Ohio’s pristine record is not built from bricks — it’s been constructed from straw and sticks.
Since rounding out its nonconference schedule in week four, Ohio has risen above its three Mid-American Conference opponents by a cumulative margin of only 16 points. The Bobcats’ perfect record has not come easy.
The Bobcats’ (7-0, 3-0 MAC) conference match continues Saturday when they will make the trip to Oxford with the hopes of defending an explosive Miami squad (3-4, 2-1 MAC) that is led by redshirt senior quarterback Zac Dysert.
Ohio cracked the Bowl Championship Series Top 25 on Sunday and garnered its No. 24 spot, but will have to fend off Dysert, who joined the 10,000-yard club earlier this season, to keep climbing the rankings.
Ohio’s secondary has held up against opponents’ passing attacks in recent weeks, allowing 486 yards through the air in the two games that redshirt senior safety Gerald Moore hasn’t started, because of a high-ankle sprain.
Moore has dealt with his injury gingerly, per advice from team trainers. But, he said Wednesday he will be suited up and ready to play against the RedHawks this weekend.
“It’s good to have (Moore) back, because of his experience,” said defensive back coach Fred Reed. “When you lose a guy like that, other guys have to step up, but to have him back makes us a little deeper and makes us a little bit better on defense.”
If Dysert has time to hit his targets and scramble freely, it will be hard to keep the RedHawks out of the painted paradise.
Dysert is the conference’s third-best passer with 273 yards per game and is the RedHawks’ second-best runner. He averages only 25 yards per game, eight yards less than team leader Jamire Westbrook, a freshman running back.
Ohio redshirt senior defensive lineman Neal Huynh said it is imperative that the defensive line generates pressure on Dysert so he can’t hit the ground running or have extra time to drop back and pass.
“If we hit him and slam him on the ground a little bit, it’s going to mess up his game,” Huynh said. “We have to be aware of where he is and what we’re doing and not give him throwing lanes and running lanes."
The 89th installment of the “Battle of the Bricks” is important for Ohio not only in terms of keeping its standing in the conference, but also honoring a precedent.
“It’s our biggest rival,” redshirt senior defensive lineman Corey Hasting said. “It’s an intense game every year. We’ve beaten them six times in a row, we’d like to continue that. Our senior class doesn’t want to be the team that doesn’t beat them.”
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