When Ohio invades Ames this Saturday, it will be bringing a young team. But, with this youth there is also experience. Having started all 11 games last year at quarterback as a true freshman, Dontrell Jackson is already a veteran of his system. The triple option. “The triple option is kind of hard to defend if we run our plays right,” Jackson said. Running the option with Jackson, will be fellow sophomores Joe Sherrill at fullback and Chad Brinker at tailback. “Brinker, Sherrill and myself have great chemistry,” Jackson said. All of them getting playing time as freshmen “helped us bond” he said. “We’re going to run the option as well as its ever been done,” Jackson said. But Jackson said that Ohio may open up the playbook beyond running the ball and pass more on Saturday. “If they don’t respect the pass, we’re gonna pass on `em,” Jackson said. “It all depends on what [Iowa State’s defense] does up front. We’re looking to open the playbook up a little.” Jackson warns people that Ohio will be no “powder-puff” team for the Cyclones. He points to the strong schedule that the Bobcats play as proof that they are a team that will be able to hold its own. Jackson feels that playing Iowa State in the opener is a great opportunity. “That gets us started, then we play Minnesota. To play the Big 12 and the Big 10, it gets us ready for the [Mid-American Conference],” Jackson said. Like Iowa State, Jackson sees this game as being a chance for a breakout year for Ohio. “We just want to win [against ISU] and for the season the same. We just want to win,” Jackson explained. “We don’t want to set any records, we just want to get the W.” But Jackson realizes that Iowa State has a “pretty fast defense,” and that it will take an entire team effort if Ohio hopes to leave Jack Trice as winners. “We’re gonna need everybody to win. All 65 guys are gonna have to play,” Jackson said. Last season the Bobcats were 5-6, but most importantly to Jackson, they were 5-3 in the MAC. “We can win the MAC if we just play hard,” Jackson said.