Central Michigan University Athletics
CMU Enters Bye Week on Three-Game Winning Streak
10/17/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 17, 2005
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MOUNT PLEASANT - The Central Michigan University football team will have a little extra time to enjoy one of its best overall performances of the season.
The Chippewas were a model of efficiency in Saturday's 37-10 Homecoming win over Ohio. The offense put together five scoring drives, none of which were longer than 75 seconds, while the defense played arguably its most physical game of the season. Ohio's offense was held to 297 total yards and turned the ball over three times. Even the special teams units got into the act, as Damien Linson ran a punt back 78 yards for a score.
CMU's offense set the tone early, as Kent Smith hit Jacob Brown for 50 yards on the game's first play, then three snaps later found Justin Harper for a 10-yard touchdown. For the game, the offense posted eight plays of 19 yards or longer.
"That's what happens when you get balance within the spread offense," said second-year head coach Brian Kelly. "Teams are now having to put seven players in the box against us, which provides us some of those quick-strike opportunities. It's important for us to get off to a good start in order to build momentum."
Defensively, CMU has not allowed a touchdown in the second half for four straight games.
"The number one thing is, we're very fit physically," Kelly said. "And, we're playing a lot of players, which allows us to be in a higher gear in the second half. We're also really doing a good job with gameplan preparation. Mike Elston and Bob Diaco are going a great job preparing and getting the kids ready to compete."
CMU will take this Saturday off before closing the regular season with four straight games against West Division opponents. Given the Chippewas' play over the past three weeks, some would argue that CMU would be better served to skip the bye week and just keep playing. Kelly, however, is welcoming the off-week with open arms.
"The kids are playing the way they are going to play the rest of the year," Kelly said. "We are who we are. Now we have the opportunity to play for a championship over the final month.
Obed Cetoute celebrates after hauling in a 41-yard pass from Justin Harper against Ohio.  | |
"The timing of the bye is good because it allows us to get our legs back under us," he added. "With the extra time, we're able to get a jump on our Toledo preparation and our coaches will get some recruiting done. And, it gives our kids a chance to get caught up on some classwork."
CMU will work out every day this week, with practices later in the week focusing on special teams. Strength and conditioning coach Paul Longo will also put the Chippewas through a series of weight room and conditioning drills. The players will have Saturday and Sunday off before beginning preparations for Toledo next Monday.
Following the bye, CMU welcomes Toledo and Northern Illinois to Kelly/Shorts Stadium on Oct. 29 and Nov. 5, respectively. CMU then closes the regular season with road trips to Western Michigan (Nov. 12) and Ball State (Nov. 19).
Smith and Linson Selected Players of the Week
Kent Smith and Damien Linson were named MAC Offensive and Special Teams Players of the Week for their performances in the win over Ohio. Smith, who earns the honor for the second time this season, was 15-of-24 passing for 228 yards and two touchdowns in the win. He also ran 10 times for 44 yards and a score. It was the ninth time in his career that he has rushed and passed for a touchdown in the same game and the eighth time he has thrown at least two touchdown passes in a contest.
Linson collects the special teams honor after returning a punt 78 yards for a touchdown just 1:03 before halftime. The 78-yard return is the longest punt return in Kelly/Shorts Stadium history and the second that Linson has returned for a score in his career. Linson also caught four passes for 42 yards in the win.
Toledo Game Selected MAC TV Game of the Week
CMU's Oct. 29 game against Toledo at Kelly/Shorts Stadium has been selected as the MAC Television Game of the Week. The contest will be televised on FSN Ohio, Comcast Local, Comcast Sports Net Chicago, and Adelphia 13 (Buffalo). Michael Reghi (play-by-play) and Bob Chimel (color commentary) will call the game from the booth, while Brooke Weisbrod will report from the sidelines. With the addition of the Toledo game to the television schedule, the Chippewas will play in front of six live TV audiences in 2005.
Three in a Row
The Chippewas extended their winning streak to three games with Saturday's victory against Ohio. It is the longest winning streak since the 2002 team opened the season 3-0. CMU last won four straight games during the 1994 MAC championship season. The Chippewas are 3-1 in conference play for the first time since the 1998 team started 4-1 in the MAC.
The Week After
Except for the 1999 campaign, CMU has had at least one bye week built into the schedule every season since 1998. The Chippewas are 2-5 in games following the bye week during that span. Both wins are over Kent State at home: 46-7 in 1998 and 24-21 in 2004.
Lockdown Defense
The CMU defense has allowed just two touchdowns in the past 10 quarters (154:10 of game action) and has not allowed a touchdown in the second half of the past four games.
Jacob Brown covered 50 yards on a pass from Kent Smith on the first play of the game against Ohio. | |
The Chippewas have surrendered a combined 20 points the past two weeks (10 at Army, 10 vs. Ohio), the lowest consecutive-game total for CMU since Kent State (0) and Miami (16) combined to score 16 points in back-to-back weeks against CMU in 1992.
CMU held Akron scoreless in the second half on Oct. 1. It marked the first time the Chippewas held a team scoreless for a half since a 38-10 win over Eastern Michigan in 2003. EMU did not score after halftime in that contest.
Out of the Gate
CMU scored on its first possession of the game on Saturday, marking the first time the Chippewas had scored on their initial possession in 2005. CMU last scored on its first possession against Eastern Michigan in 2004.
Happy Returns
Damien Linson's 78-yard punt return for a touchdown in the second quarter was the second of his career. He also returned a punt 66 yards for a score against Southeast Missouri State last season. His 78-yarder on Saturday was the longest in Kelly/Shorts Stadium history. Linson owns CMU's only two punt return touchdowns since 1983.
Sneed Leads the Way
Freshman running back Ontario Sneed has rushed for at least 100 yards three times this season. He ranks first among his teammates in rushing (726 yards; 5.5 ypc.) and scoring (nine touchdowns) and is tied for first in receptions (28). Sneed is 17th in the nation, and third in the MAC, in rushing, averaging 103.7 ypg. His yards per game average is also second among all freshmen in Division I-A. Sneed has not fumbled in 161 touches this season.
Sneed Game-by-Game Rushing Receiving Att. Yds. TD Avg. Rec. Yds. TDIU 14 148 1 10.6 4 9 0MU 19 85 1 4.5 2 6 0PSU 12 32 0 2.7 3 28 0EMU 29 122 1 4.2 5 56 0Akron 21 183 1 8.7 6 77 2Army 21 82 1 3.9 5 27 0Ohio 17 74 1 4.4 3 39 1Total 133 726 6 5.5 28 242 3Keeping an Eye on Bazuin
Junior defensive end Daniel Bazuin, an All-MAC first team selection in 2004, is a member of the preseason watch lists for both the Bronco Nagurski Trophy and the Lombardi Award. He is one of 50 players named to the watch list for the Nagurski Trophy, presented to the top defensive player in college football. The Lombardi Award, which names 54 players on its preseason list, is given to the top defensive lineman in the nation ... LAST WEEK ... Bazuin made six tackles, including three sacks for a loss of 22 yards, forced a fumble, and broke up a pass. He moved into a tie for fourth on CMU's career sacks list and into a tie for fifth on the single-season list..
Bazuin Game-by-Game U-A-T TFL/Yds. Sks./Yds. Int. PBU FF FRIU 9-1-10 2/23 2/23 0 0 2 0MU 5-2-7 1/10 1/10 0 0 0 0PSU 4-1-5 2/16 2/16 0 2 1 0EMU 1-2-3 0/0 0/0 0 0 0 0Akron 2-2-4 2.5/11 0-0 0 0 0 1Army 3-2-5 1.5/3 0/0 0 0 0 0Ohio 4-2-6 3/22 3/22 0 1 1 0Total 28-12-40 12.0/85 8/71 0 3 4 1
Quick-Strike Attack
Seventeen of the Chippewas' 26 offensive scoring drives this season have lasted less than two minutes, and all but four have lasted less than three minutes. On Saturday against Ohio, each of CMU's five scoring drives lasted 1:15 or less. At Akron on Oct. 1, CMU had three scoring drives that lasted less than 60 seconds. The Chippewas' average scoring drive this season has lasted 1:53.
Chippewas in the National Rankings
CMU has taken care of the football as well as any team in the nation, committing just four turnovers in six games. Individually, Ontario Sneed is 16th in rushing and 22nd in all-purpose yardage. Statistical categories in which CMU is represented in the top 50 in Division I-A:
IndividualForced Fumbles Daniel Bazuin (T-7th; 0.57 pg. - 4 FF tied for third-most in I-A)Sacks Daniel Bazuin (8th; 1.14 spg. - 8 sacks tied for second-most in I-A)Tackles For Loss Daniel Bazuin (T-11th; 1.71 pg. - 12 TFL tied four fourth-most in I-A)Rushing Ontario Sneed (17th; 103.7 ypg.)All-Purpose Yards Ontario Sneed (26th; 138.3 ypg.)Solo Tackles Thomas Keith (35th; 5.7 tpg.)Tackles Thomas Keith (36th; 9.6 tpg.)Completions Kent Smith (37th; 19.0 cpg.)Total Offense Kent Smith (42nd; 243.3 ypg.)Total Receiving Yards Damien Linson (46th; 463 ypg.)Passes Defended Jesse Dailey (T-48th; 1.14 pg. - 8 break-ups tied for fourth-most in I-A)Long Stay at Kelly/Shorts
TeamPasses Had Intercepted T-1st (2 intercepted)Turnovers Lost T-2nd (4 lost)Fumbles Lost T-7th (2 lost - tied for third-fewest in I-A)3rd Down Defense 14th (34-of-114 conversions allowed; 29.8%)Turnover Margin 16th (1.14 margin; 12 turnovers gained, 4 lost)Punt Returns 25th (12.9 ypr.)Scoring Defense 38th (22.4 ppg.)Punt Return Yardage Defense 38th (7.2 ypr. allowed)Rushing Offense 39th (165.0 ypg.)Tackles For Loss T-39th (6.9 pg.)Fumbles Recovered T-41st (6 recovered)
The Chippewas' current three-game homestand is the longest for CMU since a three-gamer in 1996. That season, CMU defeated Akron (42-0) and Eastern Michigan (41-36) before falling to Ball State (24-17).
Home Away From Home
CMU's win over Ohio on Saturday was the Chippewas' first victory at home in 2005. Meanwhile, the Chippewas sport a 3-1 record on the road this season. The 1994 MAC champion Chippewas are the last CMU team to finish at least .500 away from home; that squad was 4-3 away from Kelly/Shorts Stadium.
Homecoming Notes
CMU improved to 50-27-1 all-time in Homecoming games with Saturday's 37-10 win over Ohio. The victory snapped a six-game losing streak in Homecoming contests. The win was also CMU's third this season in a Homecoming contest; the Chippewas won at Miami and at Army on Homecoming Weekend in Oxford and West Point, respectively.
Steal the Ball
Thomas Keith's interception on the final play of the first half was CMU's sixth interception of the season. The Chippewas picked off only five passes in all of 2005. Five different players have intercepted passes for CMU this season, while Keith's two interceptions leading the team.
First Down Brown
Senior tight end Jacob Brown has caught 20 passes this season, 15 of which have resulted in first downs for CMU. He caught a career-high seven passes at Miami on Sept. 10, five of which resulted in first downs, including four catches on third down. At Penn State on Sept. 17, Brown's two catches came on fourth and second down, respectively, and both gave CMU first downs. At Army on Oct. 8, Brown hauled in a five-yard catch on third-and-four to extend the Chippewas' game-winning touchdown drive. For the season, Brown has collected six catches on third down and one on fourth down that have resulted in CMU first downs.
CMU vs. the MAC
The Chippewas are 212-175-17 (.546) all-time against the other 11 current members of the Mid-American Conference. CMU is 142-107-10 (.568) in MAC contests since joining the conference in 1975. CMU vs. the MAC:
Akron 10-9-1 Ball State 18-18-1 Bowling Green 16-21Buffalo 2-1 Eastern Michigan 52-25-6 Kent State 21-9Miami 9-11-1 Northern Illinois 21-18-1 Ohio 18-4-2Toledo 13-17-3 Western Michigan 32-42-2All-Time Record
CMU has played 902 games over the course of 105 seasons and is 530-336-36 in those contests. The Chippewas' all-time winning percentage is .608.
