Last year the Bobcats handed the Herd a
44-7 defeat. Marshall Head Football Coach Doc Holliday said those same guys
that gave them fits last year are the ones that have led Ohio to a 2-0 record
this year.
“When you look at Ohio University, you
look at an offensive line that is very physical. You add Tyler Tettleton to
that group, he’s an excellent quarterback, who makes great decisions and can
beat you with his feet and you had Beau Blankenship, the running back, in there
that runs extremely hard and they have some skill guys that can go play. Overall they create a lot of issues for you. They can run it and they can throw
it,” Holliday said.
Marshall enters the contest 1-1 with a
loss at WVU and a home victory last week over Western Carolina. The Bobcats
started the season 2-0, with a road victory at Penn State and a home win over
New Mexico State. It’s the Penn State victory that has everyone noticing. Holliday
said Ohio doesn’t do anything special, but what they do with their personnel
creates problems.
“They’re a very physical team, but they
still spread you out. The thing they do that creates a lot of issues for you is
they go a lot of two tight end stuff, but they’ll line in two tights, one back
and two wides. But they’ll still end up with four wides where they flex those
tight ends out and do different deals with the. So they give you a lot of
formations out of the same personnel groupings,” Holliday said.
Each year, the Herd and the Bobcats play
for a traveling trophy – a river bell. The Bobcats lead the all-time
series with 30 wins-19 losses –and 6 ties, but Marshall has won eight of the
last 10 meetings between the schools –and wants the trophy back.
The Herd and Bobcats can both feature
up-tempo offensive attacks. The Herd’s new up-tempo style has led to an offense
ranked near the top in the country in many offensive categories. Ohio
University Head Coach Frank Solich said both teams should be ready for the
other team’s up-tempo offense.
“It will balance one another out, I
don’t see an advantage either way, we’re use to running a fast-paced offense
now, it’s our second season with it, we’ve faced our guys in practice and there
is no better conditioning than doing that,” Solich said.
Solich said the matchup with a fired up
Marshall team is just another hurdle that his team has to deal with.
“There are always new challenges that
pop up for you, but our team has been able to accept those new challenges so
far and I presume that we’ll be prepared and show up and play well and I’m sure
they’re feeling the same way,” Solich said.
Marshall senior wide receiver Aaron
Dobson said the memories of last year’s defeat at the hands of the Bobcats are still
fresh for the Herd players.
“They just killed us man, plain and
simple they beat us on both sides of the ball offense and defense, as an
offense we didn’t produce and as a defense we really didn’t stop them so they
got the best of us, but we’re definitely ready this year, we’re focused and
have had a hard week of preparation and it’s going to be a great game Saturday,”
Dobson said.
The Herd and Bobcats kick off tomorrow night
at 6:30.