Chippewa Preview: Chippewas Look To Break Second-Place Tie

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – By any realistic measure, it's a must win.

The Central Michigan football team welcomes Ball State to Kelly/Shorts Stadium on Saturday (2 p.m./ESPNU) for a Mid-American Conference game. It is the Chippewas' home finale.

For the Chippewas, who are 3-1 overall and in the league, a win is imperative to remain in the hunt for the MAC West title. CMU closes the regular season next week at Toledo and needs not only to beat both Ball State and the Rockets, but also for first-place Western Michigan (4-0) to lose its final two games in a COVID-shortened six-game season that has magnified the importance of each contest.

Ball State is also 3-1 – the Chippewas and Cardinals are tied for second place behind Western -- and has its own designs on claiming the crown. The Cardinals close their regular season at home next week with the Broncos.

But before anybody in or around the CMU program gives serious thought to a potential trip to the MAC Championship Game, the Chippewas need to focus squarely on Ball State.

"We're going to have to play our best football of the year to be able to play with these guys," CMU coach Jim McElwain said.

The Quarterback
Chippewa starter Daniel Richardson, a redshirt freshman, was injured early in the third quarter of last week's 31-23 win at Eastern Michigan.

Up stepped junior Ty Brock, a junior in his first year at CMU after transferring from Sam Houston State. Brock led four fourth-quarter scoring drives as the Chippewas overcame a 20-6 deficit.

"I think the grit, the toughness, the determination of our team really showed," McElwain said. "I thought (Brock) handled things really well. The team elevated around him. I was really impressed with just how he handled it during the game. There wasn't any hesitation."

Brock was efficient, completing nine of 15 passes for 62 yards. Those numbers were plenty good enough in a CMU run game that posted a season-high 318 yards (the Chippewas' 553-yard total was also a season high).

McElwain said earlier this week that while Richardson's injury was not serious and will not require surgery, Brock would likely start against Ball State. Wide receiver Kalil Pimpleton, running back Darius Bracy, and tight end Joel Wilson will serve as potential backups, McElwain said.

All three played quarterback in high school and Pimpleton has developed into the do-it-all offensive weapon that McElwain envisioned from day one: Pimpleton is a threat any time he touches the ball, be it as a receiver, a runner, a returner or a thrower.

Bracy has taken several snaps from the wildcat formation this season.

"From the get-go as we've said, it doesn't matter the position, where we're deficient, we'll do something to allow us to go play the game," McElwain said.

Turnover Turnaround
The Chippewas forced five turnovers at Eastern Michigan, raising their season takeaway total to 10. They rank first in the MAC and second nationally with a plus-6 turnover margin.

"It starts at practice for us," said safety/special-teamer Willie Reid, who has a team-best three takeaways (two fumble recoveries, one interception). "Our coaches emphasize that. We have periods (in practice) where we just focus on taking the ball away and when we get to the game it shows up in situations where one man hits and another comes in and strips the ball.

"We just know that getting the ball back is big for our team. On defense, our biggest goal is to get off the field."

Making Plays
The Chippewas' defensive line has emerged as a strength with seniors Troy Hairston II and Mohamed Diallo statistically at the forefront. Diallo, in his second year at CMU after transferring from Texas A&M, leads the MAC with nine tackles-for-loss while Hairston is tied for second with eight. Hairston has a team-high three sacks, while Diallo has 2 ½.

Hairston and Diallo help form the core of CMU's defensive front along with the likes of Robi Stuart, Jacques Bristol and the emerging Tico Brown.

"You see the tackle total by a (middle linebacker) George Douglas, that means your D line is doing a great job," McElwain said.

Room to Improve
McElwain stressed prior to the win over Eastern the Chippewas' need to improve their third-down success rate. They entered the game having converted on just 23.1 percent of such situations. Against Eastern, the Chippewas gained a first down on eight of 17 (47 percent) third downs.

This week, kickoff coverage is at the forefront, McElwain said. The Chippewas kicked off seven times against the Eagles and Eastern's average starting spot was its own 31-yard line; four times they started at their own 35 or better.

CMU freshman placekicker Marshall Meeder appeared to be kicking short on several occasions. Doing so is a common tactic to disrupt the return game. He averaged 51.1 yards per kickoff against Eastern. He entered the game with a 58.6-yard average.

"Obviously we had some pooch stuff in trying to hit some spots," McElwain said. "You'd sure like to get some hang time on them."

Still, it was not all bad. A turning-point moment in the game came just after Meeder pinned the Eagles on their own 10-yard line with a squib kick and the Chippewas trailing, 23-21. Eastern fumbled on its first play from scrimmage, the Chippewas recovered at the EMU 7-yard line, and eventually kicked the go-ahead field goal late in the fourth quarter.

"One of the huge things in that game was the squib that we ended up getting them down deep," McElwain said. "As bad as maybe (the kickoff game) was on some things, that was a pivotal point in the game. There are things that we can build on from that standpoint."

Scouting
Ball State defeated Toledo, 27-24, last week. All four of the Cardinals' games this season have been decided by a touchdown or less.

Ball State does not lead the MAC in any team statistical category, but the Cardinals are in the top five in six categories, including total offense (fourth) and rushing defense (fourth).

They rank 12^th in the conference in passing yards allowed (311.2 per game).

Ball State quarterback Drew Plitt, a senior, was named the MAC West Offensive Player of the Week after throwing for 304 yards and two touchdowns and running for a TD in the win over Toledo. Plitt is completing 68.3 percent of his passes, ranking second in the league in that category.

Cardinal linebacker Christian Albright was named the MAC West Defensive Player of the Week for his seven-tackle, one-fumble-recovery performance against Toledo.

The Cardinals held Toledo to 42 rushing yards but surrendered 407 yards through the air.

Ball State running back Caleb Huntley missed the Toledo game, ending his streak at seven of consecutive 100-yard games. Huntley is second in the league, averaging 147.3 rushing yards per game. His backup, junior Will Jones also didn't play against Toledo. Third-stringer Tye Evans picked up the slack, running for 108 yards on 25 attempts.

The Series
CMU holds a 26-25-1 edge in the series between the two schools. The Chippewas have won four of the last five meetings, including in 2019 when they overcame a 17-point fourth-quarter deficit for a 45-44 victory in Muncie, Ind. It marked the fifth time in the last six CMU-Ball State games that the outcome was decided by a field goal or less.

That win, which was CMU's fifth in a six-game span, was critical as the Chippewas went on to win the MAC West title and appear in the league championship game for the first time since 2019.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Darius Bracy

Jacques Bristol

Ty Brock

Tico Brown

Mohamed Diallo

George Douglas

Troy Hairston II

Marshall Meeder

Kalil Pimpleton

Willie Reid

Daniel Richardson

Robi Stuart

Joel Wilson

Central Michigan University Athletics