
Yager Stadium -- Oxford, OH
ESPN+
By MIKE SMITH
Victories have been difficult to come by for the Miami RedHawks, who finished a tough non-conference schedule at 1-3 after losing at Army last week. Whether or not the RedHawks can turn it around in conference play remains to be seen, but they will get their first chance Saturday when Central Michigan visits.
The Chippewas emerged from non-conference play with a 2-2 mark after defeating Florida International 31-27 last week.
Miami leads the all-time series with CMU, 15-13-1. Central Michigan has won five of the last nine in the series, with Miami taking the last three, including a 26-21 victory in the 2019 MAC Championship Game.
Each team started that season with the same records each has now: CMU 2-2; Miami 1-3. Can either -- or both -- make it back to a title game?
Here's more on the two teams . . .
CENTRAL MICHIGAN (2-2, 0-0 MAC)
>> After falling at Missouri in Week One (34-24), CMU blanked Robert Morris 45-0. LSU topped the Chippewas 49-21 before last week's 31-27 Central Michigan win over Florida International.
>> CMU trailed 27-10 after three quarters, but quarterback Daniel Richardson tossed three fourth quarter TDs to bring the Chippewas all the way back
>> Richardson completed 16-of-23 for 276 yards and the three TDs. Jacob Sirman preceded him, completing 14-of-26 for 121 yards, 1 TD and 1 interception.
>> Dallas Dixon led CMU receivers with eight catches for 127 yards and a pair of scores. Kalil Pimpleton also grabbed eight balls, good for 117 yards.
>> In addition to the 397 passing yards, Central Michigan also ground out 202 rushing yards. Lew Nichols III contributed 152 yards on 25 carries. The 5-10, 220-pound freshman is averaging 5.3 ypc on the year.
>> The Chippewas registered five sacks and nine TFL. Donte Kent picked off one FIU pass.
>> Central Michigan ranks third among MAC teams in scoring (30.3 ppg) and is seventh in scoring defense (27.5%).
>> The Chippewas have been strong with their third-down defense this season, allowing opponents to convert just 11 of 48 opportunities (23%). That leads the MAC and ranks fourth in the nation.
>> CMU is third in rushing (179.8 ypg) and first in defending the run (97.8 ypg).
>> The Chippewas are now first in passing offense (288.5 ypg) and second in defending the pass (140.1 ypg).
>> Central Michigan features one of the best receiving duos in the nation in junior Kalil Pimpleton and senior JaCorey Sullivan. Both earned First Team All-MAC honors in 2019 while Pimpleton was also named a first-team
all-leaguer as a punt returner. Pimpleton earned second-team honors last season at wide receiver.The pair have combined to catch 193 passes
for 2,355 yards and 13 touchdowns over the past two seasons.
MIAMI REDHAWKS (1-3, 2-2)
>> Miami's losses this season were to #8 Cincinnati, Minnesota and undefeated Army.
>> Any team that plays Army faces a three-fold problem: 1. Preparing to defend an option attack 2. Surviving a physical game with the kind of blocks that come with an option attack 3. Preparing to defend a dynamic non-option offense the following week. Miami head coach Chuck Martin alluded to the latter in his weekly press conference, noting that Central Michigan's offense diverse and will pose a big challenge for MU's defense.
>> The RedHawks lost linebacker Ryan Wood earlier this season and had several injuries against Army. Offensively, running backs Jaylon Bester and Tyre Shelton have yet to play this year. TE Andrew Homer is getting close to a return, although Jack Coldiron has contributed some key catches in early action.
>> The Miami offensive line is young, with one junior, two sophomores and two freshmen getting the starting call.
>> Army limited the RedHawks offense to 232 yards last week. Eighty of those yards came on a Brett Gabbert pass to Kevin Davis. The only other RedHawk score was Graham Nicholson's 29-yard field goal.
>> Gabbert is completing 50 percent of his passes (35/70), while producing 565 yards, with five TDs and two interceptions.
>> Quarterback Christian Anderson scored two of three Army TDs, breaking loose for three long runs (72 yards, 75 yards) before getting injured in the fourth quarter. Miami allowed just one score -- a 4-yard Anthony Adkins run -- after intermission. The second half has been MU's best half -- offensively and defensively -- so far this season.
>> Martin noted this week that the RedHawk running game will need to get untracked. MU is ninth in rushing, averaging 132.3 ypg.
>> The RedHawk passing attack is sixth (211.0 ypg), while the defense is first (146.3). The latter likely benefitted from Minnesota and Army, whch have limited passing attacks. Defensive efficiency is 10th overall.
>> Jack Sorenson, who caught the winning TD against CMU in the 2019 championship game is a key RedHawk target and leads the team with 15 catches for 263 yards and two touchdowns. Mac Hippenhammer, a transfer from Penn State, has contributed nine receptions for 148 yards with one touchdown.