a 35-14 loss at Kentucky in their final non-conference game of the season last week. After a bye next week, Ohio will face Kent State, Akron, Marshall and Miami.
The non-conference game
that's a game we wanted to win
