In last season's game against Kentucky, the Ohio football team might have felt like it was seeing triple.
Wildcat backup quarterback Shane Boyd practically beat the Bobcats single-handedly, accounting for four touchdowns and 169 total yards. But it was how he did it that left an impression.
Boyd ran for 85 yards and two touchdowns, passed for 54 yards and a score and caught a 30-yard touchdown pass on a flea-flicker to help Kentucky overcome a resurgent Ohio team and win 35-14 at Commonwealth Stadium.
He beat us from the wide-out position
he beat us at quarterback and also running the football Ohio coach Brian Knorr said. Last year when he was on the field with (starting quarterback Jared) Lorenzen
you never knew who was lining up at quarterback and who was lining up at wide-out. I think that confused us a little bit.
With the graduation of Lorenzen, Boyd's role this season has been simplified to quarterback. The threat he poses to Ohio's defense, however, remains at least twofold.
Boyd's got the ability to run and throw
Ohio cornerback Dion Byrum said. They give him a lot of free reign to make his own calls
and he's not that predictable. If we can contain him
we'll win this game.
The senior quarterback has a strong arm, as evidenced by his participation on the Wildcat baseball team as a relief pitcher. His targets consist of five wide receivers at least 6 feet 2 inches tall, including go-to guy Glenn Holt (15 catches for 146 yards in 2004) and Jacob Tamme, who measures in at 6 feet 5 inches.
By contrast, neither of Ohio's starting cornerbacks -Byrum and T.J. Wright -reach 6 feet on the measuring stick.
I don't think it's particularly a problem because both our corners can jump through the gym and they're just as fast
Ohio free safety Rashad Butler said. Our guys can match up with them.
But Boyd may be even more dangerous running the ball. Listed at 6 feet 2 inches and 228 pounds, he has a rare combination of size and speed for his position, Butler said.
Our main focus is on him 'cause he's the heart and the soul of their offense
Butler said. He's a big guy to bring down
but if we keep him in the pocket
then our linebackers can get to him.
Kentucky, like Ohio, has struggled to find consistency this season while transitioning into a new offense. The Wildcats scored 51 points during a win against Indiana, but were shut out in a season-opening loss at Louisville and managed just three in last Saturday's loss at No. 16 Florida.
Ironically, while the Bobcat's offense has shifted away from the triple option, Kentucky's versatile quarterback has prompted the option's inclusion in the Wildcat attack.
If your quarterback is your best athlete
