Central Michigan University Athletics
Rivalry Week: Game Notes
11/7/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
The Matchup
The Michigan MAC Championship will be decided when CMU and Western Michigan meet in Kelly/Shorts Stadium on Friday night. The Chippewas enter the contest alone in first place in the MAC West Division, one game ahead of the rival Broncos. CMU can clinch at least a share of the MAC West title with a victory. It is Senior Night at Kelly/Shorts Stadium, with 12 CMU seniors playing their final home game.
The CMU-WMU Series
Western Michigan leads the all-time series, 43-32-2, and has won four of the past five meetings. The two teams have split the last 18 meetings overall. In the last matchup at Kelly/Shorts Stadium in 2004, CMU rallied for 14 points in the final 2:13 to force overtime, then won the game 24-21 on a 25-yard field goal by Ronnie Budd. The Chippewas are
13-1-1 at home against Western Michigan dating back to the 1975 season.
The Coaches
Brian Kelly is in his third season as the head coach at Central Michigan University. He guided the Chippewas to a 6-5 record in 2005, the program’s first winning season since 1998. CMU’s overall win total has improved in both of Kelly’s two seasons at the helm. Kelly arrived in Mount Pleasant after a successful 13-year run at Grand Valley State University which saw him lead the Lakers to back-to-back NCAA Division II national championships in 2002 and 2003.
Bill Cubit is in his second year as the head coach at Western Michigan. He was named MAC Coach of the Year in 2005 after guiding the Broncos to a 7-4 record one year after WMU had finished 1-10 overall.
LeFevour Wants Your Vote
Redshirt freshman quarterback Dan LeFevour has built a resumé worthy of MAC Freshman of the Year accolades. Consider the following:
• LeFevour leads the MAC in touchdown passes (17), ranks second in total offense (242.0 ypg) and passing efficiency (143.8 rating) and third in passing yards (209.0 ypg).
• He is 6-1 as a starter this season.
• He is piloting an offense that ranks first in the MAC in scoring (28.7 ppg) and second in passing (249.0 ypg) and total yardage (385.2 ypg).
• LeFevour was responsible for five touchdowns (four passing, one rushing) at Temple (11/4), the most by any player in the MAC in 2006.
• He has twice thrown a MAC-high four touchdown passes in a game.
• He posted a conference-best 407 yards of offense at Kentucky (9/30).
• His 88-yard touchdown pass to Obed Cétoute in the fourth quarter against Bowling Green is the longest play from scrimmage in the MAC this season.
• LeFevour was named MAC West Offensive Player of the Week after recording 407 yards of offense and throwing four touchdown passes at Kentucky.
• His 17 touchdown passes are tied for the third-most in a season at CMU.
• LeFevour has led CMU in rushing three times this season.
Sneed MAC West Offensive Player of the Week
Ontario Sneed was named MAC West Offensive Player of the Week after accounting for 233 all-purpose yards (140 rushing, 93 receiving) at Temple. He tied a school record with three touchdown receptions and added a 65-yard touchdown run. It was his second straight, and sixth career, 100-yard rushing game.
Michigan MAC Trophy on the Line
The winner of Friday’s game will take home the 2006 Michigan MAC Trophy. The Michigan Sports Hall of Fame sponsors the traveling trophy, which goes to the institution that wins the round robin competition between Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan and Western Michigan. CMU claimed a 24-17 overtime victory at Eastern Michigan on Sept. 23, while Western Michigan was an 18-15 victor over EMU on Oct. 28. Western Michigan claimed the trophy in 2005.
The Key Matchup
Friday’s game will feature one of the MAC’s top offenses (CMU) against one of its top defenses (WMU). The CMU offense vs. WMU defense tale of the tape:
CMU Offense WMU Defense
Category Stat MAC Rank Category Stat MAC Rank
Scoring Offense 28.7 ppg 1st Scoring Defense 19.2 ppg 2nd
Total Offense 385.2 ypg 2nd Total Defense 284.2 ypg 1st
Passing Offense 249.0 ypg 2nd Passing Defense 210.8 ypg 9th
Rushing Offense 136.2 ypg 6th Rushing Defense 73.4 ypg 1st
Protect the Pigskin
In the past six CMU-WMU matchups, the team with fewer turnovers is 5-1. Western Michigan is tied for first nationally in turnover margin (+12), while the Chippewas are +1 for the season.
Light Up the Night
Friday night’s game will be the third played under a new $650,000 permanent lighting system at Kelly/Shorts Stadium. The 2006 season is the first in which CMU has played multiple night games at home during a season. The matchup with Western Michigan will be the ninth played at night at Kelly/Shorts, but just the second that is not a season opener. The Chippewas are 5-3 overall in night games at Kelly/Shorts Stadium:
Date Opponent Result
10/19/06 Bowling Green W, 31-14
8/31/06 Boston College L, 31-24
9/2/05 Indiana L, 20-13
8/29/02 Sam Houston State W, 34-10
8/30/01 Eastern Kentucky W, 42-28
9/2/99 Eastern Illinois W, 33-17
8/28/97 Northern Illinois W, 44-10
9/2/93 Akron L, 23-13
He’s Back
Through the first seven games of the season, Ontario Sneed had run for a total of just 289 yards. Over the past two games, however, he has amassed 261 rushing yards and a pair of touchdowns. He ran for 121 yards and a score against Bowling Green (10/19) and 140 yards and a touchdown at Temple (11/4). He scored on a 44-yard run on the first play from scrimmage against BGSU and a 65-yard run in the third quarter at Temple. Those are the two longest runs from scrimmage for CMU this season. He now has six career 100-yard rushing games.
Six is It
Six wins over Division I-A opponents is the threshold for bowl eligibility. Last weekend’s win at Temple was CMU’s sixth over a Division I-A opponent in 2006. Last season saw the Chippewas defeat six Division I-A opponents for the first time since 1994. The Chippewas have now posted consecutive seasons of at least six wins over Division I-A opponents for the first time since 1984-85.
Senior Salute
Twelve CMU seniors will be making their final appearance at Kelly/Shorts Stadium on Friday night and will be recognized prior to kickoff. The 12 senior members of the 2006 CMU football team: Daniel Bazuin, Obed Cétoute, Dave Condeni, Pacino Horne, Craig Knudson, Doug Kress, Damien Linson, Drew Mormino, Mike Ogle, Terrance Robinson, Joe Staley, Leython Williams.
