ATHENS, Ohio – It took some time, but if Saturday was any indication, the Ohio football team finally has figured out how to best use the talents of both of its quarterbacks.

Coach Frank Solich said the Bobcats will continue to develop their offense this weekend in their homecoming game against winless Akron.

“I think we know what we want to be about in terms of operating with those two quarterbacks,” Solich said. “They both have a lot that they bring to the table.”

Bates was named the Mid-American Conference East Division Offensive Player of the Week after rushing 11 times for 144 yards and two touchdowns in Ohio’s 49-25 blowout victory against Bowling Green. He also completed 1 of 2 pass attempts for 47 yards.

Jackson completed 9 of 14 passes for 76 yards and three touchdowns and added 53 yards rushing on 10 carries.

“Boo is kind of a guy who can run our complete offense, and so he’ll run it as well as throw it,” Solich said. “But there are ways to have Phil’s strong arm and his ability to throw the ball come into play for us also. When he’s in the game, you kind of operate with him like you would a tailback most of the time because that seems to fit what he’s all about.”

And Bates did play some at tailback and also lined up at wide receiver against the Falcons. On other plays, Jackson was split wide with Bates at quarterback.

Solich noted that as the offense progresses, there likely will be more cases of the two quarterbacks being on the field at the same time.

Bates easily took over as the team’s leading rusher with 303 yards in four games played so far. He is averaging 8.0 yards per carry.

Tailback Vince Davidson has rushed for 197 yards, and Jackson has 174 yards on the ground for the Bobcats (3-3, 2-1 MAC).

“I think when I watch their team on offense, they’re doing some really good things,” Akron coach Rob Ianello said. “They’re physical. I know they got Bates back last week and he certainly is a heck of a player. I know Boo Jackson has done a really nice job leading their team and they have a lot of confidence in him and Vince Davidson running the football, so they are a very physical, hard-nosed football team that comes right at you.”

Also in the mix for this week is Donte Harden, who returns from a six-game suspension for violation of team rules. The 5-11, 182-pound back will share time at tailback, Solich said. Davidson will start and play a couple of series before Harden will get his chance on for a couple of series.

It will be a challenge for the Zips, who have struggled on defense but are coming off their best defensive effort of the season in a 28-17 loss to rival Kent State. The Golden Flashes’ defense actually scored two of the four touchdowns against the Zips.

“I think they’re getting better week by week, and that’s all you can ask of your team,” Solich said. “I think they’re a good football team, one that when Ohio and Akron is lined up, it has always been a good one. I expect that will the case again this coming weekend.”

Akron (0-6, 0-2 MAC) has limited teams to 4.3 yards per rushing attempt, but has struggled more in stopping opponents’ passing games. The Zips have allowed 265.5 passing yards per game, 15 passing touchdowns and have just two interceptions.

Offense also has been a struggle, as the Zips have totaled just 252.3 yards per game.

Alex Allen (388 yards) and Nate Burney (291 yards) have shared carries. Patrick Nicely at quarterback has completed just 46.6 percent of his passes for 769 yards with three touchdowns and five interceptions.

Nicely had three of those picks against the Golden Flashes last week and also lost one of his three fumbles for a touchdown, but Ianello said it was not entirely the quarterback’s fault.

“You can’t have the kind of bad plays we had where you’re giving points to the opponent, but he was under duress all day,” Ianello said. “A lot of that was a couple times he could have gotten ride of the ball. Several other teams, he certainly didn’t have much choice. I felt like the defensive front of Kent State certainly got the best of us.”

Jeremy LaFrance is the Zips’ leading receiver with 28 receptions for 364 yards and three touchdowns.

After suffering through a three-game losing streak, the Bobcats will be looking to win their third straight and improve to above .500 on the season.

Kickoff at Peden Stadium is set for 2 p.m. Saturday.