Bobcats off and running in new season
By William Strome, Staff Writer
August 30, 2008 | 10:14 a.m.
After a disappointingly mediocre 6-6 season, the Ohio football team aims to get back to the top of the Mid-American Conference with a trip out west to Mountain West Conference foe Wyoming.
The stage is set for round two of the Ohio-Wyoming bout. The Cowboys shocked the ‘Cats, 34-33, after overcoming a 23-6 deficit early in the second half on September 22, 2007, in the confines of Peden Stadium.
Ohio was torched for over 200 yards on the ground in the second half, namely by current senior Devin Moore who tacked on 198 yards on 19 carries and two touchdowns. Moore will be the starting tailback for the Cowboys on game day Saturday.
Like the Bobcats, Wyoming will have a new face under center come Saturday in sophomore Dax Crum who transferred this offseason from Mesa Community College. Last year current junior Karsten Sween took the snaps for the Cowboys but will be second on the depth chart behind Crum. Sween struggled against the Ohio secondary with four interceptions but did complete 26 of his 36 attempts for 174 yards and two scores.
Crum may not be the only quarterback making his debut in a new uniform. El Camino Junior College transfer Franshaw “Boo” Jackson is second on the depth chart behind junior Theo Scott for Ohio. Scott, who completed 63 of 109 attempts for 743 yards and five scores, shared the position with Brad Bower a year ago.
While the Ohio quarterback debate from last season was a weekly thing, the running back debate was nonexistent. The Bobcats all-time leading rusher Kalvin McRae has graduated and left the position up for grabs. The running back corps consists of juniors Chris Garrett and L.J. Flintall, sophomore Vince Davidson and redshirt freshman Donte Harden. Garrett was previously a wide out but was moved to the tailback permanently this offseason but did rush for 108 yards on 17 carries last season. Senior tight end Andrew Mooney, who the Columbus Dispatch said “could be the best tight end in the [Mid-American] conference,” caught 33 passes for 473 yards and nine scores last season.
On the defensive side of the ball, Landon Cohen has moved onto greener pastures in the NFL with the Detroit Lions leaving a huge gap at the defensive tackle position. Senior defensive end Jameson Hartke returns from an offseason injury and will hope to pick up where he left of as a premier end in the MAC who finished last season with 51 tackles and a pair of sacks. Returning to his roots in the trenches will be sophomore Ernie Hodge, who redshirted last season.
As a whole, the defense will be bringing back seven starters including two of the top three leaders in tackles from last year in safety Michael Mitchell and linebacker Michael Brown, with 74 and 85 respectively. Brown, however, will be sidelined with a hamstring injury and will not play on Saturday.
Even with seven starters coming back, the defensive unit allowed an average of over 400 yards per game and roughly 30 points.
To hear just how ready the Bobcats are for this season’s action, check out comments from head coach Frank Solich and tight end Andrew Mooney at http://mac-sports.com/newMediaPlayer/console.htm?type=vod&oemid=9400&id=138926.
Next week the Bobcats travel to the Horseshoe in Columbus to take on the national champion runner-up Ohio State Buckeyes.