The Bobcats lost a lot more than a game on Saturday when they fell to Virginia Tech, 28-7.

Starting right guard Paul Johnson re-aggravated his knee injury that ended his 2005 season after just five games.
Johnson went down in the fourth quarter with just over eight minutes remaining and lain on the ground writhing in pain, not moving his legs.

Coach Frank Solich said that it could be awhile before Johnson is able to get on the field again.

“His knee has some swelling in it, much more than there was the first time,” Solich said. “It’s probably going to take a fair amount of time to get it healed up and get him on the field.”

This is the second big loss for Ohio’s offensive line. Mike Eynon, who had started in place of Johnson while he was suspended, went down in the season opener against Gardner-Webb and won’t be available again this week when the Bobcats face Wyoming, Solich said.

Starting in place of Johnson and Eynon will be redshirt sophomore Dathan Ferrainolo.

Ferrainolo played sparingly against Gardner-Webb and saw extended action once Johnson went down at Virginia Tech.

“(Dathan) has shown a lot in practice, and when he’s gotten in games, he’s done very well, so hopefully that’ll carry over for him as a starter,” Solich said. “We’ll see his inexperience, but we love his aggressiveness.”

Ferrainolo didn’t see his first action until this year’s spring game because of injuries to his wrist, but he said nerves will not affect him when he lines up for the first time Saturday against the Cowboys.

“I’ve overcome (nerves) for the most part,” Ferrainolo said. “I can get up there now and feel comfortable, feel relaxed, and I noticed that when I am relaxed and comfortable, I don’t make as many mistakes.”

Center Tommy Stuck had to be helped off the field the play after Johnson was hurt, but Solich said it was just a stinger, and Stuck will be ready to go on Saturday.

The injuries haven’t significantly hurt the Bobcats yet, but all that could change with one more, Solich said.

“One thing we felt going in is that we did have depth on the line,” Solich said. “We’re able to somewhat absorb the loss of a couple of players, but that can’t continue.”

The offensive line isn’t the only place where the Bobcats are hurting.

Safety Michael Mitchell played in the Virginia Tech game and Solich said he played the game with a hurt shoulder. The team will monitor him this week in practice to see if he will be available this weekend.

<span style="font-weight: bold">Getting his kicks in</span>

Punter Matt Schulte kicked the ball Saturday more than most soccer players get to kick. How much was Schulte forced to kick the ball?

Schulte punted more times — 13 — than the number of times the Bobcat offense was able to get a first down — five. The 13 punts are tied for the second-most times a Bobcat team has had to punt in a single game. The last time that was done was 1947.

The record for most punts in a game is held by Art McCormick, whose record of 14 punts against Marshall has stood since 1985.

Schulte set a career-high by booming a 59-yard punt. That punt was by far his best on the day, as Schulte averaged a meager 36.8 yards.