ATHENS, Ohio – It could be easy for the Ohio football team to overlook Louisiana-Lafayette this week.

The Ragin’ Cajuns (2-5) are coming off a blowout loss to Western Kentucky, while the Bobcats (5-3) are winners of four straight and have three key Mid-American Conference games on the schedule following the non-conference matchup.

But Ohio coach Frank Solich said this game means just as much as any other.

“We really don’t approach it differently in that every win is an important win for you,” he said. “It’s important for your program. We want to do our best to get that win.”

Louisiana, which has been hampered by injuries, suffered a 54-21 loss last week that ended the Hilltoppers’ 26-game losing streak.

“We lost to a tough team the other night to a Western Kentucky team that played extremely well,” Louisiana coach Rickey Bustle said. “That quarterback was hot as a pistol, and the kids made plays for him, and they deserved to win the ball game.”

However, the Ragin’ Cajuns have shown they can play good football, falling by just a touchdown the week before at Sun Belt-leading Troy and leading nationally-ranked Oklahoma State at halftime.

They are led by quarterback Chris Masson, who has thrown for 1,498 yards while completing 53.6 percent of his passes with nine touchdowns and five interceptions. He also has been sacked 21 times.

Leading receiver Ladarius Green, with 19 catches for 330 yards, missed two games but returned to action two weeks ago. Javone Lawson (19 catches, 271 yards) is also out against the Bobcats.

Louisiana has struggled moving the ball on the ground, averaging just 2.6 yards per carry. Kevis Streeter has been its most effective ball carrier, totaling 153 yards on 20 carries in four games, but he is out for the season.

Aaron Spikes is now the starter, with 174 yards rushing and 212 yards receiving on the season.

“They have a lot of guys that can run,” Solich said. “They’ve got good athletes. The thing that has hurt them probably more than anything is the number of injuries that they’ve had.”

Defensively, the Ragin’ Cajuns have surrendered just shy of 40 points per game, allowing an average of 273.3 passing and 143.3 rushing yards per game.

Daylon McCoy leads the team with 52 tackles, including six for loss.

Quarterback Boo Jackson leads Ohio offensively with 1,062 yards passing. He has completed 60.7 percent of his passes with nine touchdowns and eight interceptions. He has added 215 yards and five touchdowns on the ground.

“I think their quarterback really makes them go,” Bustle said. “They like to run the football. They’re very physical.”

Phil Bates saw limited playing time last week for Ohio against Miami and is status is uncertain this week. The quarterback leads the team in rushing with 382 yards.

Vince Davidson has 320 yards rushing, and Donte Harden has gained 98 yards in two games.

“He only got seven carries, and I’d like to see that increase,” Solich said. “It’s hard sometimes when you’re playing more than one back.”

Terrence McCrae has 19 catches for 325 yards and six touchdowns, and Riley Dunlop has made 16 receptions for 218 yards and one touchdown.

Both of Ohio’s centers went down with injuries last week, but starter Skyler Allen is likely to play this week, Solich said, while backup Alex Mitchell is questionable.

Defensively, the Bobcats have moved into second place in the MAC in multiple categories, including total defense (333.9 yards per game), scoring defense (20.2 points per game) and passing defense (213.6).

Linebackers Chad Clemens leads Ohio with 47 tackles, while Donovan Fletcher has 45 tackles and five interceptions. Stafford Gatling has eight tackles for loss.

Some of the Ragin’ Cajuns’ injured players could return this week, and that could make them a dangerous team. Either way, they are not a team the Bobcats can take lightly, Solich said.

“They’re a good football team,” he said. “Last time we were down there, it was a game that came down to the very end, and they have the ability to certainly do what it takes to win football games when they’re healthy especially.”

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