Huskies won't underestimate Bobcats

DEKALB - Ohio University enters Saturday's game against Northern Illinois ranked at or near the bottom of the Mid-American Conference in most statistical categories.

Huskies head coach Rod Carey said numbers don't matter when it comes to the Bobcats.

"If you're going to judge Ohio off their numbers, that is the wrong thing to do," Carey said. "They're defense is really good. I think they've had some issues maybe at times with big plays here and there that maybe skew numbers a little bit. But you look at the body of their work and it's a really good defense. I don't put any stock into the numbers in any way, shape or form."

The Bobcats (3-2, 1-0 MAC) enter Saturday's game against NIU (3-3, 3-0) last in the MAC in passing defense (363.6 yards per game) - although the Huskies are last in passing offense (134 ypg). The Bobcats are also ninth in scoring defense (35.8 points per game) and 11th in total defense (505.8 ypg).

Carey said there's no glaring weakness to single out when facing the Bobcats or anyone else on the Huskies' schedule.

"It past years, it seemed like maybe you could play a little Where's Waldo and attack that a little bit," Carey said. "But you go through our conference schedule, and nonconference obviously, and everybody's had a good defense. This week is no exception. These guys are really good."

And the Bobcats have come up with some big plays when needed. In last week's 27-26 win at Kent State, safety Javon Hogan came up with an interception that ended the Flashes' final drive, preserving the win.

"The interception was huge," Ohio coach Frank Solich said. "All they need to do is get in position to kick a field goal. Javon is able to run back there pretty well. Obviously, he's tied down sometimes with other responsibilities, but when you let him roam back there, he finds the football. It was great positioning by him, a great job looking the ball in and a great job of running some after that catch."

The Bobcats come in with one of the MAC's top offenses - second in scoring (36.8 ppg), third in total yards per game (455.4) and first in rushing offense (203.8 ypg).

Quarterback Nathan Rourke has been a big chunk of that for Ohio, leading the team in rushing.

"I think he's very comfortable in our system," said Solich, who reached 100 career victories with the Bobcats with the win last week. "The start that he had was probably not what any of us expected, but he overcame that, and that's part of his makeup. He's able to overcome things when they don't go right, and him being able to do that gives you the chance to have the kind of games he's having right now. He's throwing a high percentage or he's doing a great job in the running game. He's picking the right moments to scramble and picking up some crucial firsts for us just by his legs and running on a designed throw. Then, you build in a few runs for him. He's a complete quarterback, and I think that's really showing now."

Rourke has completed 59.8 percent of his passes for 1,025 yards, 7 touchdowns and 3 interceptions. He's also rushed 50 times for 391 yards and 3 scores. A.J. Ouellette (306 rushing, 4 touchdowns) and Maleek Irons (299, four) also get a lot of touches for the Bobcats.

NIU safety Mykelti Williams said he expects the NIU defensive line to keep the pressure on Rourke, leaving the secondary the task of staying on their guys.

"He's very explosive and likes to extend plays," Williams said. "For us DBs it will be important for us to stay in coverage and continue to cover our guy down the field. He can stretch the field by throwing great passes down the field by using his legs."

The Huskies will be playing a home game for the first time in almost a month after road games against Florida State, Eastern Michigan and Ball State.

"It's been a bit of stretch with these last three away games," Deveaux said. "But you know it's going to be exciting to be back in front of the fans."

The Huskies won against the Cardinals, 24-16 - their second MAC win by that margin this year, winning 24-16 against Central Michigan in their last home game on September 15.

The game is also homecoming for the Huskies, and Carey said the team's attention is on the field.

"Our job is the football game," Carey said. "After the game, family, friends, all those things. We'll have a good time. But until then, our job is the football game. There's a lot of things that can distract you homecoming week. But our job is the football game."

Ohio U. at Northern Illinois

When: 2:30 p.m. Saturday

Radio: WLBK 1360-AM, 98.9-FM, 560-AM The Answer

TV: ESPN+

Series history: NIU leads, 11-10.

Fast fact: The teams announced earlier this year they will play for the Mallory Cup, in honor of the late Bill Mallory who died this summer. He led both programs to MAC titles and is the only coach to lead two programs to league crowns.

Prediction: NIU 27, Ohio 16