ATHENS, Ohio – Norfolk State is an FCS team, but Ohio is not taking the Spartans lightly.

Norfolk State is a blocked extra point away from also entering Saturday’s game undefeated.

“They’ll be very confident in their abilities coming in, as they should be,” Ohio coach Frank Solich said. “We expect it to be a heck of a football game. With our approach, of always just trying to get ready for the next opponent, we’re putting everything into that and hopefully it’s going to be good enough.”

The Spartans rolled 24-0 in their opener against Virginia State, slipped past Liberty, 31-24, and fell in overtime against Howard, 37-36.

Norfolk State has a balanced offense that is led by a dual-threat quarterback, Nico Flores. He has completed 60.5 percent of his passes for 542 yards and four touchdowns and two interceptions. He also has run for 131 yards, averaging 4.9 yards per carry.

Brendon Riddick has run the ball well for Norfolk State, gaining 260 yards and five touchdowns while averaging 6.5 yards per carry. Xavier Boyce (18 catches, 152 yards) and Derrick Demps (13 caches, 160 yards) are the team’s leading receivers.

“They’re balanced on offense,” Solich said. “They’re averaging 30.3 points per game. I think they’re 170-some yards rushing and 190-some yards passing, I believe. So it’s very much like us. It’s that style of an offensive football team where they’re balanced. You have to worry about both aspects of the game from the defensive standpoint -- their running game and their throwing game.”

They will challenge Ohio’s defense that has allowed only 20.7 points and 349.7 yards per game. The Bobcats have been especially tough against the run, giving up just 74.0 rushing yards per game and 3.0 yards per carry.

Middle linebacker Keith Moore has emerged as the Bobcats’ leading tackler with 24. Defensive backs Gerald Moore and Larenzo Fisher have 17 each.

Norfolk State’s defense also rates well through three games, allowing only 252.0 yards and 20.3 points per game.

“They can really run,” Solich said. “Their outside ‘backers are really athletic and can run. They’re one-on-one good football players. It’s not a deal where you’re just going to knock them off the ball and think it’s going to be an easy day. That’s not going to be the case.”

Opponents have averaged only 3.0 yards per carry and have completed less than 50 percent of their passes against the Spartans.

Terrence Pugh has 22 tackles and Keenan Lambert has 21 to lead the Spartans. Two different players, Jamal Giddens and Lynden Trail, have three sacks each.

But Norfolk State likely has not faced an offense like Ohio’s, that thus far has averaged 494.0 yards and 34.0 points per game.

Tyler Tettleton leads the Bobcats, having completed two-thirds of his passes for 791 yards and seven touchdowns without an interception. He has rushed for another 100 yards and two scores.

Beau Blankenship has carried the load in the running game with 379 yards and two touchdowns. Donte Foster is Ohio’s top receiver with 13 catches for 119 yards and two touchdowns.

Solich said he is not concerned with how Norfolk State is perceived to anyone except his team and coaches.

“There’s no question they’ve got a lot of transfers in, a lot of junior college players in, and so they have got themselves a good football team,” he said. “They’re very athletic when you look at them on tape.

“I don’t know how they’re perceived by other people; I know how they’re perceived by our coaches. … They’re a very good football team, they’re capable of winning.”

Ohio is trying to start 4-0 for the first time since 1976. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. at Peden Stadium.