Central Michigan University Athletics
Football Preps for Homecoming Date with Ball State
10/8/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
MOUNT PLEASANT – The Central Michigan University football program finds itself in an unfamiliar position heading into Saturday’s Homecoming game against Ball State.
For the first time since 1990, the Chippewas are 3-0 in Mid-American Conference play. CMU enters this weekend’s action alone in first place in the MAC West Division.
The Chippewas posted their first win at Toledo since 1993 on Saturday night, rattling off 42 consecutive points in a 42-20 victory over the Rockets. Dan LeFevour threw for 295 yards and three scores, including a pair to Obed Cétoute, while Daniel Bazuin (fumble return) and Doug Kress (interception return) tallied defensive scores.
Toledo led 14-0 early in the second quarter, but CMU scored 21 points in the final 5:09 of the half to take a 21-14 lead into the locker room. The Chippewas added three more touchdowns in the second half to stretch the lead to 42-14 before the Rockets found the end zone in the final minute.
“To go on the road, to a place where our opponent had won 36-of-38, spot them a 14-point lead, and then battle back and win the game—I think that says a lot about who our kids are and what they are made of,” said third-year head coach Brian Kelly. “I was proud of the way our kids hung in there and turned the game around against a quality opponent.”
Now, with his relatively young squad having tasted success over the past month, Kelly knows one of the next challenges will be guarding against overconfidence in the CMU locker room.
“A lot of things that are happening now are new to a lot of these guys,” Kelly said. “This is kind of unchartered territory, and it is going to be an education for us. The main thing for us is we know we have to show up ready to play every weekend and remain focused on the task at hand.”
The next task is a Homecoming date with Ball State on Saturday. The Cardinals are 2-4 overall, 2-1 in the MAC, following a 55-25 win at Buffalo on Saturday. True freshman Nate Davis completed 11-of-14 passes for 247 yards and three touchdowns. Through six games, Davis has thrown for 917 yards and 12 touchdowns against just one interception.
“There are some very good freshman quarterbacks in this league,” Kelly said. “The thing that you are seeing is everyone is playing their best guy, regardless of experience. They still have Joey Lynch as well, who is a senior and has played well in the past for them.”
CMU has won two straight over the Cardinals, both come-from-behind wins in the 2004 and 2005 season finales, and leads the all-time series 19-18-1. The Chippewas have not defeated Ball State in three consecutive seasons since 1984-86.
Saturday’s contest is the first of two in a five-day span for CMU. Bowling Green visits Kelly/Shorts Stadium on Thursday, Oct. 19 for a MAC contest that will be televised nationally on ESPNU at 7:30 p.m. The Chippewas are then off for 16 days before visiting Temple on Saturday, Nov. 4.
