Just two years ago, cornerback Julian Posey was catching touchdown passes from former LaSalle High School teammate and current Bowling Green quarterback Tyler Sheehan. Needless to say, if he catches another tomorrow, the two will not be celebrating together.
Posey and Sheehan were teammates during their last two seasons of prep football before going their separate ways for college. While Posey was named first-team All-Greater Catholic League South as a cornerback, he was occasionally put in at receiver. He caught five passes for 120 yards and three touchdowns his senior year.
Although the two have never faced off in college ' Posey is a redshirt freshman ' this won't be the first time they have gone against each other. In grade school, Sheehan went to St. Margaret Mary, and Posey went to St. Clare, where they played against each other a lot, Posey said.
All those years playing with and against Sheehan have given Posey a unique advantage.
I can tell when (the ball)'s coming out
Posey said. I've been watching him for so long playing with him so long ' I know what he likes to do.
The two were good friends in high school. They lived just down the street and around the block from each other. On Fridays, before games, Sheehan would eat dinner at Posey's house.
They have remained close despite being division rivals. Posey and Sheehan still talk on the phone weekly and work out together when they are home. That friendship will disappear as soon as Bowling Green gets the ball on offense, Posey said.
(When we) step on the field he's just a quarterback that I'm trying to pick off
Posey said. I'm going to pick him
run him over and get a touchdown. That's the goal.
Posey might have plenty of opportunities to accomplish that goal, as Sheehan has already thrown nine interceptions in just seven games this season.
Despite his tendency to throw interceptions, Sheehan is having a stellar sophomore season with the Falcons. He ranks second in the Mid-American Conference in passing yards per game (271.9), fourth in touchdown passes (13) and third in total offense per game (265.3 yards). He leads an explosive passing offense that ranks first in the conference.
With what he's done at this point
leads you down the track that he's an excellent quarterback
coach Frank Solich said. They (Bowling Green) have some very good receivers that he's thrown to. They've had an outstanding throwing package for some time at Bowling Green.
Making things even worse for the Bobcat defense is that the conference's worst rushing offense is coming off its best performance of the season.
Running back Willie Geter ran for 203 yards against Kent State, which has the best rushing defense in the conference.
Safety Todd Koenig said Bowling Green's offense is hard to stop because they run five-receiver sets.
When you spread everybody out
the linebackers get pushed out
and that makes more room in the middle to run. So we're going to need a big game out of our D-line
Koenig said.
While bragging rights are on the line for Posey this weekend, there is still something else that the team is fighting for ' a division championship.
If Ohio has any chance of making a bowl game this year, it will have to win the rest of its games, all of which come against MAC East Division teams.
The Bobcats are currently last in the division with an 0-2 divisional record.
We need to get back on pace
Posey said. This is a big game for us to just get the momentum back on our side.
