by Joedy McCreary

SPORTS WRITER

MORGANTOWN -- Let Amos Zereoue and Joe Germaine grab the headlines. It's fine with Marc Bulger if Andy Katzenmoyer makes the 11 o'clock newscasts.

The low-key Bulger prefers to beat his opponents from the comfort of the shadows.

"It was the whole story last year and this year," Bulger said.

"Having someone like Amos, a Heisman candidate, and all our receivers and line ... the less the press on me, great."

Of course, the national spotlight will be on Morgantown this Saturday evening when the Mountaineers host No. 1 Ohio State. To win the game, Bulger says WVU has to do the little things right.

"Obviously, we have to put points on the board and eliminate turnovers," Bulger said.

"I think even one turnover will be too much against a team like this. Our defense needs to create some, too," he said.

"If we can have possession of the ball, eliminate turnovers and penalties, we can win."

Ball control problems killed WVU in 1997, Bulger said.

The Mountaineers lost four of their final five games. That included a 35-30 decision to Georgia Tech in the Carquest Bowl, a 41-38 triple-overtime setback to Pittsburgh and a 21-14 loss at Notre Dame.

"We didn't hold the ball long enough last year," Bulger said.

"If you don't do that, your defense doesn't have adequate time to rest. If we can control the ball, wear our opponent down, we'll have a chance."

Buckeye linebacker Andy Katzenmoyer stands 6-foot-4 and weighs 255 pounds. Bulger is 6-foot-3 and 210 pounds.

It would certainly be a mismatch. If, that is, it were Bulger vs. Katzenmoyer.

"I don't think we can key on Andy Katzenmoyer," Bulger said. "They certainly have enough good players to make up for him."

Earning Bulger's notice are cornerbacks Antoine Winfield, an All-American candidate, and Ahmed Plummer.

They'll give WVU's receivers an accurate barometer, Bulger said.

"They're the most physical cornerbacks we'll probably face," Bulger said. "Our receivers think they're the best in the nation. We'll see when they go against the best."

Receiver Shawn Foreman said Bulger's maturity is the biggest difference between now and last season.

"Marc can read a defense immediately and get us in the right sets," Foreman said. "Marc talks on the field. We're family and you talk to your family. He's our leader."

Keeping his team focused would be Bulger's greatest challenge if the Mountaineers beat the Buckeyes.

"It could be a great win, but if we go out and lose to a Temple or a Rutgers, the win would be a lot less," Bulger said. "That's why I think our biggest challenge would be to focus."