Football Notebook: Through 2 Games, Plenty To Be Optimistic About

CMU wide receiver Dallas Dixon reaches for a pass during Saturday's 45-0 victory over Robert Morris at Kelly/Shorts Stadium.

Photo by: Keara Chaperon '22

Football Notebook: Through 2 Games, Plenty To Be Optimistic About

9/11/2021 9:35:00 PM | Football

By: Andy Sneddon, CMUChippewas.com

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – Through two games, there has been plenty to fuel optimism for the Central Michigan football team in 2021.

The Chippewas buried Football Championship Subdivision member Robert Morris, 45-0, on Saturday, taking command early and never letting up. The win came a week after they put on a very respectable performance in a 34-24 loss at Missouri, which plays in the Southeastern Conference.

The Chippewas scored on their first drive of Saturday's game, then turned the ball over on downs at the Robert Morris 4-yard line on their second possession. They scored on their next three consecutive drives, building a 28-0 halftime lead.

CMU made it 35-0 with a TD on their first possession of the third quarter. The outcome was no longer in doubt at that point, but the Chippewas didn't let up. They continued to execute as coach Jim McElwain substituted liberally throughout the rest of the game.

"I think we're growing; I think we're growing as a program," said McElwain, who is in his third year in charge of the program. "You go out and you compete, and you compete at your highest level; it doesn't matter against who (the opponent is) … I didn't see any let up, I didn't see any let down.

"I thought the guys flew to the ball terrifically on defense and on offense we just took advantage of what we needed to do. Our consistency, I thought, was pretty good."

The Quarterbacks
Jacob Sirmon, a sophomore transfer from Washington, drew his second consecutive start. He was an efficient 12-of-16 passing for 110 yards and three touchdowns. He has completed 57.4 percent of his passes for 405 yards and four TDs against two interceptions in his two games in a Chippewa uniform.

The two interceptions came last week at Missouri. CMU did not commit a turnover on Saturday against the Colonials.

Freshman Daniel Richardson, who started four games before a season-ending injury last fall, entered Saturday's game late in the second quarter and promptly led a six-play, 86-yard scoring drive.

Richardson completed a 29-yard pass to Remi Simmons on his first snap, then hit Dallas Dixon for a 38-yard gain on his second pass. He connected with Dixon for a 16-yard TD to complete the drive.

Tyler Pape, another freshman, entered the game in the second half and completed both of his passes.

"We're going to need them all and I think you could say that at every position," McElwain said. "Our ability to get guys actual game time is something that's invaluable when your number is called.

"I thought all three guys played well. Tyler came in and went 2-for-2 and actually looked like he belonged."

Mr. Everything
Junior wide receiver/punt returner Kalil Pimpleton put on display his versatility by finishing with a game-high 109 all-purpose yards. He carried four times for 58 yards and raced 20 yards for a third-quarter touchdown on an end around. He returned four punts for 47 yards, with a long of 18.

On the Ground
Ten Chippewas notched at least one carry in Saturday's game as CMU rolled up 310 rushing yards, averaging 5.5 per attempt.

De'Javion Stepney finished with 81 yards in his first appearance in a Chippewa uniform. The freshman from Macomb got his first carry in the fourth quarter and ripped off a 17-yard gain; he followed with a 30-yarder and then an 11-yarder as he carried on three consecutive snaps.

"You saw the depth in the running back room," McElwain said. "Stepney, the guy's pretty fast too."

Lew Nichols III, one of the top rushers in the Mid-American Conference, carried it a team-high 17 times for 79 yards and a touchdown. Myles Bailey, another freshman, ran seven times for 34 yards.

Consistent Dallas
Junior Dallas Dixon led the Chippewa receivers with five catches for 73 yards and two touchdowns. It marked the first time as a Chippewa that Dixon has scored multiple TDs. The five catches matched Dixon's career high, which he set last week in the loss at Missouri.

Dixon leads the Chippewas in receiving yardage (156) and yards per catch (15.6). He shares the team lead with JaCorey Sullivan with 10 catches and is second to Sullivan with two TD receptions. Sullivan caught a 24-yard TD pass from Sirmon on Saturday. It was his third TD reception of the year.

The Defense
The CMU defense was on the field for just 38 plays – the Chippewas ran 81 offensive plays – and, with fresh legs, it is no mystery why the statistics were tilted heavily in CMU's favor.

Amir Siddiq led the Chippewas with five tackles. CMU surrendered just three first downs and 109 total yards.

CMU's Kyle Moretti, a freshman, forced a fumble which was recovered by redshirt freshman Brendan Barker.

Kicking game
The Chippewas punted just once in the game; Luke Elzinga launched a 42-yarder with under six minutes to play in the third quarter. The punt bounced out of bounds at the Robert Morris 5-yard line.

CMU placekicker Marshall Meeder was good on all six of his extra point attempts and hit a 46-yard field goal on the first play of the fourth quarter. He missed a 28-yarder, pulling it left, in the fourth. It was the first miss as a Chippewa for Meeder, a freshman from Eaton Rapids.

Meeder is 10 for 11 in his two seasons with CMU. He has made all five of his career attempts from 40-plus yards, including three from 50-plus.

Next
The Chippewas go to LSU on Saturday, Sept. 18 (7:30 p.m.). The Tigers, who won the national championship in 2019, are 0-1. They dropped their season opener at UCLA and were scheduled to play host to McNeese State on Saturday night.