Central Michigan University Athletics
Saturday, October 16
Mount Pleasant, Mich.
3:30 p.m. ET
Central Michigan University
vs
Toledo
Photo by: Steve Jessmore
Football Preview: Homecoming, Hall Of Fame, And An Important Game For CMU
10/15/2021 3:52:00 PM | Football
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – Homecoming and hall of fame weekend for Central Michigan.
And the first of back-to-back home games for the Chippewa football team that is looking to claim a spot in the lead pack as the Mid-American Conference race unfolds over the next six weeks.
CMU entertains Toledo on Saturday (3:30 p.m.) at Kelly/Shorts Stadium. Both teams are 3-3, 1-1 MAC. Both are among the five MAC West teams at 1-1 in conference play. Northern Illinois leads the division at 2-0.
NIU, which comes to Mount Pleasant next weekend, entertains Bowling Green on Saturday.
The Chippewas are coming off a grind-it-out 30-27 victory at Ohio after dropping their league opener at Miami (Ohio), 28-17.
The Rockets fell, 22-20, at home to MAC West-leading Northern Illinois last week. The winning points came on a 29-yard field goal with just 26 seconds remaining after Toledo had scored with 3:35 left to seize the lead. Toledo opened league play with a 22-12 victory over defending champion Ball State in Muncie, Ind.
Among the Rockets' other results this season was a 32-29 loss at then-No. 8 Notre Dame, when the Fighting Irish scored a touchdown with just over a minute to play.
"This is a really, really good football team," CMU coach Jim McElwain said of Toledo. "All you've got to do is turn on the film and watch them play Notre Dame."
Making a Statement
The Chippewas overcame a 27-20 early fourth-quarter deficit in winning at Ohio last week and while the big blow – the game-winning touchdown – came on a pass, the Chippewas did much of their damage on the ground and they put the game away by grinding away the final two-plus minutes on the legs of running back Lew Nichols III.
CMU got a 40-yard Marshall Meeder field goal with just over 10 minutes remaining to cut its deficit to 27-23, and then quarterback Daniel Richardson connected with Kalil Pimpleton for a 28-yard touchdown pass with just under four minutes remaining to go ahead for good.
The Chippewas offense produced 461 yards, 204 of it on the ground. Nichols finished with a season-high 186 yards rushing and a touchdown. Nichols and the offensive line did the heavy lifting during crunch time as CMU took possession with under three minutes left and successfully kept the ball on the ground and ran out the clock.
"I thought it was a good thing that the O line themselves were asking for the run," McElwain said. "I think that shows that they're developing a little more confidence in what they're able to do and how to do it."
Different Look
The Chippewas' big day on the ground came against an Ohio defense that ranks last in the MAC and 127th nationally. Toledo, conversely, is allowing 145.8 yards per game on the ground, ranking third in the MAC in that category.
"Each week it gives you a new set of problems," McElwain said. "And in this case, this (Toledo) defense is a lot different than the one we just played."
Numbers
The Rockets are first in the MAC in scoring defense (17.5 points per game), second in passing yards allowed per game (168.3), and second in total defense. Toledo's defense has allowed just two touchdowns in the Rockets' last four games, one of which came with under three minutes remaining in their 45-7 victory at UMass.
They rank fifth in in the league in rushing, sixth in passing, and fifth in total offense.
CMU leads the MAC in passing offense, averaging 298.2 yards per game through the air, is sixth in rushing offense (160 yards per game) and second in total offense. The Chippewas are second in the conference against the rush, 12th in passing yards allowed, and sixth in total defense.
CMU is converting on 40.4 percent of its third downs; the Chippewas are holding opponents to 28.9 percent on third. They rank first in the league in that category.
D-Rich
Freshman Daniel Richardson made his second consecutive start at quarterback for CMU against Ohio. He completed 16 of his 30 attempts for 257 yards. His touchdown pass to Pimpleton was an on-the-mark timing pattern to the back of the end zone that was a thing of beauty. He was also intercepted twice.
"He did his job -- he's supposed to throw it there based on what they gave us," McElwain said of the touchdown pass. "I see more comfort back there and (he's) not quite as jittery. I think he's making better decisions and quicker decisions as far as getting the ball where it needs to go."
Richardson is backed up by Jacob Sirmon, a sophomore transfer from Washington who started CMU's first four games.
"From the start I've liked both of them and D-Rich has done a good job of really kind of taking control," McElwain said. "He looks more comfortable, more confident, and we've got to create more plays, especially in third downs, to stay on the field and that's something he's got to get better at as well."
The Rockets
CMU was forced to prepare to face two quarterbacks last week at Ohio, and this week it's the same story.
Sophomore Carter Bradley and redshirt freshman DeQuan Finn have both played in every game this season. Bradley has completed 59.5 percent of his passes for 962 yards and four touchdowns; Finn has completed 63 percent for 378 yards and three scores. Bradley has thrown Toledo's lone interception this season. With just one interception thrown, Toledo ranks third in the nation in that category.
Finn threw for a career-best 186 yards and two touchdowns last week against NIU. His Toledo's second-leading rusher with 284 yards and a 7.3-yard-per-carry average.
Running back Bryant Koback ranks fourth in the MAC with 455 rushing yards after a 91-yard effort last week against NIU. He also scored on a 75-yard pass play against the Huskies. Koback ranks eighth in program history with 3,081 yards and is fifth with 35 career rushing TDs.
Chippewa Royalty
Three CMU football legends, Steve Bograkos, Joe Staley, and Dan LeFevour, are set to be inducted into the Marcy Weston Central Michigan Athletics Hall of Fame on Friday during an on-campus ceremony.
They, and eight other inductees, will be introduced during Saturday's game.
Bograkos was a defensive back who forced 23 turnovers during a career that culminated with the NCAA Division II national title in 1974 when, as a senior, he was the Chippewas' leading tackler; Staley was an offensive tackle who captained the 2006 team to the MAC championship and the program's first bowl victory and then went on to a 13-year NFL career during which he was named All-Pro three times, was voted to the Pro Bowl five times, and played in two Super Bowls; LeFevour quarterbacked CMU from 2006-09, one of the most successful stretches in program history, as he led the Chippewas to three MAC title and earned All-MAC First Team honors three times and in 2009 earned the Vern Smith Leadership Award as the MAC's player of the year.
And the first of back-to-back home games for the Chippewa football team that is looking to claim a spot in the lead pack as the Mid-American Conference race unfolds over the next six weeks.
CMU entertains Toledo on Saturday (3:30 p.m.) at Kelly/Shorts Stadium. Both teams are 3-3, 1-1 MAC. Both are among the five MAC West teams at 1-1 in conference play. Northern Illinois leads the division at 2-0.
NIU, which comes to Mount Pleasant next weekend, entertains Bowling Green on Saturday.
The Chippewas are coming off a grind-it-out 30-27 victory at Ohio after dropping their league opener at Miami (Ohio), 28-17.
The Rockets fell, 22-20, at home to MAC West-leading Northern Illinois last week. The winning points came on a 29-yard field goal with just 26 seconds remaining after Toledo had scored with 3:35 left to seize the lead. Toledo opened league play with a 22-12 victory over defending champion Ball State in Muncie, Ind.
Among the Rockets' other results this season was a 32-29 loss at then-No. 8 Notre Dame, when the Fighting Irish scored a touchdown with just over a minute to play.
"This is a really, really good football team," CMU coach Jim McElwain said of Toledo. "All you've got to do is turn on the film and watch them play Notre Dame."
Making a Statement
The Chippewas overcame a 27-20 early fourth-quarter deficit in winning at Ohio last week and while the big blow – the game-winning touchdown – came on a pass, the Chippewas did much of their damage on the ground and they put the game away by grinding away the final two-plus minutes on the legs of running back Lew Nichols III.
CMU got a 40-yard Marshall Meeder field goal with just over 10 minutes remaining to cut its deficit to 27-23, and then quarterback Daniel Richardson connected with Kalil Pimpleton for a 28-yard touchdown pass with just under four minutes remaining to go ahead for good.
The Chippewas offense produced 461 yards, 204 of it on the ground. Nichols finished with a season-high 186 yards rushing and a touchdown. Nichols and the offensive line did the heavy lifting during crunch time as CMU took possession with under three minutes left and successfully kept the ball on the ground and ran out the clock.
"I thought it was a good thing that the O line themselves were asking for the run," McElwain said. "I think that shows that they're developing a little more confidence in what they're able to do and how to do it."
Different Look
The Chippewas' big day on the ground came against an Ohio defense that ranks last in the MAC and 127th nationally. Toledo, conversely, is allowing 145.8 yards per game on the ground, ranking third in the MAC in that category.
"Each week it gives you a new set of problems," McElwain said. "And in this case, this (Toledo) defense is a lot different than the one we just played."
Numbers
The Rockets are first in the MAC in scoring defense (17.5 points per game), second in passing yards allowed per game (168.3), and second in total defense. Toledo's defense has allowed just two touchdowns in the Rockets' last four games, one of which came with under three minutes remaining in their 45-7 victory at UMass.
They rank fifth in in the league in rushing, sixth in passing, and fifth in total offense.
CMU leads the MAC in passing offense, averaging 298.2 yards per game through the air, is sixth in rushing offense (160 yards per game) and second in total offense. The Chippewas are second in the conference against the rush, 12th in passing yards allowed, and sixth in total defense.
CMU is converting on 40.4 percent of its third downs; the Chippewas are holding opponents to 28.9 percent on third. They rank first in the league in that category.
D-Rich
Freshman Daniel Richardson made his second consecutive start at quarterback for CMU against Ohio. He completed 16 of his 30 attempts for 257 yards. His touchdown pass to Pimpleton was an on-the-mark timing pattern to the back of the end zone that was a thing of beauty. He was also intercepted twice.
"He did his job -- he's supposed to throw it there based on what they gave us," McElwain said of the touchdown pass. "I see more comfort back there and (he's) not quite as jittery. I think he's making better decisions and quicker decisions as far as getting the ball where it needs to go."
Richardson is backed up by Jacob Sirmon, a sophomore transfer from Washington who started CMU's first four games.
"From the start I've liked both of them and D-Rich has done a good job of really kind of taking control," McElwain said. "He looks more comfortable, more confident, and we've got to create more plays, especially in third downs, to stay on the field and that's something he's got to get better at as well."
The Rockets
CMU was forced to prepare to face two quarterbacks last week at Ohio, and this week it's the same story.
Sophomore Carter Bradley and redshirt freshman DeQuan Finn have both played in every game this season. Bradley has completed 59.5 percent of his passes for 962 yards and four touchdowns; Finn has completed 63 percent for 378 yards and three scores. Bradley has thrown Toledo's lone interception this season. With just one interception thrown, Toledo ranks third in the nation in that category.
Finn threw for a career-best 186 yards and two touchdowns last week against NIU. His Toledo's second-leading rusher with 284 yards and a 7.3-yard-per-carry average.
Running back Bryant Koback ranks fourth in the MAC with 455 rushing yards after a 91-yard effort last week against NIU. He also scored on a 75-yard pass play against the Huskies. Koback ranks eighth in program history with 3,081 yards and is fifth with 35 career rushing TDs.
Chippewa Royalty
Three CMU football legends, Steve Bograkos, Joe Staley, and Dan LeFevour, are set to be inducted into the Marcy Weston Central Michigan Athletics Hall of Fame on Friday during an on-campus ceremony.
They, and eight other inductees, will be introduced during Saturday's game.
Bograkos was a defensive back who forced 23 turnovers during a career that culminated with the NCAA Division II national title in 1974 when, as a senior, he was the Chippewas' leading tackler; Staley was an offensive tackle who captained the 2006 team to the MAC championship and the program's first bowl victory and then went on to a 13-year NFL career during which he was named All-Pro three times, was voted to the Pro Bowl five times, and played in two Super Bowls; LeFevour quarterbacked CMU from 2006-09, one of the most successful stretches in program history, as he led the Chippewas to three MAC title and earned All-MAC First Team honors three times and in 2009 earned the Vern Smith Leadership Award as the MAC's player of the year.
Players Mentioned
K
/ Football
RB
/ Football
WR
/ Football
QB
/ Football
QB
/ FootballJordan Kwiatkowski Post-Game Press Conference at BGSU
Sunday, October 19
Angel Flores Post-Game Press Conference at BGSU
Sunday, October 19
Michael Heldman Post-Game Press Conference at BGSU
Saturday, October 18
Joe Labas Post-Game Press Conference at BGSU
Saturday, October 18