Central Michigan University Athletics
CMU Closes Out Home Schedule Against Northern Illinois
10/31/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 31, 2005
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MOUNT PLEASANT - Central Michigan University, the co-leader in the Mid-American Conference West Division, closes out the home portion of the 2005 schedule this weekend against Northern Illinois University.
CMU enters the weekend tied for first with Toledo in the MAC West following last weekend's 21-17 win over the Rockets in Kelly/Shorts Stadium. The Chippewas and Rockets are both 4-1 in conference contests. The Chippewas enter Saturday's game against NIU having won four straight overall, the program's longest winning streak since the 1994 MAC championship season.
"Our kids know that there is more out there," said CMU head coach Brian Kelly. "Last weekend's win means nothing if we don't win this week. To win consistently, you have to have a demeanor about yourself in which you focus on the immediate and not worry about the future or the past."
After finishing the month of October a perfect 4-0, the Chippewas open the regular season's final month against a Northern Illinois program that has established itself as a perennial MAC West title contender. The Huskies have developed an efficient offensive attack that ranks among the conference's best; they lead the MAC in total offense (459.1 ypg), while a Northern Illinois back has led the conference in rushing each of the past three seasons.
"More than anything, their tradition is what stands out," said CMU head coach Brian Kelly. "They have beaten us seven years in a row, so they are going to come in here with a lot of confidence. If there was one game on our schedule where we felt we were not mentally tough last season, it was the Northern Illinois game. Our guys will be reminded of that this week."
CMU will counter that attack with a defense that has improved weekly this season. The Chippewas held Toledo, averaging 39.4 points per game, to just 17 points last weekend, and have held each of their past five opponents without a touchdown after halftime. In its last five outings, CMU has surrendered a total of just 18 points (six field goals) in the second half. The Chippewas rank second in the MAC in scoring defense, allowing 21.8 points per outing, and have held each of their past four opponents to 17 points or less.
"I think there are a couple of things that play into that," Kelly said. "The first is gameplan recognition. Our players are very well prepared each week, and by the second half our kids feel like they have a pretty good sense of what the other team is doing. Our physical conditioning is excellent as well. We're playing a lot of players, which means our kids are fresh late in the ballgame."
The Chippewa defense has held five straight opponents without a second-half touchdown.  | |
Offensively, senior quarterback Kent Smith has carried the CMU offense in recent weeks. He has accounted for six touchdowns in the past two games (four passing, two rushing) and was at his best last weekend on CMU's three scoring marches. Against Toledo, Smith was a combined 10-of-12 passing for 111 yards and ran eight times for 37 yards on CMU's three drives that resulted in touchdowns.
This weekend, he will call the signals against an NIU defense that ranks second in the MAC in yards allowed (314.2 ypg) and third in scoring defense (23.9 ppg). Junior safety Dustin Utschig leads the unit with 62 total tackles, while senior end Quince Holman has collected 8-1/2 tackles for loss, including four sacks.
CMU closes the regular season with road trips to Western Michigan next weekend and Ball State on Nov. 19. The Western Michigan contest has been selected as the MAC Television Game of the Week, while the finale at Ball State will air on Comcast Sports Net Detroit.
Smith Named MAC West Offensive Player of the Week
Senior quarterback Kent Smith has been named the MAC West Division Offensive Player of the Week for his performance in Saturday's 21-17 win over Toledo. Smith threw for 189 yards and two scores and ran for a team-high 89 yards and a touchdown. It marks the third time this season Smith has collected the player of the week award; his three selections are tied for the most player of the week awards for a single player in the MAC this season.
Western Michigan Game Selected MAC TV Game of the Week
CMU's Nov. 12 contest at Western Michigan 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). Dave Weekley (play-by-play) and Bob Chmiel (color commentary) will call the game from the booth, while Brooke Weisbrod will report from the sidelines. With the addition of the Western Michigan game to the television schedule, the Chippewas will play in front of seven live TV audiences in 2005.
Make it Four
The Chippewas' current four-game winning streak is the longest since the 1994 MAC championship team won six straight to close the regular season. CMU is tied for first in the MAC West at 4-1, the Chippewas' best conference mark since 1998. This is also the latest in the season CMU has been in first place since 1998.
Smith Carries the Load
Kent Smith accounted for 278 yards of offense and had a hand in all three of CMU's touchdowns on Saturday, throwing for two scores and running for another. Smith was at his best on the Chippewas' three scoring drives--he completed 10-of-12 passes for 111 yards and ran eight times for 37 yards on CMU's three marches to the end zone.
Saturday's game marked the 10th time that Smith has thrown and run for a touchdown in the same game.
Shut 'em Down
The CMU defense held Toledo to 17 points on Saturday, 22 points below the Rockets' season average of 39.4 points per game entering the contest. Toledo also entered last weekend averaging 231.3 yards per game on the ground, second in the MAC, and was limited to 95 yards rushing against the Chippewas.
Second Half Shutouts
The Chippewa defense has held five straight opponents without a touchdown in the second half. Over the past five games, CMU has surrendered a total of just 18 points on six field goals after halftime.
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.
Bazuin Nears Sacks Records
Junior defensive end Daniel Bazuin recorded his ninth sack of the season against Toledo, tying four former Chippewas for the single-season school record. Bazuin has now collected 18 sacks in his three seasons at CMU, tied for third on the school's career list.
The Week After
The 1998 season marked the first time CMU began regularly building a bye week into the schedule. Entering the 2004 season, the Chippewas were just 1-5 in games following a scheduled bye week. However, CMU has now claimed wins in each of its past two games following bye weeks: 24-21 against Kent State in 2004, and 21-17 over Toledo on Saturday.
Keeping 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 recorded his ninth sack of the season, tying him for CMU's single-season sacks record. He also moved into a tie for third on the career sacks list with 18.
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 0Toledo 3-0-3 2/6 1/4 0 0 0 0Total 31-12-43 14.0/91 9/75 0 3 4 1Sneed 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 (794 yards; 5.2 ypc) and scoring (nine touchdowns) and is second in receptions (33). Sneed is 27th in the nation, and fifth in the MAC, in rushing, averaging 99.2 ypg. His yards per game average is also second among all freshmen in Division I-A. Sneed has not fumbled in 186 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 1Toledo 20 68 0 3.4 5 31 0Total 153 794 6 5.2 33 273 3Quick-Strike Attack
Nineteen of the Chippewas' 29 offensive scoring drives this season have lasted less than two minutes, and all but five have lasted less than three minutes. On Oct. 15 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 1:59.
Chippewas in the National Rankings
The Chippewas' five turnovers this season are the fewest in Division I-A, while CMU is tied for second in both fewest fumbles lost and passes had intercepted. Individually, junior defensive end Daniel Bazuin has spent as much time in opponents' backfields as anyone in the country. Statistical categories in which CMU is represented in the top 50 in Division I-A:
IndividualSacks Daniel Bazuin (3rd; 9 sacks, 1.13 pg)Tackles For Loss Daniel Bazuin (T-4th; 14 TFL, 1.75 pg)Forced Fumbles Daniel Bazuin (T-6th; 0.5 pg, 4 FF tied for fifth-most in Div. I-A)Punt Returns Damien Linson (24th; 12.0 ypr)Rushing Ontario Sneed (27th; 99.2 ypg)Total Tackles Thomas Keith (28th; 9.9 tpg)Total Offense Kent Smith (31st; 247.6 ypg)All-Purpose Yards Ontario Sneed (33rd; 133.4 ypg)Completions Kent Smith (36th; 19.1 cpg)Solo Tackles Thomas Keith (T-36th; 5.6 tpg)Points Responsible For Kent Smith (T-46th; 11.25 ppg)Climbing the Career Charts
TeamTurnovers Lost 1st (5 lost)Fumbles Lost T-2nd (2 lost)Passes Had Intercepted T-2nd (3 lost)3rd Down Defense 17th (41-of-131 conversions allowed, 31.3 percent)Turnover Margin T-20th (0.88 margin; 12 TO gained, 5 TO lost)Tackles For Loss T-29th (7.0 tpg)Punt Returns 33rd (11.3 ypr)Punt Return Yardage Defense 35th (7.4 ypr allowed)Scoring Defense 38th (21.8 ppg)Rushing Offense 40th (164.4 ypg)Rushing Defense 41st (130.6 ypg)
Four current Chippewas are either in or near the school's all-time top 10 in a number of statistical categories. Senior quarterback Kent Smith is now fourth all-time in attempts and completions, fifth in total offense, and sixth in passing yards. Justin Harper moved into third on the career receptions list last weekend against Toledo, while junior end Daniel Bazuin is now tied for third on the career sacks list. Bazuin's nine sacks in 2005 are tied for the most in a single season at CMU.
Long Stay at Kelly/Shorts
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 is 3-1 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 and is the last CMU team to win at least three games on the road in a season.
Steal the Ball
Thomas Keith's interception on the final play of the first half against Ohio was CMU's sixth interception of the season. The Chippewas picked off only five passes in all of 2004. Five different players have intercepted passes for CMU this season, with Keith's two interceptions leading the team.
First Down Brown
Senior tight end Jacob Brown has caught 22 passes this season, 16 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 213-175-17 (.547) all-time against the other 11 current members of the Mid-American Conference. CMU is 143-107-10 (.569) 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 14-17-3 Western Michigan 32-42-2All-Time Record
CMU has played 903 games over the course of 105 seasons and is 531-336-36 in those contests. The Chippewas' all-time winning percentage is .608.
