Peden Stadium -- Athens Ohio
ESPN+
After going winless through non-conference play, the Ohio Bobcats welcomed MAC play last week with a 34-17 victory. That means, of course, the 'Cats are undefeated in MAC play, with their conference fate ahead of them.
Remaining "MAC undefeted" will be a challenge, however, as Central Michigan comes to town this week. The Chippewas have a potent offense and are stinging from last week's defeat at Miami.
Central Michigan owns a commanding 26-5-2 advantage in its all-time series
versus Ohio, including a 12-3-1 mark in Athens. • The Chippewas have won nine of their
last 10 meetings with the Bobcats including a 30-27 CMU victory in the
season opener last season in Kelly/ Shorts Stadium. • The last match-up in Peden Stadium was a 26-23 Central Michigan victory in 2017. The last Bobcat victory at home was 52-3 in 2000.
Here's more on the two teams . . .
CENTRAL MICHIGAN CHIPPEWAS (2-3, 0-1 MAC)
>> Central Michigan ranks fifth (MAC) in scoring offense (27.6 ppg). While the Chippewas are seventh in rushing offense (151.2 ypc) and first in passing offense (306.4 ypg).
>> After falling behind 14-0 at Miami last week, the Chippewas scored 17 straight points to take a 17-14 lead. The RedHawks, however, rallied for the game's final 10 points.
>> While CMU rolled up 378 passing yards against Miami, it managed just 52 yards on the ground. On the year, Lew Nichols, III has rushed for 405 yards on 85 carries and two touchdowns.
>> The Chippewas fell at Miami last week 28-17. The 17-point production was the smallest for CMU this season, with the previous low being 21 points in a (49-21) loss at LSU. Central Michigan also went 4-of-14 on third down conversions.
>> JaCorey Sullivan and Dallas Dixon rank among the nation’s best in receiving touchdowns this season. Sullivan ranks sixth in the country with six TDs this season while Dixon is 12th nationally with five scores.
>> Dixon led CMU against Miami, catching six balls for 113 yards with one TD. Sullivan added six catches, 85 yards and a score, while Joel Wilson recorded seven receptions for 92 yards.
>> Daniel Richardson completed 22-of-41 tosses for 326 yards and a pair of TDs against Miami. He was injured in the fourth quarter, and replaced by Jacob Sirman, who hit 7-of-8 tosses for 52 yards.
>> Gage Kreski led the CMU defense with 12 tackles, including 1.5 TFL.
>> CMU tops the MAC in rushing defense (108.0 ypg). However, it is 12th in passing yards allowed (291.6 ypg.).
>> The Chippewas have been strong with their third-down defense this season,
allowing opponents to convert just 18 of 63 opportunities (29%). That is second in the
MAC and ranks 11th in the nation.
>> Freshman kicker Marshall Meeder hit 1-of-3 field goal tries last wek and is 4-of-9 on the season, with a long of 51.
>> Overall, the Bobcats are averaging 16.6 points per game to go along with 345.0 total yards per game.
>> De’Montre Tuggle leads the ground game with 399 yards, while averaging 79.8 yards per game with two touchdowns. O’Shaan Allison adds 256 yards on the ground.
>> Quarterback Kurtis Rourke is 73-of-115 with 602 yards, five touchdowns and three interceptions. While, Tyler Walton leads the receivers with 19 catches for 196 yards and two touchdowns.
>> Tuggle, a redshirt fifth year from Channelview, Texas, finished last week's game
with a career-high 201 yards on 17 carries and one touchdown. Tuggle rushed
for an average of 11.8 yards per carry and rattled off a 63-yard rush on the Bobcats’
second drive of the game.
>> Akron held leads at 10-7 and 17-10 before Ohio took over, scoring the game's last 24 points. While the Bobcats owned just 60 yards passing, they amassed 398 rushing yards on 47 attempts (8.5 ypc).
>> Senior QB Amari Rogers ran for 106 yards and two touchdowns on 14 carries. He was 1-of-3 passing for just four yards. Kurtis Rourke completed 7-of-12 for 56 yards with one TD and one pick.
>> Redshirt junior linebacker Bryce Houston has taken advantage of his first five career
starts. Houston leads Ohio in total tackles with 40, while registering 19 assisted, 21 solo tackles, three tackles for loss, one sack and two quarterback hurries.
>> Redshirt sophomore linebacker Cannon Blauser has made the most out of moving
into a starting role. On the season, Blauser has 31 tackles, 15 solo and 16 assisted - with four tackles for loss, two sacks, three quarterback hurries and one fumble recovery.
>> The Bobcats' win over Akron marked Tim Albin's first victory as Ohio's head coach. Albin took over for Frank Solich, who stepped down during the summer.