Sports
Ohio Looks To Bounce Back Against Kent State
By: Anthony Allocco
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“I’m going to kill people.”
Although Quentin Poling said it in a joking manner, he continued to say, “I want to get interceptions, I want to force fumbles, I want to get sacks and I want to score touchdowns.”
It is clear Poling wants to have a major impact Tuesday in his return to the field.
Ohio is 0-3, giving up 50.7 points per game since Poling left the matchup with Western Michigan on Oct. 17. With Poling in the lineup, Ohio allowed less than 17 points and was 5-1.
To say Bobcat fans should be excited to see 32 in green-and-white take the field Tuesday night in Peden Stadium is an understatement, but one teammate is especially happy to see the linebacker return to the lineup.
“[Poling] is the quarterback of the defense, so when you don’t have the quarterback on defense it’s hard to have communication and have a good feel,” quarterback Derrius Vick said.
Ohio is looking to get its defense back on track this week against Kent State, who statistically has the worst offense in the MAC. The Golden Flashes have scored just 15.9 points per game, and are the only team in the conference to have gained less than 300 yards per game on offense.
Ohio’s offense could face a bit of trouble on the other side of the ball though, as Kent State is second in the conference in yards allowed, giving up 327 yards per contest. Sitting at second in rush defense and third in pass defense, Kent State could give Vick and the Ohio offense trouble on Tuesday night.
Vick will need to show some mobility to avoid Kent State’s pass rush, which leads the conference with 25 sacks. Fortunately for Ohio, Vick showed glimpses of the versatility he will need in a recent matchup against MAC-East powerhouse, Bowling Green.
Last week against Bowling Green, Vick posted season highs in rushing attempts and rushing yards. He also ripped off an 18-yard carry that was his longest run of the year. Ohio’s offense opened up when Vick started carrying the ball, and Ohio was able to keep it close early on before Heisman watch-list quarterback Matt Johnson and the Falcons ran away with it 62-24.
To open up running lanes for Daz Patterson and A.J Ouellette, coach Frank Solich and Ohio could call more designed runs for Vick again this week.
“They have to respect [me pulling the ball]. The field will spread open for A.J or Daz or whoever else is in there,” Vick said. “I’m feeling healthy again. I got banged up last week but I’ve been feeling good.”
Some crucial moments in Peden on Tuesday night will come with special teams and on third downs.
Ohio is sixth in the conference with 20.7 yards per kick return, and Kent States kickoff coverage team is dead last in the MAC. Ohio returners Daz Patterson and Devin Bass could impact the game with a few big returns, giving Ohio good field position going against the tough Golden Flashes defense.
Third downs will also be crucial in the matchup. Although Ohio is fourth best at converting on the money downs, Kent State leads the conference in getting off the field in these situations, allowing third down conversions just 31.8 percent of the time.
Ohio wide out Sebastian Smith will need to continue to be solid on third down if the Bobcat offense wants to sustain drives rather than looking for big plays to highlight the box score.
“A lot of [Smith’s] stats don’t get to show up, but a lot of his production is on third downs,” Vick said. “Anytime its third and long or I need a big play, most of the time its Sebastian.”
The matchup could give Ohio it’s sixth, bowl-eligibility clinching win.
The game is set to kick off from Peden Stadium at 8:00 p.m.