Run for the Heisman starts here
Katzenmoyer, Zereoue on collision course for Saturday
Posted: Monday August 31, 1998 01:43 PM
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On the prowl: The "Big Kat" will have to qualify academically before he can try to take the Mountaineers to school Rick Stewart/Allsport |
MORGANTOWN, West Virginia (AP) -- The game Saturday is No. 1 Ohio State against No. 11 West Virginia. The game within the game is Buckeyes
All-American linebacker Andy Katzenmoyer against Mountaineers tailback Amos Zereoue.
The Big Kat vs. Famous Amos. The all-nickname game.
If he is declared academically eligible to play later this week, the 6-foot-4, 255-pound Katzenmoyer will lead into Morgantown an Ohio State defense that returns nine starters from last year's 10-3 Sugar Bowl team. Its main goal will be to stop 5-8, 203-pound Zeroue, who finished third in the nation in rushing last season with 1,505 yards.
A dominating performance is expected from Katzenmoyer, the 1997 Butkus Award winner as the nation's best linebacker as a sophomore.
A big game for Zereoue in front of a national television audience on CBS could push him into a role as a top contender for the Heisman Trophy.
Zereoue says he has watched Katzenmoyer closely on film.
"This matchup is mentioned a lot. He's a dominant linebacker," Zereoue said. "He's been doing it since his freshman year."
So has Zereoue.
Named the Big East rookie of the year in 1996, Zereoue set school and Big East single-season rushing records last season.
Katzenmoyer says Zereoue is better than any running back the Buckeyes will see in the Big Ten.
"I've seen him on film. He's an incredible back. He's a strong, strong runner, quick, fast," Katzenmoyer said. "He has the potential to break it at any time."
Katzenmoyer has the potential to break running backs at any time. With 4.58 speed in the 40-yard dash, he should be able to dog Zereoue from sideline to sideline.
In strength, the two players match up well. Both players bench press over 400 pounds. While Katzenmoyer intimidates with his size in the middle of the Buckeyes' defense, Zereoue draws comparisons to Barry Sanders with a shifty running style and a short but sturdy body that seems to grower thicker with muscle every season.
Zereoue has had his biggest days in some of WVU's biggest games, rushing for 206 and 234 yards against Notre Dame and Miami, respectively, in 1997. He also has bombed in big games, heading to the sideline with a nagging turf toe injury in critical Big East losses to Miami in 1996 and Syracuse in 1997.
How often the two meet on the field Saturday depends on how well Ohio State can handles a veteran WVU offensive line and whether Mountaineers fullbacks can tie up Katzenmoyer long enough to spring Zereoue loose.
"If things go right, I won't have to collide with him on every play. It's mostly my fullbacks who will have to take him on," Zereoue said.
If Katzenmoyer can play -- he will learn Friday whether he passed three summer classes -- West Virginia coach Don Nehlen said he's not sure there is any way to neutralize Katzenmoyer on the field.
Keeping him off the field might be the only way to do it, Nehlen said.
"I was hoping that when he gets off the bus, someone will kidnap him. That seems to be the only way to handle him. You're not going to block him," Nehlen said.
Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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