Chippewas Look For Big Rebound

Andy Sneddon, CMUChippewas.com

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – John Bonamego's mood had lightened a bit this week as he talked about his Central Michigan football team.

But the fire still burned awfully hot.

Bonamego, who is in his fourth year in charge of the program, was clearly displeased last week after the Chippewas' 34-24 loss to Buffalo on homecoming day at Kelly/Shorts Stadium.

Earlier this week, he was still irked over the loss, which left his Chippewas 1-5, 0-2 Mid-American Conference. But he was turning that anger into energy as CMU looks ahead to Saturday's (3 p.m.) home game with Ball State.

"Nothing has changed in terms of how I feel," he said. "I'm disappointed in every loss. I probably expressed it a little differently after (Buffalo). I probably let my true emotions show a little bit, my frustrations. I'm human. I'm more disappointed in the things we didn't do that I know we're capable of doing."

Nobody in and around the program expected it to be an easy road with a schedule that has featured three opponents from Power 5 conferences, a Buffalo team that is off to its best start in more than two decades, and a Northern Illinois squad that is 3-0 in league play.

Still, Bonamego expects more.

"It's a high bar, a high standard," he said. "We're capable of doing and playing much better. When you miss plays that are there, when you turn the ball over, when you have pre-snap penalties -- inexcusable.

"Whether it's defensive offsides, illegal motion, illegal substitution, those are the things that get under my skin and raise my ire because those are the things that are in our control and it's a lack of focus, lack of attention to detail, and it's a lack of discipline. Ultimately, that all falls on me."

THE CARDINALS
Ball State is 2-4, 1-1 MAC and appears to be on the rebound after a 2-10 finish in 2017. The Cardinals are seeking their first winning season since 2013.

Last year, CMU thumped the Cardinals, 56-9, in Muncie, Ind. It was the Chippewas' third-consecutive victory in the series, which dates to 1939.

"The most improved team in the conference," Bonamego said. "I told our team that this isn't the same team we played last year in Muncie. They don't hurt themselves. They don't turn the ball over on offense, they are stingy on defense, they can get after the quarterback. They certainly have our attention and respect."

• The Cardinals rank second in the MAC in total offense, averaging 458.3 yards per game behind quarterback Riley Neal, a junior who was injured and did not play last season when CMU visited Muncie. Neal is averaging 250.2 passing yards per game, which is second in the MAC. He is also second in the league in total offense (284.3 yards per game).

• Running back James Gilbert ranks fourth in the MAC with 421 rushing yards.

• Riley Miller and Corey Lacanaria are Ball State's top two receivers. Miller ranks second and Lacanaria is third in the MAC in receptions per game with 5.8 and 5.5, respectively.

FIXIN' IT
The most glaring issues the Chippewas had against Buffalo were penalties and turnovers. Quarterback Tommy Lazzaro threw four interceptions, and the Chippewas were penalized 10 times for 60 yards.

A year ago, CMU created 31 turnovers, leading the MAC and ranking third in the nation. CMU is minus-7 in turnovers this season, meaning it has turned the ball over seven more times than it has gained it.

"That's absolutely nauseating to me," Bonamego said. "It literally turns my stomach, and I want to throw up every time I think about that."

THE PLAYERS
The Chippewas are at the midway point in the season and, with five losses, need to begin piling up the wins to remain relevant in the MAC and in the hunt for a bowl berth.

They need to pile up the wins, beginning on Saturday against Ball State. They host rival Western Michigan next week, then go on the road for two straight games, the first at Akron, the second at Eastern Michigan. Bowling Green and Toledo round out the schedule.

The Chippewas are 0-2 in league play and their hopes of making it to Detroit for the MAC Championships game are slim. Still, they can earn a bowl berth with six victories, and that is always a goal.

"I have a lot of confidence in our guys, because I've seen what they can do and the work that they put in during the offseason," said senior linebacker Alex Briones, who made a career-high 11 tackles against Buffalo. "I've also seen the the work that they put in during the season and we're right there. There are just some little things they we need to clean up and we're right there. These next six games, I'm expecting to win and make a bowl game."

SILVER LININGS
It wasn't all doom and gloom in the Chippewas' loss to Buffalo.

CMU's offense produced 340 yards and 24 points, both season highs, and quarterback Tommy Lazzaro rushed for 102 yards, becoming the Chippewas' first 100-yard rusher this season and CMU's first quarterback to break the 100-yard mark since 2009.

"Tommy Lazzaro is competing his tail off," Bonamego said. "He is giving everything he's got. He is leaving his heart out there. … I love the attitude and the moxie, the fight that he has when he is out there on the field. He is literally sacrificing everything, scratching, and clawing.

"We need to get more people around him fighting, scratching and clawing with that same desperation."

NEXT
The Chippewas entertain their archrival, Western Michigan, on Saturday, Oct. 20 (3 p.m.). The Broncos are 4-2, 2-0 MAC and play at Bowling Green this week.

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Players Mentioned

Alex Briones

Tommy Lazzaro

Central Michigan University Athletics