Central Michigan University Athletics
Football Welcomes Army to Kelly/Shorts Stadium
10/8/2007 12:00:00 AM | Football
MOUNT PLEASANT For the first time in school history, Central Michigan University will welcome a service academy to Kelly/Shorts Stadium when the Chippewas host Army on Saturday.
Both teams enter the weekend 3-3 overall and having won two straight games. The Chippewas remained perfect in Mid-American Conference play with a record-breaking 58-38 win at Ball State last weekend, while Army scored on the game’s final play and kicked a field goal in overtime to defeat Tulane, 20-17.
The Black Knights will be making their first trip to the state of Michigan since 1984, when they defeated Michigan State, 10-6, in the Cherry Bowl at the Pontiac Silverdome.
“It should be a great environment,” said CMU head coach Butch Jones of Army’s visit to Kelly/Shorts Stadium. “This is a great situation for not only CMU and Mount Pleasant, but for the entire state of Michigan. It’s obviously a program rich in tradition and history and we just have a tremendous amount of respect for them.”
Army has held five of its six opponents to 22 points or less and ranks 32nd in the country in scoring defense (20.8 ppg allowed). CMU, meanwhile, enters the game averaging 31.3 points and 428.5 yards of offense per game.
Those offensive numbers were bolstered in Saturday’s 58-38 win at Ball State. The Chippewas rolled up a school-record 658 yards of total offense on an unseasonably warm October day in Muncie, Ind.
“I thought we executed extremely well on offense,” Jones said. “We played with the type of fast tempo that we want to. The heat index on the field was 127 degrees, so we wanted to make conditioning a factor.
“Traditionally Army is extremely physical and plays extremely hard,” he added. “Our kids need to make sure they take the time to get their bodies right this week. We had some players who lost as much as 12 or 15 pounds in the heat at Ball State. We need to take care of our bodies, refresh ourselves and refocus for Saturday.”
This weekend’s game marks just the third time CMU has faced a service academy on the gridiron. The Chippewas won at Army in 2005, 14-0, and lost at Navy in 2003, 63-34.
Freshmen Continue to Impress
A season-high 21 true or redshirt freshmen played in Saturday’s game at Ball State. Carl Volny caught a touchdown pass in his first career appearance, while Matt Berning made a career-high six tackles and forced a fumble that set up CMU’s second touchdown. Taylor Bradley caught a career-high five passes, including his first touchdown, and Antonio Brown scored a touchdown both rushing and receiving.
“Our young kids are really growing up,” Jones said. “Every game is a learning experience for our youngsters. They have handled everything well, which is a tribute to our older players and the leadership roles they have taken on.”
Inside the Numbers
A look at some of the offensive statistics that emerged from Saturday’s win at Ball State:
- CMU has scored at least 50 points twice in the first six games. Prior to this season, no CMU team had posted multiple 50-point performances since the 1974 team that went on to win the Division II national championsip.
- The 658 yards of total offense at Ball State is a school record and the 11th-highest single-game total in MAC history.
- Dan LeFevour’s 506 yards of total offense against Ball State is a school record and the third-highest single-game total in MAC history. His 146 rushing yards against Ball State are the most for a CMU quarterback since Erik Timpf ran for 147 at Michigan State in 1993.
- Dan LeFevour tied a school record with five touchdown passes at Ball State.
- Bryan Anderson had a career-high 154 receiving yards and matched career highs with 10 receptions and two touchdown catches.
- The 58 points scored at Ball State are the most for a CMU team since a 61-58 four-overtime loss to Eastern Michigan in 2004. It is the most points scored in regulation by CMU since a 63-14 win over Eastern Michigan in 1981.
- The 58 points were tied for the most scored by any Division I-A team on the weekend of October 6.
- The Chippewas set Ball State Scheumann Stadium records for points scored (58) and total offense (658 yards).
- CMU has scored 145 points in its first three MAC games, the most since CMU joined the MAC.
- The Chippewas’ 188 total points through six games are the most since the 1994 MAC champion Chippewas scored 194 points in their first six games.
- CMU is averaging 428.5 yards per game (262.0 ypg passing, 166.5 ypg rushing) through six games. Through six games in 2006, CMU was averaging 376.3 yards per game (262.5 passing, 113.8 rushing).
- Dan LeFevour has thrown for at least 300 yards twice through six games. He threw for at least 300 yards twice in 14 games in 2006.
- CMU has scored 25 offensive touchdowns through six games, compared to 18 through six games in 2006.
Both teams enter the weekend 3-3 overall and having won two straight games. The Chippewas remained perfect in Mid-American Conference play with a record-breaking 58-38 win at Ball State last weekend, while Army scored on the game’s final play and kicked a field goal in overtime to defeat Tulane, 20-17.
The Black Knights will be making their first trip to the state of Michigan since 1984, when they defeated Michigan State, 10-6, in the Cherry Bowl at the Pontiac Silverdome.
“It should be a great environment,” said CMU head coach Butch Jones of Army’s visit to Kelly/Shorts Stadium. “This is a great situation for not only CMU and Mount Pleasant, but for the entire state of Michigan. It’s obviously a program rich in tradition and history and we just have a tremendous amount of respect for them.”
Army has held five of its six opponents to 22 points or less and ranks 32nd in the country in scoring defense (20.8 ppg allowed). CMU, meanwhile, enters the game averaging 31.3 points and 428.5 yards of offense per game.
Those offensive numbers were bolstered in Saturday’s 58-38 win at Ball State. The Chippewas rolled up a school-record 658 yards of total offense on an unseasonably warm October day in Muncie, Ind.
“I thought we executed extremely well on offense,” Jones said. “We played with the type of fast tempo that we want to. The heat index on the field was 127 degrees, so we wanted to make conditioning a factor.
“Traditionally Army is extremely physical and plays extremely hard,” he added. “Our kids need to make sure they take the time to get their bodies right this week. We had some players who lost as much as 12 or 15 pounds in the heat at Ball State. We need to take care of our bodies, refresh ourselves and refocus for Saturday.”
This weekend’s game marks just the third time CMU has faced a service academy on the gridiron. The Chippewas won at Army in 2005, 14-0, and lost at Navy in 2003, 63-34.
Freshmen Continue to Impress
A season-high 21 true or redshirt freshmen played in Saturday’s game at Ball State. Carl Volny caught a touchdown pass in his first career appearance, while Matt Berning made a career-high six tackles and forced a fumble that set up CMU’s second touchdown. Taylor Bradley caught a career-high five passes, including his first touchdown, and Antonio Brown scored a touchdown both rushing and receiving.
“Our young kids are really growing up,” Jones said. “Every game is a learning experience for our youngsters. They have handled everything well, which is a tribute to our older players and the leadership roles they have taken on.”
Inside the Numbers
A look at some of the offensive statistics that emerged from Saturday’s win at Ball State:
- CMU has scored at least 50 points twice in the first six games. Prior to this season, no CMU team had posted multiple 50-point performances since the 1974 team that went on to win the Division II national championsip.
- The 658 yards of total offense at Ball State is a school record and the 11th-highest single-game total in MAC history.
- Dan LeFevour’s 506 yards of total offense against Ball State is a school record and the third-highest single-game total in MAC history. His 146 rushing yards against Ball State are the most for a CMU quarterback since Erik Timpf ran for 147 at Michigan State in 1993.
- Dan LeFevour tied a school record with five touchdown passes at Ball State.
- Bryan Anderson had a career-high 154 receiving yards and matched career highs with 10 receptions and two touchdown catches.
- The 58 points scored at Ball State are the most for a CMU team since a 61-58 four-overtime loss to Eastern Michigan in 2004. It is the most points scored in regulation by CMU since a 63-14 win over Eastern Michigan in 1981.
- The 58 points were tied for the most scored by any Division I-A team on the weekend of October 6.
- The Chippewas set Ball State Scheumann Stadium records for points scored (58) and total offense (658 yards).
- CMU has scored 145 points in its first three MAC games, the most since CMU joined the MAC.
- The Chippewas’ 188 total points through six games are the most since the 1994 MAC champion Chippewas scored 194 points in their first six games.
- CMU is averaging 428.5 yards per game (262.0 ypg passing, 166.5 ypg rushing) through six games. Through six games in 2006, CMU was averaging 376.3 yards per game (262.5 passing, 113.8 rushing).
- Dan LeFevour has thrown for at least 300 yards twice through six games. He threw for at least 300 yards twice in 14 games in 2006.
- CMU has scored 25 offensive touchdowns through six games, compared to 18 through six games in 2006.
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