Ohio Bobcats at Virginia Tech Hokies Preview

By Darrell Laurant  |   Friday, September 16, 2005  |  Comments( 0 )

College Football
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It must have been a little sobering for first-year Ohio Bobcats coach Frank Solich and his offensive coordinator, Tim Albin, to watch game film of Virginia Tech's 45-0 demolition of Atlantic Coast Conference opponent Duke last week. A deep, fast and hard-nosed Hokies defense held the Blue Devils to a total of 35 yards (13 rushing, 22 passing), which has to bode ill for an OU attack that was less than spectacular in a loss to Northwestern and an upset victory over Pitt.

On the other hand, Tech's defense won't be able to stop the Bobcats' top offensive weapon, Dion Byrum, because Byrum plays defense himself.

A refugee from ACC country (the Charlotte suburb of Matthews, NC), Byrum has scored three of OU's four touchdowns this season — a fumble recovery against Northwestern and touchdown interception returns of 38 and 85 yards against Pittsburgh, the latter giving the Bobcats a 16-10 victory in overtime. As a reward, the senior cornerback was named National Defensive Player of the Week.

Virginia Tech Hokies coach Frank Beamer can appreciate a guy like Byrum, since his team is second only to Miami with 46 return touchdowns since 1999. Yet it would be a lot to expect for the Bobcat DB to continue his heroics against the fourth-ranked Hokies — instead, QB Austen Everson and RB Kalvin McRae will be forced to ratchet up their play.

Marcus Vick, younger brother of Michael, had his best game as a Virginia Tech QB last Saturday. With some well-documented off-field problems apparently behind him, Vick burned the Blue Devils for three TD passes and reeled off a couple of Michael-like scrambles. Four running backs have seen significant duty for Tech this season, led by Mike Imoh, and DB Jimmy Williams and DE Darryl Tapp are all-America candidates on defense.

The game is set for 3:30 p.m. at Lane Stadium in Blacksburg.
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