HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - This time, Marshall knows it has to do a better job defending the option.

Central Florida showed that weakness on one play last week. The Golden Knights aren't known as an option team, but quarterback Steven Moffett scampered 55 yards for a touchdown on a keeper in a 21-7 loss to the Thundering Herd.

Now comes Ohio (2-9, 1-6 Mid-American), which brings a five-game losing streak to Marshall (7-4, 5-2) on Friday in the annual Battle of the Bell.

"This is the first really true option team we've faced," said Marshall coach Bob Pruett. "So we've got to do a good job."

Which quarterback will lead Ohio's option attack is the question.

Last week, Ohio alternated four quarterbacks without success in a 49-31 loss to Miami of Ohio.

Ryan Hawk played the first quarter before the shuffle began. Fred Ray, who was the starter before separating his shoulder, began alternating in the second quarter. Freshman Austin Everson, the fourth Ohio quarterback, led the Bobcats to a 21-point fourth quarter against a defense full of backups.

Ohio piled up 200 yards on the ground against Marshall last year, but this year's Bobcat team has a different look. Ohio had 247 passing yards while being held to 87 rushing yards on 45 carries against Miami.

"They've been throwing it a little bit more effectively," Pruett said. "They've got better throwers than they've had."

On defense, Ohio is hurting. Eleven Bobcats have suffered season-ending injuries, including all four starting linebackers and two of their backups. Safety Rashad Butler was helped off the field against Miami with a leg injury.

"We're going to have 13 surgeries," said Ohio coach Brian Knorr. "These kind of seasons happen to everybody at least once. For some reason this has happened to us.

"We have very few seniors that will be leaving. We will be playing the future on Friday. It could provide us a great jump start for the 2004 season."

Marshall has struggled offensively in its last two games, scoring a combined 27 points. The Thundering Herd are clinging to hopes of going to a bowl game for the seventh straight season.

"We know we've got to have a lot of help," said Marshall offensive lineman Nate McPeek. "All we can control is winning the last game."

Marshall running back Earl Charles needs 76 yards to become the school's first 1,000-rusher since Doug Chapman in 1998. Charles has 12 rushing touchdowns this season.

The game also marks the return of former Philip Barbour High standout Scott Mayle.

A redshirt freshman, Mayle leads Ohio with 507 yards receiving and four TDs. He also has one rushing touchdown and is averaging 21.6 yards on 10 kickoff returns.

Mayle was a four-time state Class AAA track champion, winning the 100 meters, the long jump and the high jump in 2002.

Last year he won the Mid-American Conference indoor and outdoor titles in the long jump and placed 14th in the NCAA championships with a leap of 24 feet, 11 1/4 inches.