OXFORD, Ohio – It has been a long time since there was a lot on the line for both Ohio and Miami in their rivalry football game, but the winner of this Saturday’s game at Yager Stadium will take over first place in the Mid-American Conference East Division.

The last time both the Bobcats (4-3, 3-1 MAC) and the RedHawks (4-3, 3-0 MAC) were in contention for the league title was in 2000, when Marshall edged both for a spot in the MAC championship game.

“It’s an extremely important football game for both teams,” Ohio coach Frank Solich said. “They don’t have a loss in conference. We’ve got one. We can’t afford anymore. When you look at it, there’s an awful lot riding on this game.”

Ohio has won four straight in the Battle of the Bricks series as Miami has struggled in recent seasons, but the RedHawks seem to be back among the top teams in the MAC with three straight league victories, including a 27-20 victory on a 71-yard touchdown pass in the final minute at Central Michigan last week.

“Guys are starting at this point in time to start believing in themselves and starting to trust themselves and starting to trust the players that they’re playing with,” Miami coach Mike Haywood said.

Redshirt sophomore Zac Dysert took over as the team’s starter at the end of last season and has been among the MAC’s top passers in his first full year starting. He ranks second in pass completion percentage (67.4) and in passing yards (1,622). He’s thrown eight touchdown passes with six interceptions.

“I see this year’s game as one that will put together two really good football teams,” Solich said. “I look at them as a much improved football team, a team that’s got talent. They’ve got arguably one of the best quarterbacks in the conference.”

Armand Robinson is by far Dysert’s favorite target, having caught 56 passes for 599 yards with three touchdowns.

Last week against the Chippewas, however, when Dysert passed for 399 yards, Andy Cruse had eight receptions for 179 yards and two scores and Nick Harwell added eight grabs for 97 yards and a score, while Robinson had 102 yards on nine receptions.

Tracy Woods (267 yards) and Thomas Merriweather (245 yards) have shared carries in the running game, but the RedHawks more frequently use their passing game as sort of a running game, Solich said.

“They’re utilizing (Dysert’s) throwing strengths in terms of first and second downs,” Solich said. “A lot of times they’ll have short throws as sort of their running offense. He does a great job of handling all the throws, whether you’re talking about winning the game with a deep throw like he did last week or the very quick throws to get them in manageable second- and third-down calls.”

Defensively, without any senior starters, Miami has had ups and downs, but has given up just 21, 21 and 20 points in its three MAC games. Altogether, the RedHawks rank eighth in the MAC, allowing 371.9 yards per game.

Linebackers Evan Harris and Jerrell Wedge lead lead Miami with 46 and 45 tackles, respectively. Harris and defensive back Dayonne Nunley each have three interceptions.

Ohio’s defense has been moving up in the league standings and now ranks second in the MAC in points allowed (21.3) and yards allowed (332.6).

Safety Donovan Fletcher leads the nation in interceptions with five and is tied with linebacker Chad Clemens for the team lead in tackles with 42.

During the Bobcats’ three-game winning streak, won by an average of nearly 22 points per game, they also have moved up to near the top of the MAC in offense. Ohio ranks second in scoring offense (27.6 points per game) and sixth in total offense (327.9 yards per game).

The Bobcats have been improving behind a two-quarterback system of Boo Jackson, who is second in the MAC in passing efficiency, and Phil Bates, who if he had played in enough games would rank second in the league in rushing yards per game.

Terrence McCrae has emerged as the team’s leading receiver with 17 catches for 284 yards and a league-best six touchdown receptions.

“When you watch them on tape and you watch their special teams, they’re really athletic and they really play hard and physical,” said Haywood, an Ohio assistant during the 1990 and 1991 seasons. “When you watch the offense with this two quarterback-system they’re running in the pistol, it causes a lot of problems for you because you really have to play disciplined football just like the old wishbone football, and you have to do a really good job against them. … It’s going to be really competitive for us this weekend. It’s going to be a tough game for us.”

Kickoff in Oxford is set for 1 p.m. Saturday.