Ohio University and Appalachian State will arrive at Cramton Bowl for Saturday’s Raycom Media Camellia Bowl from different points of view.

The Bobcats of Ohio (8-4) are in a bowl game for the eighth time in the past nine years. The Appalachian State Mountaineers, long a power on the Football Championship Subdivision level, are 10-2 and making a bowl appearance in their first year of eligibility.

So the Bobcats have the edge in experience, right? Not so fast, says Ohio coach Frank Solich.

“It comes down to the kind of leadership that you have on your football team,” he said. “If there’s good leadership, you’re able to handle the things that a bowl demands of you and I believe we have that kind of leadership.”

But he’s not dismissing Appalachian State.

“They’ve got an excellent staff and you don’t have to be involved in a lot of bowl games if you’ve got a good staff, which they do.”

Ohio players made it clear that Saturday’s 4:30 p.m. game on ESPN is a big deal.

“All of us seniors want to go out and get our ninth win,” safety Devin Jones said.

Daz Patterson, a Bobcats running back, said seniors talk about continuing their recent winning ways.

“Coach Solich and his coaches started something special and we’d like to keep that going,” he said. “Appalachian State has great history, it’s a great program. They haven’t had a losing season in 24 or so years. This is definitely a team with a tradition of winning, probably a little more than we have. I think we’ll go in with the same mentality.”

Mountaineers freshman and Montgomery native Josh Thomas has been talking up his hometown to his teammates. (Solomon Crenshaw Jr./Alabama NewsCenter)

Appalachian State center Jesse Chapman is one of the fifth-year seniors and leaders on the team. (Solomon Crenshaw Jr./Alabama NewsCenter)

Ohio running back Daz Patterson said the younger players want to continue what the older players have started. (Solomon Crenshaw Jr./Alabama NewsCenter)

Appalachian State wide receiver Simms McElfresh is one of the senior leaders on the team. (Solomon Crenshaw Jr./Alabama NewsCenter)

Ohio safety Devin Jones said the seniors on the team want to end with a win. (Solomon Crenshaw Jr./Alabama NewsCenter)

Ohio head coach Frank Solich said his team’s bowl experience doesn’t give it too much of an edge over Applachian State. (Solomon Crenshaw Jr./Alabama NewsCenter)

Two of the Mountaineers have come a long way to reach this point. Each is a fifth-year senior who began playing as a walk-on. Now wide receiver Simms McElfresh and center Jesse Chapman are counted on heavily in the team’s success.

“I really couldn’t dream of this,” McElfresh said, looking back to his freshman year. “I had no idea we were going to be in the FBS (Football Bowl Subdivision) and go to a bowl game. I was a preferred walk-on. I had some D-2 offers but I didn’t want to go that route. I wanted to play at a more competitive level and I knew I could.”

Chapman, voted the team’s offensive MVP, is taking it all in.

“It’s been a real phenomenal trip, a great experience,” he said.

Mountaineers freshman and Montgomery native Josh Thomas was quick to tell his team about his hometown.

“I just told them this is my city,” the former Montgomery Academy standout said. “I love my city and I always rep the 334. I told them to expect a good time, expect good fans and be ready to go out and play ball.”

The Bobcats represent the Mid-American Conference and the Mountaineers carry the banner of the Sun Belt Conference.

“The chance for us to win 11 is obviously a huge deal,” said Appalachian State coach Scott Satterfield. “No other team in the Sun Belt has ever done it.”