The Bobcats travel to face Central Michigan, which features a solid defensive front, as they enter the heart of the MAC schedule.
Mid-American Conference play started on the first snap of the season for Ohio, which will look to resume this weekend where it left off.
The Bobcats (3-2, 1-0 MAC) travel to Mt. Pleasant, Michigan, to face Central Michigan — the same team that dampened Ohio’s homecoming last year when the Chippewas scored in the final seconds of the game to take a 26-23 victory.
That, along with being picked to finish third in the MAC East this season, has added to the Bobcats’ chip on their shoulder they’ve been playing with all season.
“Throughout the season we’ve had that chip on our shoulder, this is probably the first year we haven’t been picked to win the East,” redshirt senior wide receiver Chase Cochran said. “You always think about (last year). That was our homecoming game, those are always the games you’re supposed to win. We had them beat and we even made a good comeback to put ourselves ahead a couple times in that game.”
With Derrius Vick still out on a week-to-week basis, JD Sprague will again start at quarterback Saturday. Because he assessed his first career start last week as “very average,” he will continue to work on his deep ball throws this week.
Cochran commended Sprague’s play last week, but the redshirt sophomore continues to be critical of his own play. Sprague threw two interceptions and completed 54 percent of his passes last week against Eastern Illinois.
“I put it all on myself,” said Sprague, who combined for 212 all-purpose yards and two rushing touchdowns last week. “I’m probably my biggest critic, but I recognize it and I’m going to work on it.”
Cochran said the offense is finally starting to feel comfortable and get into a groove of their own, which he hopes happens at a perfect time for the team.
Central Michigan (2-3, 0-1 MAC) boasts a senior transfer running back from Michigan that has rushed for 341 yards and five touchdowns on the ground, along with six catches for 61 yards.
"He is a very physical back,” coach Frank Solich said. “They utilize a lot of running backs, though. It's not a deal where they're going to line up one guy with the idea that that's going to be the guy.”
The Chippewas have had 12 different players attempt rushing plays, but they’ve been outgained 938-686 on the ground, which is an area that is usually a strength for them.
Central Michigan shows many different packages on defense, but don’t blitz heavily. They feature two strong defensive tackles: senior Leterrius Walton (6-foot-5, 300 lbs.) and sophomore Jabari Dean (6-foot-2, 295 lbs.).
Ohio is 110th out of 125 Football Subdivision Schools with a turnover differential of negative-six. With three freshman lineman coming in and out of the Bobcats lineup, the Chippewas defensive front may cause problems.
"Their two interior guys are very strong football players with a lot of quickness,” Solich said. “They do a ton of different things, so what they do, they do well. You don't find them out of position, and that allows them to — if you've got good talent — to have a good, good defense."
However, the Bobcats expect to win because of their preparation for MAC play that started immediately after the last season came to a close.
“The teams that win a MAC Championship are the teams that week-in and week-out are always prepared, always ready to go and always execute,” Cochran said. “That’s been our mentality thus far … we’d love to be 2-0 at the end of the week and the way we’re practicing this week I feel really good about that.”
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