Ohio will look to win consecutive games for the first time this year when Eastern Illinois comes to Peden Stadium on Saturday.
Two years ago, Derrius Vick made his first-ever start for an injured Tyler Tettleton against a Football Championship Subdivision team.
Saturday, JD Sprague will make his first career start against Eastern Illinois, another FCS team, after Vick left last weekend’s game with a knee injury and is out on a week-to-week basis.
Although Vick started each of the Bobcats’ first four games, Sprague has received snaps in the past three, including last week against Idaho when he took snaps in the final three quarters. He finished with a season-high 165 yards passing and gained another 30 on the ground.
“We practice with all the guys, so (JD) is really not any different from Vick,” sophomore wide receiver Sebastian Smith said. “JD throws the ball to everybody and he knows the offense, so I feel comfortable with him at the quarterback spot.”
Eastern Illinois is the alma mater of quarterbacks Tony Romo of the Dallas Cowboys and Jimmy Garoppolo of the New England Patriots, who was drafted in the second round in this year’s NFL Draft.
Last year, the Panthers finished 12-2 but coach Dino Babers left to take the helm at Bowling Green and two quarterbacks have been used to replace Garoppolo this year — each of whom have more than 500 yards passing this season.
“They're an established program and they're used to success and they'll come in here very hungry for a win,” coach Frank Solich said. “We've got a huge undertaking.”
Eastern Illinois (1-3) showcased a triple-option offense during their 63-7 win last week against Austin Peay and finished with 413 rushing yards on 63 attempts. Four Panthers gained more than 40 rushing yards, led by quarterback Jalen Whitlow with 137 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He also threw for 159 yards and two more touchdowns through the air.
“It’s pretty hard to face an offense like that period,” senior defensive lineman Antwan Crutcher said. “They go quick paced, have so many formations and different reads you need to understand that it’s kind of hard because you can get tricked by so much.”
“You’ve just got to stay fundamentally sound.”
The Panthers’ quick-tempo offense is different than the previous four the Bobcats have seen, but is one that coach Solich is very familiar with after being apart of it during his playing days at Nebraska in the 1960s.
Eastern Illinois will run its offense out of the shotgun at times with three players in the backfield. However, Ohio (2-2) has allowed an average of 146 rushing yards per game thus far and has contained its opposition in the backfield by combining for 11 sacks for 73 yards.
"It's tough to defend when you haven't been defending it,” Solich said. “It's going to be a challenge for us to get ready for everything they do."
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