Puskas: Locals hope to buffalo Buckeyes

Devin Campbell and Alex Zordich want to make something perfectly clear.

The Buffalo Bulls won’t simply be satisfied to just show up today against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium.

The Bulls want to win in the Horseshoe and ruin the Buckeyes’ national championship hopes.

Easier said than done, of course.

Ohio State’s next loss will be the first of the Urban Meyer Era after a 12-0 season a year ago and the Buckeyes are 28-1 all-time vs. current Mid-American Conference teams.

Zordich, a former Cardinal Mooney High standout, is a senior and Buffalo’s backup quarterback. He’s seen the old Bulls and says the new Bulls are not to be overlooked.

“This is definitely the most talented team we’ve had since I’ve been here,” Zordich said. “We have a lot of guys returning and the confidence of each player is up there. We’re anxious to win, because we haven’t been able to do that lately.

“We expect to win and we want to win, no matter who we’re playing.”

Campbell agreed.

“We’re preparing for this game the same way whether it’s Stony Book or Ohio State,” said Campbell, a sophomore running back who played at Boardman High. “We’ve got to go into every game preparing the same way.”

Campbell was the Bulls’ second-leading rusher as a true freshman in 2012. He ran for 502 yards, compiled 176 receiving yards and scored three touchdowns.

Campbell had three 100-yard rushing games, including a career-best 160 against Ohio in his first college start.

Campbell, the MAC’s Newcomer of the Year in 2012, can’t wait to get on the field at Ohio Stadium.

He attended two Ohio State games while the Buckeyes were recruiting him out of Boardman.

“It’s a great opportunity,” he said. “I’ve been dreaming of this since I was a little kid. Playing in the Horseshoe is what every Ohio kid thinks about.”

Unless, of course, your father and brother both played at Penn State. Zordich’s father, Michael Sr., and brother Michael, are former Nittany Lions.

But Alex, like his Buffalo teammate, can’t wait to run onto the field today.

“I’m definitely really excited for this game,” said Zordich, who figures to play as the backup to Bulls starting quarterback Joe Licata.

Zordich won the job a year ago, but Licata started the final four games and then kept the job in spring practice.

“It’s a tough deal, but I know I’ll be ready,” Zordich said. “I’ll be ready to roll for the team. I know I’m one play away.

“I don’t consider myself a backup. My mindset is, ‘starter.’ ”

Write Vindicator sports editor Ed Puskas at epuskas@vindy.com and follow him on Twitter, @edpuskas85.