Ohio’s hoping to stay on track to become bowl-eligible in Tuesday’s showdown with Northern Illinois.
Ohio doesn’t have any fond memories of the last time it played Northern Illinois.
The teams last met in Detroit for the 2011 Mid-American Conference Championship and the Bobcats held a 20-0 lead at halftime — appearing to be on their way to their first MAC Championship since 1968.
But Ohio squandered its lead, and Northern Illinois scored 23 unanswered points in the second half, including a game-winning field goal as time expired.
“It’s definitely probably the worst loss, and most bitter loss, I’ve ever had in my football career,” redshirt senior safety Josh Kristoff said. “Every now and then I’ve thought about it, even when we’re not playing Northern. Just, man, I really wish we would’ve got that one.”
The Bobcats won’t be playing for a title on Tuesday. They’ll simply be trying to stay on track to becoming bowl-eligible for the sixth consecutive season. They’ll also be donning new black jerseys for the annual “Bobcat Blackout” game.
Northern Illinois (8-2, 5-1 MAC) owns the best record in the conference and has won four straight games. The Huskies also have won the second-most games in the Football Bowl Subdivision since 2010.
Meanwhile, the Bobcats (5-5, 3-3 MAC) are coming off a 37-14 win against Buffalo on Nov. 5, which was their only game in the past 24 days. Kristoff said the Bobcats have been able to rest and prepare for the final two weeks during the time off.
“We know this game means a lot to us. If we want to for sure go to a bowl game, we’ve got to win our next two,” he said. “The bye week gets you a chance to refocus.”
Ohio also took a break from practicing before playing Buffalo and had another six days away from practice since then. Coach Frank Solich said that routine helped give the Bobcats energy against the Bulls and keep players healthy, so he hopes it works again.
One of those players is freshman running back A.J. Ouellette, who ran for a season-high 155 yards and two touchdowns against Buffalo despite not being 100 percent with a lingering ankle injury.
“It’s better. I needed that time off my feet and I’m ready to go,” Ouellette said. “(Time off) gets the calendar off a little but you just go one day at a time and prepare every day.”
If the Bobcats hope to win, they’ll most likely have to stop the Huskies’ MAC-best rushing attack. Northern Illinois is averaging 262 yards per game and has scored 27 rushing touchdowns. Ohio, however, has the MAC’s third-best rushing defense allowing 135 yards per game and 11 touchdowns.
Tuesday will be the final game at Peden Stadium this season and the final game in Athens for Ohio’s seniors. Kristoff said he hasn’t thought about it much, because he wants to win two or three more games before he leaves Athens.
Kristoff also said the Bobcats still on the roster from their loss to the Huskies in 2011 are seeking a bit of revenge.
“(A win would) make a statement,” Solich said. “We’re looking at taking forward steps with our program and that would be one of them, to be able to defeat the top program in the MAC.”
@Chadlindskog
CL1027410@ohio.edu
