For a second consecutive week, members of the Ohio football team have received conference recognition for their actions on special teams.
After wide receiver Chris Garrett won the award last week, kicker Matt Lasher was named the Mid-American Conference East Division's special teams player of the week following his performance at Illinois Saturday.
The senior kicker and punter knocked in two 32-yard field goals, one of which came in the final five seconds to clinch the game, in the Bobcats' 20-17 upset win over the Fighting Illini.
We've worked hard in trying to get to where we have an advantage in every special teams area
Ohio coach Frank Solich said. Sometimes that hasn't quite materialized the way we'd like it to but we've had our bright moments. This game there were many bright moments.
Along with his two field goals, Lasher thrived in the punting game as well. Of his eight punts on the night, four were downed inside Illinois' 20-yard line, two falling inside the 10.
It is the second time this season Lasher has won the award. He won the award after the Bobcats' first game of the season against Tennessee-Martin when he made two field goals and put four punts inside the 20.
With the two field goals on Saturday, Lasher is now 7-of-12 attempts this season. He is also averaging 40.8 yards per punt and has had 19 of his 43 punts land inside the opposing team's 20-yard line. Lasher not the only 'special' one
With Garret going down at the end of the first half with a shoulder injury Saturday, the Bobcats needed someone to step in and fill the large shoes left by the nation's No. 1 punt returner.
That player was cornerback Mark Parson and Solich said he was pleased with the sophomore's performance.
Everybody looks long and hard for guys that under pressure can catch a punt with guys bearing down on you
Solich said. I thought he responded extremely well in that kind of situation.
Parson returned his first punt for 13 yards while he was unable to gain anything on his second. The cornerback also picked up his first career interception near the end of the first quarter of Saturday's game. Injury update
Solich said that Garrett has a chance to play in this Saturday's game against Buffalo, but that he will see how Garrett performs in practice this week.
Linebacker Tyler Russ is also questionable for Saturday's game after he suffered a high ankle sprain Saturday. Russ did return in the game and recovered the fumble that set up Lasher's game-winning field goal, but Solich said there was some swelling in his ankle after the game.
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Andrew Gribble
