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Football to Open MAC Play on Saturday vs. Eastern Michigan
9/26/2023 9:30:00 PM | Football
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Kickoff is set for 1:30 p.m. at Kramer/Deromedi Field at Kelly/Shorts Stadium; Chippewas looking for sixth straight win over EMU at home.
GAME FIVE • EASTERN MICHIGAN (2-2, 0-0 MAC) AT CENTRAL MICHIGAN (2-2, 0-0 MAC)
MAC Opener • Saturday, September 30 • 1:30 p.m. ET
Kramer/Deromedi Field at Kelly/Shorts Stadium (30,255) • Mount Pleasant, Mich.
SATURDAY AFTERNOON MATCHUP
Television: ESPN+ (Dan Gutowsky, play-by-play; Marcus Ray, color analyst; Ed Kaltz, producer).
Chippewa Sports Radio Network: Adam Jaksa, Brock Gutierrez.
Live Stats: visit https://cmuchippewas.com/sidearmstats/football/summary
CMU Social Media: Twitter (@cmu_football); Facebook (@cmufootball); Instagram (cmufootball); Website: www.cmuchippewas.com.
Coaches: Central Michigan-Jim McElwain, 5th year at CMU (26-23), 11th year overall (70-50), 38th year in coaching. Eastern Michigan-Chris Creighton, 11th year at EMU (48-62), 26th year overall (187-109).
Series: Central Michigan and Eastern Michigan meet for the 101st time in college football with CMU holding a 63-31-6 advantage in the series. CMU has claimed 10 of the last 14 meetings. CMU has won each of the series' last five home games and owns a 37-14-2 edge in home games.
CENTRAL MICHIGAN GAME NOTES
THE ESSENTIALS
Central Michigan (2-2, 0-0 MAC) opens Mid-American Conference play for its 122nd season of college football when it hosts Eastern Michigan (2-2, 0-0 MAC) on Saturday, Sept. 30. Kickoff is set for 1:30 p.m. ET at Kramer/Deromedi Field at Kelly/Shorts Stadium.
WHERE TO WATCH THE GAME
The game will be live streamed on ESPN+ with Dan Gutowsky (play-by-play) and Marcus Ray (color analyst) calling action and Ed Kaltz handling production.
WHERE TO LISTEN TO THE GAME
Fans can also listen to the Chippewa Sports Radio Network broadcast—presented by Fabiano Brothers. Adam Jaksa (play-by-play) and former Central Michigan/NFL player and CMU Athletic Hall of Famer Brock Gutierrez (color analyst) call action on the seven-station network (Mount Pleasant, Detroit, Grand Rapids, Muskegon, Petoskey, Traverse City) and nationally on the Varsity Network app. Coverage begins with a one-hour pre-game show.
TODAY'S TOP STORYLINES
• Central Michigan opens MAC play against Eastern Michigan on Saturday with a 2-2 record.
• CMU and EMU meet for the 101st time in series history, the longest-running series between any two MAC schools. CMU has won three of the last four meetings but dropped last year's 38-19 decision in Ypsilanti. CMU has won each of its last five home games vs. EMU and is 37-14-2 at home vs. EMU.
• Head Coach Jim McElwain has guided the Chippewas to two bowl games (2019 New Mexico Bowl and 2021 Sun Bowl) and two winning seasons in each of the past three full years.
ABOUT THE CHIPPEWAS
Central Michigan (2-2, 0-0 MAC) opens Mid-American Conference play on Saturday when it hosts Eastern Michigan (2-2, 0-0 MAC) at Kramer/Deromedi Field at Kelly/Shorts Stadium. Kickoff is set for 1:30 p.m.
Central Michigan is coming off a dramatic 34-30 non conference victory at South Alabama on Saturday, which saw the Chippewas rally back from a 14-0 deficit, take the lead, then come from behind again in the closing seconds as quarterback Jase Bauer engineered a 75-yard, 11-play drive that spanned 2:29 and ended with a go-ahead four-yard touchdown run by Bauer with 13 seconds to play.
The MAC West Division Offensive Player of the Week, Bauer finished the day with a career-high five touchdowns responsible for (four rushing, one passing), scored on touchdown runs of 15, 1, 1, and 4 yards, surpassed career-highs for completions (19), pass attempts (30), passing yards (224), and finished the day with 279 total yards (224 passing/55 rushing). He also threw a 70-yard touchdown pass to Jesse Prewitt III, who finished the day with a career-high 10 receptions for 142 yards.
The Chippewas controlled time of possession (33:44 to 26:16) and went on five long and time-consuming touchdown scoring drives of 56 yards or more, with four of those drives spanning 10 or more plays. CMU also converted a season-best nine of 16 third down conversions (56.3).
The victory gave Central Michigan its first non conference road win since a 45-27 victory over Kansas on Sept. 9, 2017.
Prior to the road victory in Mobile, Ala., the Chippewas were coming off a 41-17 loss at No. 9/11 Notre Dame. The Chippewas trailed just 21-14 at halftime and were in the game until the fourth quarter. CMU was able to accumulate 268 yards of total offense and rush for 131 yards while Bauer made his second career start and first of the year. Bauer rushed for a touchdown and finished with 153 total yards (137 passing) while completing 10 of 20 passes, Myles Bailey rushed for 59 yards and a touchdown, and Marion Lukes finished with 56 yards rushing. Against CMU, Notre Dame scored the fewest points against anyone it has played this year.
Saturday's contest marks Central Michigan's second home football game as the Chippewas claimed a 45-42 win over New Hampshire on Saturday, Sept. 9 in its home opener. The victory was also CMU's first win of the 2023 season which featured placekicker Tristan Mattson, who converted a field goal as time expired to give the Chippewas a 45-42 home win. CMU led the entire game, led 42-28 with nine minutes to play, but New Hampshire battled back with big plays. Quarterback Bert Emanuel, Jr. was named the MAC West Division Offensive Player of the Week after he was responsible for four touchdowns (2 rushing/2 passing) and finished with 294 total yards. On the day, he ran for 101 yards on 21 carries, threw for a career-high 193 yards while completing seven of 19 passes. His two rushing scores came on a 66-yard touchdown on his second carry of the game and a 5-yard run in the second quarter. Running back Marion Lukes earned MAC West Division Special Teams Player of the Week after he scored on an 86-yard kickoff return. Other Chippewas turning in impressive performances included running back Myles Bailey (21-108 yards, 1 TD), wide receiver Chris Parker (3-124 yards), and defensive back Donte Kent (10 tackles).
The Chippewas are hoping to erase the memory of a 2022 season which saw it finish 4-8 overall and 3-5 in the Mid-American Conference. The Chippewas finished No. 129 in the nation out of 130 teams in turnover margin (-1.50), 128th nationally in turnovers lost (28) and 130th in fumbles lost (18). During the season, the 2022 Chippewas also lost the majority of their playmakers on offense due to injuries, including two of their top wide receivers, an NFL bound tight end (Joel Wilson) and their top three running backs. Still, Central Michigan had an opportunity to become bowl eligible late in the season and had several opportunities to get to six wins.
Last season's results were a drastic change from the course that Head Coach Jim McElwain has put the Chippewas on since his arrival in 2019. In his first year guiding the program in 2019, he took over a team that finished 1-11 and 0-8 in MAC play and led the Chippewas to one of the nation's top turnarounds, an 8-6 record, 6-2 in the MAC with a berth in the 2019 New Mexico Bowl. After a COVID-shortened 2020 season, he led CMU to a 9-4 overall, 6-2 MAC record and berth in the 2021 Sun Bowl, where the Chippewas closed the year on a five-game win streak, including a 24-21 Sun Bowl win over Washington State.
Central Michigan returned 14 players who started a significant number of games in 2022, including five on offense and nine on defense. Several transfers arrive who will play significant roles in the coming season, several players return from injury, and a variety of players have improved over the offseason and are ready to contribute.
TURNOVER TURNAROUND
Through four games, Central Michigan is ranked No. 13 nationally and leads the MAC in fewest turnovers lost on offense. Even more impressive is that the Chippewas have not registered a turnover in 10 consecutive quarters (last two quarters vs. New Hampshire, four quarters at Notre Dame, four quarters at South Alabama).
Those numbers are in stark contrast to the 2022 season when the Chippewas ranked No. 128 out of 133 teams in turnovers lost (28/18 fumbles lost/10 interceptions), No. 130 in fumbles lost (18) and No. 130 in turnover margin (-1.50).
The Chippewas have thrown just three interceptions and have not lost a fumble.
BAUER EARNS MAC HONOR
Redshirt sophomore quarterback Jase Bauer was named the MAC West Offensive Player of the Week on Monday after his five-touchdown game in leading CMU to a victory at South Alabama.
BAUER ON FIRE
Bauer has emerged as a force to be reckoned with for Central Michigan. After a gritty performance at Notre Dame that kept the Chippewas in the game through three tough quarters, Bauer came off the bench and responded with a performance at South Alabama that saw him lead a CMU comeback twice, score the game-winner, make a block on a key run, and play in a role in scoring five touchdowns (four rushing/one passing).
Over the last two games where he saw significant action in the last eight quarters, Bauer has combined to rush 28 times for 71 yards with five touchdowns, complete 58 percent (29-50) of his passes for 361 yards, with no interceptions and one touchdown (70-yard pass) and accumulated 432 total yards (216.0 per game).
The statistics don't tell the full story over the last two games as Bauer has engineered six scoring drives of 56 yards or more with four of those coming on 10 of more plays. The Chippewas have not turned the ball over once with Bauer at quarterback and have dominated time of possession.
SETTING THE TABLE FOR SUCCESS
Central Michigan concluded its non conference portion of the schedule with a successful 2-2 record. Since 2016, when Central Michigan has won two or more non conference games, the Chippewas have gone on to earn a bowl berth in each of those seasons. Two of those years were under Head Coach Jim McElwain (2019 and 2021).
Here is a look at seasons where CMU has won two or more non conference games and the record the Chippewas finished with during each season:
Year W-L Finish
2023 2-2 N/A
2021 2-2 9-4 overall, 6-2 MAC, bowl
2019 2-2 8-6 overall, 6-2 MAC, bowl
2017 2-3 8-5 overall, 6-2 MAC, bowl
2016 3-1 6-7 overall, 3-5 MAC, bowl
TOUGH SCHEDULE
Central Michigan is attempting to get back to its winning ways against one of the most daunting schedules the school has ever faced.
Six of the Chippewas' 2023 opponents played in bowl games last season: Notre Dame (Gator Bowl), South Alabama (R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl), Toledo (RoofClaim.com), Eastern Michigan (Famous Idaho Potato Bowl), Buffalo (Camellia Bowl), and Ohio (Barstool Sports Arizona Bowl).
In addition, the Chippewas only play five home games and seven road contests.
MICHIGAN MAC TROPHY
• The CMU-EMU matchup will mark the first MAC Trophy game of the year.
• Presented annually to one of the Michigan-based, Mid-American Conference institutions (CMU, EMU, WMU), the trophy is awarded to the team which has the best head-to-head record against each other. It is one of just two regularly-awarded trophies between three teams (the other is the Commander-in-Chief trophy between Army, Navy, and Air Force).
• Eastern Michigan claimed the trophy with a victory over Central Michigan in the final regular season game last year.
• Central Michigan claimed the trophy in 2021 with wins over both Eastern Michigan and Western Michigan.
SERIES VS. EASTERN MICHIGAN
• Central Michigan and Eastern Michigan meet for the 101st time in a rivarly dating back to 1902.
• The series marks the longest-running series between any two MAC schools.
• Central Michigan holds a 63-31-6 all-time advantage in the series.
• CMU has dominated the series as of late, winning eight of the series' last 10 matchups.
• CMU has won five consecutive home games in the series dating back to a 2011 loss and has won six of the last seven series games played at Kelly/Shorts Stadium.
• Overall, Central Michigan owns a 37-14-2 record vs. Eastern Michigan in games played in Mount Pleasant.
• For a complete look at the Central Michigan-Eastern Michigan series and a game-by-game, visit page 14 of this release.
MAC Opener • Saturday, September 30 • 1:30 p.m. ET
Kramer/Deromedi Field at Kelly/Shorts Stadium (30,255) • Mount Pleasant, Mich.
SATURDAY AFTERNOON MATCHUP
Television: ESPN+ (Dan Gutowsky, play-by-play; Marcus Ray, color analyst; Ed Kaltz, producer).
Chippewa Sports Radio Network: Adam Jaksa, Brock Gutierrez.
Live Stats: visit https://cmuchippewas.com/sidearmstats/football/summary
CMU Social Media: Twitter (@cmu_football); Facebook (@cmufootball); Instagram (cmufootball); Website: www.cmuchippewas.com.
Coaches: Central Michigan-Jim McElwain, 5th year at CMU (26-23), 11th year overall (70-50), 38th year in coaching. Eastern Michigan-Chris Creighton, 11th year at EMU (48-62), 26th year overall (187-109).
Series: Central Michigan and Eastern Michigan meet for the 101st time in college football with CMU holding a 63-31-6 advantage in the series. CMU has claimed 10 of the last 14 meetings. CMU has won each of the series' last five home games and owns a 37-14-2 edge in home games.
CENTRAL MICHIGAN GAME NOTES
THE ESSENTIALS
Central Michigan (2-2, 0-0 MAC) opens Mid-American Conference play for its 122nd season of college football when it hosts Eastern Michigan (2-2, 0-0 MAC) on Saturday, Sept. 30. Kickoff is set for 1:30 p.m. ET at Kramer/Deromedi Field at Kelly/Shorts Stadium.
WHERE TO WATCH THE GAME
The game will be live streamed on ESPN+ with Dan Gutowsky (play-by-play) and Marcus Ray (color analyst) calling action and Ed Kaltz handling production.
WHERE TO LISTEN TO THE GAME
Fans can also listen to the Chippewa Sports Radio Network broadcast—presented by Fabiano Brothers. Adam Jaksa (play-by-play) and former Central Michigan/NFL player and CMU Athletic Hall of Famer Brock Gutierrez (color analyst) call action on the seven-station network (Mount Pleasant, Detroit, Grand Rapids, Muskegon, Petoskey, Traverse City) and nationally on the Varsity Network app. Coverage begins with a one-hour pre-game show.
TODAY'S TOP STORYLINES
• Central Michigan opens MAC play against Eastern Michigan on Saturday with a 2-2 record.
• CMU and EMU meet for the 101st time in series history, the longest-running series between any two MAC schools. CMU has won three of the last four meetings but dropped last year's 38-19 decision in Ypsilanti. CMU has won each of its last five home games vs. EMU and is 37-14-2 at home vs. EMU.
• Head Coach Jim McElwain has guided the Chippewas to two bowl games (2019 New Mexico Bowl and 2021 Sun Bowl) and two winning seasons in each of the past three full years.
ABOUT THE CHIPPEWAS
Central Michigan (2-2, 0-0 MAC) opens Mid-American Conference play on Saturday when it hosts Eastern Michigan (2-2, 0-0 MAC) at Kramer/Deromedi Field at Kelly/Shorts Stadium. Kickoff is set for 1:30 p.m.
Central Michigan is coming off a dramatic 34-30 non conference victory at South Alabama on Saturday, which saw the Chippewas rally back from a 14-0 deficit, take the lead, then come from behind again in the closing seconds as quarterback Jase Bauer engineered a 75-yard, 11-play drive that spanned 2:29 and ended with a go-ahead four-yard touchdown run by Bauer with 13 seconds to play.
The MAC West Division Offensive Player of the Week, Bauer finished the day with a career-high five touchdowns responsible for (four rushing, one passing), scored on touchdown runs of 15, 1, 1, and 4 yards, surpassed career-highs for completions (19), pass attempts (30), passing yards (224), and finished the day with 279 total yards (224 passing/55 rushing). He also threw a 70-yard touchdown pass to Jesse Prewitt III, who finished the day with a career-high 10 receptions for 142 yards.
The Chippewas controlled time of possession (33:44 to 26:16) and went on five long and time-consuming touchdown scoring drives of 56 yards or more, with four of those drives spanning 10 or more plays. CMU also converted a season-best nine of 16 third down conversions (56.3).
The victory gave Central Michigan its first non conference road win since a 45-27 victory over Kansas on Sept. 9, 2017.
Prior to the road victory in Mobile, Ala., the Chippewas were coming off a 41-17 loss at No. 9/11 Notre Dame. The Chippewas trailed just 21-14 at halftime and were in the game until the fourth quarter. CMU was able to accumulate 268 yards of total offense and rush for 131 yards while Bauer made his second career start and first of the year. Bauer rushed for a touchdown and finished with 153 total yards (137 passing) while completing 10 of 20 passes, Myles Bailey rushed for 59 yards and a touchdown, and Marion Lukes finished with 56 yards rushing. Against CMU, Notre Dame scored the fewest points against anyone it has played this year.
Saturday's contest marks Central Michigan's second home football game as the Chippewas claimed a 45-42 win over New Hampshire on Saturday, Sept. 9 in its home opener. The victory was also CMU's first win of the 2023 season which featured placekicker Tristan Mattson, who converted a field goal as time expired to give the Chippewas a 45-42 home win. CMU led the entire game, led 42-28 with nine minutes to play, but New Hampshire battled back with big plays. Quarterback Bert Emanuel, Jr. was named the MAC West Division Offensive Player of the Week after he was responsible for four touchdowns (2 rushing/2 passing) and finished with 294 total yards. On the day, he ran for 101 yards on 21 carries, threw for a career-high 193 yards while completing seven of 19 passes. His two rushing scores came on a 66-yard touchdown on his second carry of the game and a 5-yard run in the second quarter. Running back Marion Lukes earned MAC West Division Special Teams Player of the Week after he scored on an 86-yard kickoff return. Other Chippewas turning in impressive performances included running back Myles Bailey (21-108 yards, 1 TD), wide receiver Chris Parker (3-124 yards), and defensive back Donte Kent (10 tackles).
The Chippewas are hoping to erase the memory of a 2022 season which saw it finish 4-8 overall and 3-5 in the Mid-American Conference. The Chippewas finished No. 129 in the nation out of 130 teams in turnover margin (-1.50), 128th nationally in turnovers lost (28) and 130th in fumbles lost (18). During the season, the 2022 Chippewas also lost the majority of their playmakers on offense due to injuries, including two of their top wide receivers, an NFL bound tight end (Joel Wilson) and their top three running backs. Still, Central Michigan had an opportunity to become bowl eligible late in the season and had several opportunities to get to six wins.
Last season's results were a drastic change from the course that Head Coach Jim McElwain has put the Chippewas on since his arrival in 2019. In his first year guiding the program in 2019, he took over a team that finished 1-11 and 0-8 in MAC play and led the Chippewas to one of the nation's top turnarounds, an 8-6 record, 6-2 in the MAC with a berth in the 2019 New Mexico Bowl. After a COVID-shortened 2020 season, he led CMU to a 9-4 overall, 6-2 MAC record and berth in the 2021 Sun Bowl, where the Chippewas closed the year on a five-game win streak, including a 24-21 Sun Bowl win over Washington State.
Central Michigan returned 14 players who started a significant number of games in 2022, including five on offense and nine on defense. Several transfers arrive who will play significant roles in the coming season, several players return from injury, and a variety of players have improved over the offseason and are ready to contribute.
TURNOVER TURNAROUND
Through four games, Central Michigan is ranked No. 13 nationally and leads the MAC in fewest turnovers lost on offense. Even more impressive is that the Chippewas have not registered a turnover in 10 consecutive quarters (last two quarters vs. New Hampshire, four quarters at Notre Dame, four quarters at South Alabama).
Those numbers are in stark contrast to the 2022 season when the Chippewas ranked No. 128 out of 133 teams in turnovers lost (28/18 fumbles lost/10 interceptions), No. 130 in fumbles lost (18) and No. 130 in turnover margin (-1.50).
The Chippewas have thrown just three interceptions and have not lost a fumble.
BAUER EARNS MAC HONOR
Redshirt sophomore quarterback Jase Bauer was named the MAC West Offensive Player of the Week on Monday after his five-touchdown game in leading CMU to a victory at South Alabama.
BAUER ON FIRE
Bauer has emerged as a force to be reckoned with for Central Michigan. After a gritty performance at Notre Dame that kept the Chippewas in the game through three tough quarters, Bauer came off the bench and responded with a performance at South Alabama that saw him lead a CMU comeback twice, score the game-winner, make a block on a key run, and play in a role in scoring five touchdowns (four rushing/one passing).
Over the last two games where he saw significant action in the last eight quarters, Bauer has combined to rush 28 times for 71 yards with five touchdowns, complete 58 percent (29-50) of his passes for 361 yards, with no interceptions and one touchdown (70-yard pass) and accumulated 432 total yards (216.0 per game).
The statistics don't tell the full story over the last two games as Bauer has engineered six scoring drives of 56 yards or more with four of those coming on 10 of more plays. The Chippewas have not turned the ball over once with Bauer at quarterback and have dominated time of possession.
SETTING THE TABLE FOR SUCCESS
Central Michigan concluded its non conference portion of the schedule with a successful 2-2 record. Since 2016, when Central Michigan has won two or more non conference games, the Chippewas have gone on to earn a bowl berth in each of those seasons. Two of those years were under Head Coach Jim McElwain (2019 and 2021).
Here is a look at seasons where CMU has won two or more non conference games and the record the Chippewas finished with during each season:
Year W-L Finish
2023 2-2 N/A
2021 2-2 9-4 overall, 6-2 MAC, bowl
2019 2-2 8-6 overall, 6-2 MAC, bowl
2017 2-3 8-5 overall, 6-2 MAC, bowl
2016 3-1 6-7 overall, 3-5 MAC, bowl
TOUGH SCHEDULE
Central Michigan is attempting to get back to its winning ways against one of the most daunting schedules the school has ever faced.
Six of the Chippewas' 2023 opponents played in bowl games last season: Notre Dame (Gator Bowl), South Alabama (R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl), Toledo (RoofClaim.com), Eastern Michigan (Famous Idaho Potato Bowl), Buffalo (Camellia Bowl), and Ohio (Barstool Sports Arizona Bowl).
In addition, the Chippewas only play five home games and seven road contests.
MICHIGAN MAC TROPHY
• The CMU-EMU matchup will mark the first MAC Trophy game of the year.
• Presented annually to one of the Michigan-based, Mid-American Conference institutions (CMU, EMU, WMU), the trophy is awarded to the team which has the best head-to-head record against each other. It is one of just two regularly-awarded trophies between three teams (the other is the Commander-in-Chief trophy between Army, Navy, and Air Force).
• Eastern Michigan claimed the trophy with a victory over Central Michigan in the final regular season game last year.
• Central Michigan claimed the trophy in 2021 with wins over both Eastern Michigan and Western Michigan.
SERIES VS. EASTERN MICHIGAN
• Central Michigan and Eastern Michigan meet for the 101st time in a rivarly dating back to 1902.
• The series marks the longest-running series between any two MAC schools.
• Central Michigan holds a 63-31-6 all-time advantage in the series.
• CMU has dominated the series as of late, winning eight of the series' last 10 matchups.
• CMU has won five consecutive home games in the series dating back to a 2011 loss and has won six of the last seven series games played at Kelly/Shorts Stadium.
• Overall, Central Michigan owns a 37-14-2 record vs. Eastern Michigan in games played in Mount Pleasant.
• For a complete look at the Central Michigan-Eastern Michigan series and a game-by-game, visit page 14 of this release.
Players Mentioned
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