ATHENS, Ohio – Even with the Mid-American Conference East Division championship wrapped up, along with a spot in the MAC Championship Game, the Ohio football team still has plenty to play for when it closes out the regular season against Miami in the annual Battle of the Bricks rivalry.

Ohio coach Frank Solich said there is no reason to hold back in any way.

“I think you just go all out,” Solich said. “I think that’s the only way to do it. It’s a rivalry. It’s a game I think in order for us to win the MAC East championship outright, we probably have to win this game. … There’s plenty of reasons and incentive to keep all your players on the field. It’s what we’re all about anyway. We try to do our best every snap, every game and go from there.”

The Bobcats, winners of five straight against the RedHawks, are seeking to win their fifth straight game on the season, but it will not be as easy as it might sound from the team’s records.

“It will be a very difficult game,” Solich said. “They’re very experienced. They’re very talented defensively. They’re ranked in most defensive categories in the MAC. Offensively, in a conference filled with outstanding quarterbacks, they have an excellent quarterback and outstanding receivers, so they’re able to put points on the board. They’re able to move the ball and they’re able to convert third downs. That all points toward a game that’s going to be difficult.”

Miami (4-7, 3-4 MAC) was in the hunt for the East Division title until last week when it lost a 24-21 decision to Western Michigan. The RedHawks had recovered from an 0-4 start by winning four of five before losing the last two.

Defense has been the strength of Miami this year. It ranks third in the conference in points allowed per game at 23.1 and fourth in yards against at 357.2. It ranks tops in the MAC by allowing just 194.5 passing yards per game.

“They No. 1 have great experience coming back,” Solich said. “Their secondary is a bigger, physical secondary, but one-on-one matchups, it’s tough to take advantage of them. Sometimes you see teams where you can take advantage of them pass coverage-wise and support-wise on the run, they’re very, very good. They have some guys up front who have size and have some quickness with it and they have them playing hard every snap. That’s a combination for a good defensive football team.”

Safety Anthony Kokal leads Miami with 83 tackles, while linebacker Jerrell Wedge has 80 tackles despite missing a game.

Defensive linemen C.J. Marck and Jason Semmes are tied for the team lead in tackles for loss with 8.5, and Semmes has a team-best 4.5 sacks. Cornerback Dayonne Nunley has picked off three passes.

Ohio quarterback Tyler Tettleton has completed 63.7 percent of his passes for school single-season records of 2,649 yards and 23 touchdowns with just six interceptions. He also has been a running threat. coming off his best rushing game of the season, he has 465 yards and eight touchdowns on the ground.

Running back Donte Harden is approaching single-season all-purpose yard school records. He has gained 795 yards rushing in parts of nine games and has added 214 receiving yards. He also has averaged 28.3 yards per kickoff return for a total of 509 yards.

Wide receiver LaVon Brazill also has smashed Ohio records with 54 receptions for 868 yards and 10 touchdowns. Riley Dunlop has made 34 grabs for 490 yards and five scores.

But statistically, Miami’s Nick Harwell has got Brazill beat with 83 receptions for 1,262 yards and eight touchdowns. Chris Givens has added 52 catches for 603 yards and five scores, while Andy Cruse has made 40 grabs for 359 yards and four touchdowns.

They have caught balls from Zac Dysert, who has completed 65.8 percent of his passes for 3,141 yards and 22 touchdowns but also has 11 interceptions.

“They’re going to get yards,” Solich said. “You just hope that those yards don’t convert into points. They’re going to complete passes. They’ve got guys that are capable of making plays after the reception also, so that’s a concern. We’re going to have to be on top of our game and our pass defense.”

However, the RedHawks have gained only 825 yards rushing this year while averaging 2.4 yards per carry. Erik Finklea has totaled 328 yards on 92 carries for an average of 3.5 yards per attempt.

“We’ll start this game off just like any other and try not to let them get a rushing attack going,” Solich said. “If you look at some of their games, against Kent State, they came out and they just ran the ball. You’ve got to be ready for whichever plan shows up. Most likely they’re a team that puts the ball in the air 50 times, but they don’t have to be. They’ve shown the ability to go another direction. We’ve got to be ready to adjust.”

Part of Miami’s poor rushing statistics can be attributed to poor offensive line play that has allowed 42 sacks for 305 yards lost.

Overall, the RedHawks’ offense ranks ninth in the MAC in yards per game (367.5) and 10th in points per game (22.0).

“We’ve got to try to keep them from getting the big play,” Solich said. “In the passing game, we’ve got to keep them from converting on third downs and getting first downs and we’ve got to play good across the board so we don’t give them good field position. If you give them a short field, and they’re throwing the ball well, they’re going to make plays and they’re going to have points on the board. If they have to go the length of the field because we’ve established good field position, it gets a little tougher for any team.”

The Bobcats were 34-13 winners against the RedHawks last year, and that defeat proved to be the only conference loss of the season for Miami, which went on to win the MAC championship.

Beating Miami is something Ohio certainly cannot take for granted, even though it has had its rivals’ number the last five seasons.

“I don’t look at those five games and I don’t look at that streak,” Solich said. “I just look at this year because every year is a different year. We just have to win this one football game and then if streaks come with those kind of wins, then they do.”

Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at Peden Stadium with the game to be broadcast on ESPN2.