HUNTINGTON, W.Va—If it seems like Tyler Tettleton has been around the Ohio football program forever, well he has. The redshirt senior quarterback has developed a well-earned reputation as the guy you want to have under center when you need a big play or a big drive to win the game.
Ohio’s season got of to a rough start as it faced a very good Louisville team that is now ranked in the top ten in the country. Last week when North Texas tied the Bobcats 21-21 in the fourth quarter, Tettleton led the Bobcats on two scoring drives and pulled out a 27-21 victory over the Mean Green.
“When they had to find a way to get it done last week against North Texas, Tettleton found a way to get it done for them. That’s him,” said Marshall Coach Doc Holliday. “That’s what he does and that’s what he has done for the last two years. That’s what you saw on the last two or three drives that were critical for Ohio to be able to go win that game.”
Marshall knows all too well about Tettleton’s ability to lead a game winning drive in the closing minutes of a ball game.
He did it at Edwards Stadium last year.
Tettleton hit Ryan Clark for a 27-yard touchdown to tie the game in the fourth quarter. He then led what would be the game winning drive, setting up 38-yard Matt Weller field goal with 1:37 left on the clock.
Tettleton, who owns 23 Ohio records, is just two touchdown passes shy of 50 for his career and needs 347 yards passing for 7,000 yards for his career. Yet, his most dangerous weapon may be his legs and the ability to extend plays to the point the defense breaks down.
“He can make plays in the air but the thing he does well is keeping plays alive and allowing those receivers to get open,” noted defensive end Jeremiah Taylor. “We just got to do a great job containing him, getting pressure on him and getting him out of his comfort zone a little bit.”
Easier said than done.
However, Louisville had success getting to Tettleton and making him uncomfortable in the pocket. The Cardinals sacked Tettleton once and forced and interception.
“They did. Louisville will probably get a lot of pressure on a lot of teams this year. They’re a very solid football team. Louisville played extremely well against them and I’m sure Louisville will play a lot of teams like that,” pointed out Holliday.
Tettleton has gotten the better of The Herd over the last two seasons and that’s not because of luck.