Offense hitting stride at crunch time

by Shane Sadler
THE POST

For the third-straight week the Ohio football team breezed past a Mid-American Conference opponent.

The Bobcats' success can be directly attributed to the team's explosion on offense.

In its 52-3 annihilation of the Central Michigan Chippewas, Ohio simply did whatever it wanted, whenever it wanted, setting or nearly setting several school records along the way.

Ohio scored seven rushing touchdowns against Central Michigan, breaking the school record of six, which was set against Western Michigan 47 years ago.

The Bobcats tallied 507 yards of total offense, the seventh-best mark in school history, and their 444 rushing yards is the third best in school history. Only three other teams in Division I-A have topped that mark this season. The Bobcats have 2476 rushing yards on the year, already the eighth best season at Ohio.

Tailback Chad Brinker led the way for Ohio with three scoring runs. Brinker now has seven rushing scores on the year, giving him a total of 54 points for the season. Two more touchdowns will enter Brinker into the school's top-10 for scoring in a season, in just his second year of action.

Z-back Raynald Ray, quarterback Dontrell Jackson, fullback Keland Logan and tailback Wiz White accounted for Ohio's four other touchdowns.

Ray had four punt returns for 61 yards, leaving him with the third-highest punt return yardage in a career at Ohio, with 567 yards. His 299 punt-return yards this season is also third most is school history, 74 yards shy of the school record.

**Kerr named MAC Special Teams Player of the Week

Ohio place-kicker Kevin Kerr earned MAC Special Teams Player of the Week, following his performance against Central Michigan.

Kerr was a perfect 7-of-7 on point after touchdowns, extending his streak to 30-straight made. He also connected on a 44-yard field goal, giving him 10 on the year, marking the fifth most in a season by a Bobcat, just four shy of the school mark.

He has 60 points after eight games of the season, which is two points short of the best kick-scoring season in Ohio history.

Kerr was also called on for his first punt attempt of his career against Central Michigan. He booted a 25-yard pooch punt to pin the Chippewas on their own 15-yard line.

**Stifling defense complementing offensive improvement

Central Michigan opened the scoring of Saturday's game against Ohio, but the Chippewas' 28-yard field goal on their opening drive would prove to be their only score of the game.

Ohio's defense quickly brought Central Michigan back down to earth by shutting the team out for the final 52 minutes and 36 seconds of the game.

Following the opening scoring drive by Central Michigan, the Bobcat defense did not allow the Chippewas to smell the endzone, let alone score.

Central Michigan had possession of the ball 11 times following its field goal and was only able to enter Ohio territory on one of those drives.

Free safety Duffer Duffy had three near interceptions. In the first quarter, he had an interception called back for roughing the passer penalty. On the play, Duffy, while airborne, intercepted Derrick Vickers' pass near Ohio's goal line, astonishingly keeping one foot in-bounds.

Strong safety Chris London and linebacker Tom Weilbacher each had an interception for the Bobcats, giving the squad 11 picks on the year by seven different players.