Central Michigan will be looking to bounce back after its defeat of 2017. Miami will be looking to bounce back from a heartbreaking loss to area rival Cincinnati. Both CMU and MU will be seeking a winning start to their MAC schedule Saturday in Mt. Pleasant.
In addition to . . .
In addition to . . .
. . . home field advantage, the Chips have a chance to pay back Miami for a 31-17 loss last year in Oxford. It was part of a late-season surge by the RedHawks, who won six straight to earn a bowl bid.
MIAMI AT CENTRAL MICHIGAN
Saturday, Sept. 23 – 3:30 p.m. ET
Kelly Shorts Stadium – Mount Pleasant, MI
ESPN3
MAIMI REDHAWKS (1-2)
Saturday, Sept. 23 – 3:30 p.m. ET
Kelly Shorts Stadium – Mount Pleasant, MI
ESPN3
MAIMI REDHAWKS (1-2)
Conversely, CMU won just one of its last five regular season games in 2016 and was drubbed 55-10 by Tulsa in the Miami Beach Bowl.
Despite the loss of talented quarterback Cooper Rush, however, the Chippewas fared well in the early going, edging Rhode Island 30-27 in three overtimes and blasting Kansas on the road, 45-27, before falling at Syracuse 41-17 last week.
“They’ve got a new offensive coordinator, so they’ve got a complete different offense ... and they’ve got a five-star quarterback transfer from Michigan,” Miami head coach Chuck Martin said.
The new golden arm in town for the Chippewas is senior Shane Morris, who has already thrown more passes than he totaled in his Michigan days.
The Chippewas are averaging 332.3 ypg through the air, placing them second in the MAC and 16th nationally.
They’ll go against a Miami defense again ranked first in the MAC (30th nationally).
As usual, the RedHawks’ defense is still generating turnovers, but the offense has been given up some very costly turnovers. Cincinnati’s 15-yard interception return for a score with just over a minute left was the difference in a 21-17 UC victory. A 70-yard pick six, along with two kickoff returns for a TD by Marshall, paved the way to a 31-27 Miami loss in the 2017 opener.
While Miami is at plus-1 in turnover margin, the Chippewas are at plus-3, Given any opportunities, they will be ready to take advantage.
The same might be said of special teams – at least kickoffs. Miami seems to have fixed the kick return issues that were so costly at Marshall. However, an injury to kick returner Maurice Thomas during last week’s game resulted in a true freshman back to receive a kick in the final two minutes. Instead of letting the bounding ball go into the end zone for a touchback, he went into the end zone and brought it out. With no return set up, he was tackled near the five-yard line.
Injuries hit Miami hard even before the game started, essentially stripped the RedHawks of leading receiver James Gardner and power back Alonzo Smith. Their return, as well as several other significant contributors, is questionable and may be a game-time decision.
Despite the loss of talented quarterback Cooper Rush, however, the Chippewas fared well in the early going, edging Rhode Island 30-27 in three overtimes and blasting Kansas on the road, 45-27, before falling at Syracuse 41-17 last week.
“They’ve got a new offensive coordinator, so they’ve got a complete different offense ... and they’ve got a five-star quarterback transfer from Michigan,” Miami head coach Chuck Martin said.
The new golden arm in town for the Chippewas is senior Shane Morris, who has already thrown more passes than he totaled in his Michigan days.
The Chippewas are averaging 332.3 ypg through the air, placing them second in the MAC and 16th nationally.
They’ll go against a Miami defense again ranked first in the MAC (30th nationally).
As usual, the RedHawks’ defense is still generating turnovers, but the offense has been given up some very costly turnovers. Cincinnati’s 15-yard interception return for a score with just over a minute left was the difference in a 21-17 UC victory. A 70-yard pick six, along with two kickoff returns for a TD by Marshall, paved the way to a 31-27 Miami loss in the 2017 opener.
While Miami is at plus-1 in turnover margin, the Chippewas are at plus-3, Given any opportunities, they will be ready to take advantage.
The same might be said of special teams – at least kickoffs. Miami seems to have fixed the kick return issues that were so costly at Marshall. However, an injury to kick returner Maurice Thomas during last week’s game resulted in a true freshman back to receive a kick in the final two minutes. Instead of letting the bounding ball go into the end zone for a touchback, he went into the end zone and brought it out. With no return set up, he was tackled near the five-yard line.
Injuries hit Miami hard even before the game started, essentially stripped the RedHawks of leading receiver James Gardner and power back Alonzo Smith. Their return, as well as several other significant contributors, is questionable and may be a game-time decision.
MIAMI REDHAWKS (1-2)
● MU led 20-17 at halftime in last year’s matchup. Central failed to score in the second half, while Miami added 17 points.
● Miami outgained the visitors 436-292 in last year’s meeting. The RedHawks rolled up 218 yards rushing, exactly the same yardage as the passing game. The latter, however, provided four of five MU touchdowns.
● Kenny Young led Miami rushers in last year’s game with 84 yards on seven carries, but QB Gus Ragland carried 13 times for 60 yards. With Alonzo Smith unavailable last week, Young carried the rushing load against UC, but managed just 57 yards on 18 trips (3.2 ypc) with one TD. Smith leads the team in rushing with 144 yards on 135 carries (4.1 ypc).
● As a team, Miami is averaging 2.7 ypc oon the ground.
● After completing 64.2 percent of his passes in 2016, Ragland is at 51.5 percent so far this year. His one interception in seven starts last came in the bowl game. He has thrown two pics this year. Both were returned for touchdowns (15 and 70 yards).
● Placekicker Samuel Sloman has converted all his PAT (8) and FG (4) attempts, with a long of 42 this season. Punter Kyle Kramer was one of two Miami players earning Week Three Player of the Week honors. Linebacker De’Andre Montgomery was also recognized.
● MU is last in kickoff returns, averaging 14.8 ypg. It is also last in kickoff coverage.
CENTRAL MICHIGAN CHIPPEWAS (2-1)
● CMU leads the nation in interceptions (9) through three games. Senior safety Josh Cox leads the Chippewas with three pics, which is tied for first in FBS play.
● Shane Morris is one of several graduate transfers helping CMU this year. He is averaging 345 total yards of offense per game, tops in the MAC.
● The Chippewas average 158 rushing yards per game, a solid increase over last season’s 116.5 ypg. Sophomore Jonathan Ward is averaging 6.0 ypc. He is second in the MAC with 236 rushing yards, trailing onl Toledo’s Terry Swanson (276). Ward also has 110 receiving yards on 10 catches with one TD.
● Veteran Devon Spalding owns 101 rushing yards with two touchdowns, including the game-winner in overtime against Rhode Island.
● Punter Jack Sheldon averaged 48.1 yards on 10 punts, including a long of 64 yards, against Syracuse.
● In addition to Morris, other graduate transfers with CMU this year are safety Darwyn Kelly (from Illinois), placekicker Michael Armstrong (from SMU) and linebacker justin Corbett (from Westerm Illinois).
● Central Michigan is fourth among MAC teams in scoring (30.7 ppg) and eighth in scoring defense (31.7 ppg)
● CMU is second (MAC) in pass offense (332.3 ypg), but 11th in pass defense. The Chippewas rank fifth in pass defense efficiency.
● MU led 20-17 at halftime in last year’s matchup. Central failed to score in the second half, while Miami added 17 points.
● Miami outgained the visitors 436-292 in last year’s meeting. The RedHawks rolled up 218 yards rushing, exactly the same yardage as the passing game. The latter, however, provided four of five MU touchdowns.
● Kenny Young led Miami rushers in last year’s game with 84 yards on seven carries, but QB Gus Ragland carried 13 times for 60 yards. With Alonzo Smith unavailable last week, Young carried the rushing load against UC, but managed just 57 yards on 18 trips (3.2 ypc) with one TD. Smith leads the team in rushing with 144 yards on 135 carries (4.1 ypc).
● As a team, Miami is averaging 2.7 ypc oon the ground.
● After completing 64.2 percent of his passes in 2016, Ragland is at 51.5 percent so far this year. His one interception in seven starts last came in the bowl game. He has thrown two pics this year. Both were returned for touchdowns (15 and 70 yards).
● Placekicker Samuel Sloman has converted all his PAT (8) and FG (4) attempts, with a long of 42 this season. Punter Kyle Kramer was one of two Miami players earning Week Three Player of the Week honors. Linebacker De’Andre Montgomery was also recognized.
● MU is last in kickoff returns, averaging 14.8 ypg. It is also last in kickoff coverage.
CENTRAL MICHIGAN CHIPPEWAS (2-1)
● CMU leads the nation in interceptions (9) through three games. Senior safety Josh Cox leads the Chippewas with three pics, which is tied for first in FBS play.
● Shane Morris is one of several graduate transfers helping CMU this year. He is averaging 345 total yards of offense per game, tops in the MAC.
● The Chippewas average 158 rushing yards per game, a solid increase over last season’s 116.5 ypg. Sophomore Jonathan Ward is averaging 6.0 ypc. He is second in the MAC with 236 rushing yards, trailing onl Toledo’s Terry Swanson (276). Ward also has 110 receiving yards on 10 catches with one TD.
● Veteran Devon Spalding owns 101 rushing yards with two touchdowns, including the game-winner in overtime against Rhode Island.
● Punter Jack Sheldon averaged 48.1 yards on 10 punts, including a long of 64 yards, against Syracuse.
● In addition to Morris, other graduate transfers with CMU this year are safety Darwyn Kelly (from Illinois), placekicker Michael Armstrong (from SMU) and linebacker justin Corbett (from Westerm Illinois).
● Central Michigan is fourth among MAC teams in scoring (30.7 ppg) and eighth in scoring defense (31.7 ppg)
● CMU is second (MAC) in pass offense (332.3 ypg), but 11th in pass defense. The Chippewas rank fifth in pass defense efficiency.
RSS Feed