A roadblock on the Pennsylvania Turnpike stands in the way of the Bobcats' route to the Mid-American Conference Championship game.
Ohio will face Temple (7-3, 5-1 MAC) Tuesday night at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia - a game that most likely will decide the MAC East Division.
It's obviously a big game
linebacker Jay Edwards said. The MAC East championship rides on this game; everyone knows that.
The Bobcats (7-3, 5-1 MAC) started the season with three losses in four games, but they since have won six consecutive games, making it possible to play for the division championship.
These seniors have pulled us together after the beginning of the year that we had Edwards said. Now we've put ourselves in a very good position.
Temple features two of the MAC's top running backs in Bernard Pierce and Matt Brown and one of the best offensive lines in the conference.
With Ohio's run defense being stout all season, Edwards said the defense is up to the challenge.
They've got a huge offensive line
probably the biggest we've seen so far
and they're gonna try to come out and run the ball on us
Edwards said. It will be a good test. We've been stopping the run pretty well
and on Tuesday
something's going to give.
If Temple isn't running the ball, Ohio will have to deal with quarterback Mike Gerardi, who garnered MAC East Offensive Player of the Week honors following a 368-yard passing performance against Kent State.
Their quarterback has a fabulous arm
safety Donovan Fletcher said. They've got some good receivers with sturdy hands
so we gotta make sure we're in our zones and we're all getting to the ball when the ball's thrown.
Offensively, Jackson's status is still unknown, but fellow quarterback Phil Bates has used the bye week break to heal and adjust to taking all the snaps at quarterback.
I'm just trying to stay healthy and make sure I don't do anything to hurt myself
Bates said. I feel pretty good. I got back against Buffalo and had some good things happen.
The Owls' defense is one of the top in the conference and ranks first in scoring defense. Bates knows that, like the rest of the Bobcats, he has to perform his best to achieve a win.
They all play together
