Sept. 3, 2007

Ohio-Louisiana-Lafayette Game Notes
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ATHENS, Ohio - Ohio football hits the road for the first time in 2007, with a trip to the Bayou for a match-up with Louisiana-Lafayette.

Ohio opened the season with a 36-14 win over Gardner-Webb in front of 19,823 Bobcat faithful at Peden Stadium.

Running backs Kalvin McRae (Decatur, Ga.) and Josh Abrams (Dunwoody, Ga.) combined for three rushing touchdowns and quarterback Brad Bower (Burr Ridge, Ill.) found Chido Nwokocha (Elk Grove, Calif.) for a 34-yard touchdown pass.

McRae's two touchdowns in the game pushed him into third all-time in Ohio football history with 28 total. McRae also broke the 3,000 yard rushing mark for his career against Gardner-Webb, with his 142 yards on the ground bringing his career total to 3,106.

The Bobcats netted 432 yards of total offense - 206 on the ground and 226 via the pass - and will look to continue that efficiency against a Louisiana-Lafayette team that held its own against South Carolina in the season opener.

The Ragin' Cajuns lost 28-14 to the Gamecocks but racked up 252 rushing yards in the process. While Louisiana-Lafayette totaled only 62 yards passing, junior quarterback Michael Desormeax was more concerned with the ground game, tallying 116 yards and one touchdown on 23 carries.

The Ragin' Cajun running game will square off against a stout Ohio rush defense, anchored by defensive end Jameson Hartke (Centerville) and defensive tackle Landon Cohen (Spartanburg, S.C.), which limited Gardner-Webb to just 62 yards on the ground. The Ohio defense also intercepted two passes.

Linebackers Jordan Meyers (Harrison) and Lee Renfro (Burnside, Ky.) finished No. 1 and 2, respectively, in total tackles for the Bobcats with 13 combined, including three for loss. Meyers, a junior, and Renfro, a sophomore, both recorded sacks in Saturday's contest as well.

Special teams could also be an area of interest in the Bobcats' second game of the season.

Ohio's Michael Braunstein (Gilbert, Az.), a transfer from Washington, connected on all six of his kicks against Gardner-Webb, two field goals and four extra points. Freshman punter Matt Schulte (Cincinnati) also played well with a long of 58 yards.

Abrams, however, was the special teams star of the game. His three blocked punts earned him MAC Special Teams Player of the Week honors.

While special teams were an area of strength for Ohio in its opener, Louisiana-Lafayette struggled. Ragin' Cajuns freshman punter Spencer Ortego sliced his first collegiate kick out of bounds only 22 yards downfield. South Carolina quickly used the excellent field position to score a touchdown 53 seconds later - its second trip to the end zone in the first half.

Louisiana-Lafayette calls the 31,000-seat Cajun Field home. The Ragin' Cajuns hold a 104-86-2 record all-time at the stadium nicknamed "The Swamp."

Live video of the game will be available for $9.95 on Louisiana-Lafayette's athletic Web site - RaginCajuns.com. The subscription allows for access to all ULL events in September. Live audio will be available at OhioBobcats.com and WXTQ-FM (105.5) will be carrying the radio broadcast in and around Athens.