After losing a combined 79-3 in his team’s last two games, Ohio coach Frank Solich admitted that it was the worst two-game stretch he’s been through in Athens.
He said the Bobcats’ last two weeks have been the most frustrating he’s had at Ohio — even more so than the 2008 season, when the Bobcats finished 4-8 overall.
“The last couple games have been very tough on us,” Solich said. “Losing is not something we’ve done a lot of here for quite some time. And when you lose by the margins that we have the last two games, obviously that sets you spinning even more.”
The Bobcats (6-4, 3-3 Mid-American Conference) are looking to right the ship and end their two-win game slide when they host Kent State (3-8, 2-5 MAC) at Peden Stadium on Tuesday.
After Ohio’s 49-0 thrashing at the hands of Bowling Green this past Tuesday, redshirt senior linebacker Keith Moore said he was so mad after the game that he didn’t go back to the team buses, instead opting to talk to his family and vent his rage.
That anger was felt by all in his position group, which permitted Bowling Green 460 total yards, including 207 yards on the ground.
“As a linebacker group, we didn’t even watch the film,” Moore said. “When you play that bad, you really can’t learn much of anything.”
Hope is on the horizon, however, as Moore and his teammates claim that this past week of practice has been the most positive the Bobcats have had this season.
“This week, we had a great practice, probably the most energy we’ve had all season, maybe even since fall camp,” redshirt junior wide receiver Chase Cochran said. “I think we’ve found life. I think we’re rejuvenated and I’m excited.”
Ohio, which has allowed more than 190 yards rushing in four games this season, will have its hands full with another talented running back in Kent State senior Dri Archer.
Archer, after setting the MAC on fire last season with 1,990 total yards of offense and 23 touchdowns, has taken a step back this season because of injury, missing two games and touching the ball 10 or more times in a game only four times this season.
His inability to stay on the field, along with the departure of coach Darrell Hazell to Purdue, partially explains why the Golden Flashes have fallen off from their 11-win 2012-13 season.
But Archer had a season-high 12 carries last week in a 24-6 victory against Miami, indicating he’s inching closer to full health.
“He’s shifty,” Moore said. “We have to keep the cup, which is a term we have on defense. When you have three defenders who can make the tackle, you have to have two force players and a fill guy.”
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This article appeared in print under the headline " ’Cats keep heads, energy high"
