Saturday, September 30
Mount Pleasant, Mich.
1:30 p.m.
Central Michigan University
vs
Eastern Michigan
Photo by: MCDUFFIE IMAGES LLC 2023
Football Preview: Chippewas Get Down to MAC Business Against Eastern Michigan
9/29/2023 8:21:00 AM | Football
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Kickoff is set for 1:30 p.m. ET at Kelly/Shorts Stadium; Chippewas to host Community & Hall of Fame Day / Family & Friends Weekend.
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – The preliminaries, as tough as they were, are behind them.
Now, it's get-down-to-business time.
The Central Michigan football team opens Mid-American Conference play on Saturday (1:30 p.m.) against Eastern Michigan on Kramer/Deromedi Field at Kelly/Shorts Stadium.
The Chippewas (2-2) are coming off a dramatic 34-30 win at South Alabama, avenging a two-touchdown loss to the Jaguars last season in CMU's first 'rematch' game against a foe in played in 2022, when it finished 4-8, 3-5 MAC. The Chippewas fell to the Eagles, 38-19, a year ago.
"Last year was an embarrassing season and this whole offseason it's been on our minds," said CMU junior linebacker Kyler Moretti. "Eastern, they kicked our butt last year. It's an in-state rivalry and we're playing for something. We're playing for the people who were here for us."
They're also now officially playing for a championship, something that at this point seems so far down the road as to be out of sight. That said, you can't score a run if you don't get out of the batter's box.
"Last week was fun," Moretti said. "We need to forget about that and focus on today, tomorrow. One day at a time."
To be sure, the win at South Alabama – and the entire four-game nonleague slate, for that matter – helped the Chippewas on several fronts, not the least of which is the confidence that a win, particularly in the manner that they got it, can bring.
CMU's nonleague opponents included Notre Dame, which is now 4-1 and ranked 11th nationally after a final-play loss to No. 4 Ohio State; New Hampshire, which is 2-2 and ranked 14th in the Football Championship Subdivision poll; and Michigan State, in the season opener before that program was plunged into disorder with coach Mel Tucker eventually being shown the door.
The win over South Alabama was gratifying on several fronts. The Jaguars finished 10-3 a year ago and were picked to finish second in the Sun Belt Conference West Division preseason poll. The week before they played the Chippewas, they won at Oklahoma State, 33-7.
"We are a good 2-2 football team, but we can't rest on that," said CMU assistant head coach/defensive backs coach Michael Zordich, who filled in for head coach Jim McElwain at the team's weekly media session on Tuesday. "We've got to continue to build on that to be a great football team."
"We were embarrassed by both of those schools (South Alabama, Eastern Michigan) last year. That is on our mind, but we can't let that get in the way of our focus of preparing for them and getting ready for them."
Jase Bauer, who started at quarterback at Notre Dame, came off the bench in the first quarter against South Alabama and led the Chippewas back from two deficits, the first 14-0 in the first half and the second, 30-27, with under three minutes to play in the game.
Bauer, a redshirt sophomore, set career highs in completions (19), attempts (30) and passing yards (224) and he accounted for five touchdowns, four rushing and one passing, against the Jaguars. He earned the MAC West Offensive Player of the Week Award on Monday.
"The confidence is up there for sure," said Moretti, who made a team-high 11 tackles at South Alabama. "We needed that as a team. That was a good team. They (had) just beat Oklahoma State, (had) 10 wins last year.
"We're down 14 in the first quarter. I'm not sure last year that we could have responded like that and this year it's a lot different. The confidence is up there, and I think it really just gives us the belief of what we're capable of. (But) we can't get complacent; it's just one game and we've got a lot of stuff to prove."
The Eagles (2-2) lost last week, 21-0, at Jacksonville State. Their other loss came at Minnesota, 25-6. Their wins came over Howard, 33-23, and over Massachusetts, 19-17.
EMU quarterback Austin Smith has completed 55 percent of his passes for 456 yards and two touchdowns against three interceptions; running backs Samson Evans and Jaylon Jackson have combined to rush for 416 yards (5.4 yards per carry). Jackson is also a threat on special teams, averaging 34.2 yards per kickoff return and he has an 84-yard return for TD on his 2023 resumé.
The Eagles have been outrushed by a near 2-to-1 ratio and has surrendered more than 700 total yards than they have gained.
Now, it's get-down-to-business time.
The Central Michigan football team opens Mid-American Conference play on Saturday (1:30 p.m.) against Eastern Michigan on Kramer/Deromedi Field at Kelly/Shorts Stadium.
The Chippewas (2-2) are coming off a dramatic 34-30 win at South Alabama, avenging a two-touchdown loss to the Jaguars last season in CMU's first 'rematch' game against a foe in played in 2022, when it finished 4-8, 3-5 MAC. The Chippewas fell to the Eagles, 38-19, a year ago.
"Last year was an embarrassing season and this whole offseason it's been on our minds," said CMU junior linebacker Kyler Moretti. "Eastern, they kicked our butt last year. It's an in-state rivalry and we're playing for something. We're playing for the people who were here for us."
They're also now officially playing for a championship, something that at this point seems so far down the road as to be out of sight. That said, you can't score a run if you don't get out of the batter's box.
"Last week was fun," Moretti said. "We need to forget about that and focus on today, tomorrow. One day at a time."
To be sure, the win at South Alabama – and the entire four-game nonleague slate, for that matter – helped the Chippewas on several fronts, not the least of which is the confidence that a win, particularly in the manner that they got it, can bring.
CMU's nonleague opponents included Notre Dame, which is now 4-1 and ranked 11th nationally after a final-play loss to No. 4 Ohio State; New Hampshire, which is 2-2 and ranked 14th in the Football Championship Subdivision poll; and Michigan State, in the season opener before that program was plunged into disorder with coach Mel Tucker eventually being shown the door.
The win over South Alabama was gratifying on several fronts. The Jaguars finished 10-3 a year ago and were picked to finish second in the Sun Belt Conference West Division preseason poll. The week before they played the Chippewas, they won at Oklahoma State, 33-7.
"We are a good 2-2 football team, but we can't rest on that," said CMU assistant head coach/defensive backs coach Michael Zordich, who filled in for head coach Jim McElwain at the team's weekly media session on Tuesday. "We've got to continue to build on that to be a great football team."
"We were embarrassed by both of those schools (South Alabama, Eastern Michigan) last year. That is on our mind, but we can't let that get in the way of our focus of preparing for them and getting ready for them."
Jase Bauer, who started at quarterback at Notre Dame, came off the bench in the first quarter against South Alabama and led the Chippewas back from two deficits, the first 14-0 in the first half and the second, 30-27, with under three minutes to play in the game.
Bauer, a redshirt sophomore, set career highs in completions (19), attempts (30) and passing yards (224) and he accounted for five touchdowns, four rushing and one passing, against the Jaguars. He earned the MAC West Offensive Player of the Week Award on Monday.
"The confidence is up there for sure," said Moretti, who made a team-high 11 tackles at South Alabama. "We needed that as a team. That was a good team. They (had) just beat Oklahoma State, (had) 10 wins last year.
"We're down 14 in the first quarter. I'm not sure last year that we could have responded like that and this year it's a lot different. The confidence is up there, and I think it really just gives us the belief of what we're capable of. (But) we can't get complacent; it's just one game and we've got a lot of stuff to prove."
The Eagles (2-2) lost last week, 21-0, at Jacksonville State. Their other loss came at Minnesota, 25-6. Their wins came over Howard, 33-23, and over Massachusetts, 19-17.
EMU quarterback Austin Smith has completed 55 percent of his passes for 456 yards and two touchdowns against three interceptions; running backs Samson Evans and Jaylon Jackson have combined to rush for 416 yards (5.4 yards per carry). Jackson is also a threat on special teams, averaging 34.2 yards per kickoff return and he has an 84-yard return for TD on his 2023 resumé.
The Eagles have been outrushed by a near 2-to-1 ratio and has surrendered more than 700 total yards than they have gained.
Players Mentioned
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