Central Michigan University Athletics
Saturday, September 9
Mount Pleasant, Mich.
1:30 p.m.
Central Michigan University
vs
New Hampshire
Photo by: Jack Reeber '23,M'25 - @jackreeber.raw
Football Championship Subdivision New Hampshire Poses Stiff Test in Chippewas' Home Opener
9/7/2023 11:57:00 AM | Football
Watch Live on ESPN+Listen LiveLive StatsGame Day Program (PDF)Flip Card (PDF)Central Michigan Game Notes (PDF)New Hampshire Game Notes (PDF)Game Day Procedures and ProtocolsNew Hampshire Notes & Preview
CMU hosts New Hampshire for its home opener on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. ET.
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – True, Central Michigan has historically handled Football Championship Subdivision opponents.
Matters little, if at all, to Chippewa coach Jim McElwain.
"These guys are really good," McElwain said of FCS New Hampshire, the opponent for the Chippewas' home opener on Saturday (1:30 p.m.) on Kramer/Deromedi Field at Kelly/Shorts Stadium. "They've got a lot of talent, they're big, they're physical, they've got some guys who are on draft watch lists.
"They're coming in here to show that they can play. We've got to go play and really not care who the opponent is. We've got to get better."
The Chippewas opened a week ago with a 31-7 loss at Michigan State. Yes, there were plenty of positives that CMU took from that game. The Chippewas moved the ball effectively at times, and they were down just 10-7 at halftime and 17-7 entering the fourth quarter.
An inability to cash in early when they had the ball on MSU's 2-yard line and an interception early in the third quarter proved to be turning points. After the interception, which came in Spartan territory, the game turned heavily in MSU's favor as CMU's offense stalled.
"You can't ever give a team opportunities like that and we did," McElwain said. "It's something we've got to learn from. We can't give up explosive plays. That killed us, obviously, in that last game and we've got to get some consistency. We've got to get first downs. Can't have three-and-outs."
The game, as openers do, gave the Chippewas a good gauge.
"I feel like we understand where we are," said senior defensive lineman Jacques Bristol, who made seven tackles, including two for loss, against MSU. "(We're) not trying to take (it as) a moral victory … we felt like we could have won. There's things we could have done better throughout the game.
"It's just really focusing in on the details, and that's what we take from (the MSU) game. We've got to lock in on the details."
The Chippewas can't afford to look past the Wildcats to next week's game at No. 10 Notre Dame and beyond to a rematch with South Alabama, this time in Mobile. The Jaguars handed CMU a 38-24 defeat a year ago.
"You've got to treat every opponent with respect," said sophomore tight end Mitchel Collier, who shared the team lead with three catches against MSU. "You've just got to put every ounce – everything physical, spiritual – into that one game. You can't dwell on what happened in the past and you can't look forward to the future. That's when you can slip up and start making errors."
Scouting New Hampshire
McElwain is correct. These Wildcats, who are ranked 11th in FCS, are good.
They finished 9-4 a year ago and shared the Coastal Athletic Association championship with William & Mary and then advanced to the second round of the FCS playoffs.
Junior quarterback Max Brosmer was named the FCS National Performer of the Week after throwing for 284 yards and five touchdowns last week in a 51-17 win over Stonehill College. He registered a video-game-like 237.4 efficiency rating.
A year ago, Brosmer, who has thrown for 5,536 career yards, ranked ninth nationally in FCS in both passing yards and TDs. He was the Coastal Athletic Association Football Co-Scholar-Athlete of the Year in 2022.
But Brosmer may not be the most dangerous player on the Wildcat roster. That distinction may go to triple threat Dylan Laube, who rolled up 229 all-purpose yards and scored three times last week and was named the FCS National Special Teams Player of the Week.
Laube, who has amassed more than 5,000 all-purpose yards and scored 32 touchdowns in his career, was named to every FCS All-American team a year ago and was joined on the Preseason All-America Team by teammates Dylan Ruiz and Josiah Silver, both whom play defensive end.
10-Year Itch
Saturday's game marks the third meeting between CMU and New Hampshire. The Chippewas won, 24-21, in 2013, and 40-33 in 2003.
History
The Chippewas are 14-1 against FCS opponents. They have won 14 consecutive such games since falling to FCS power North Dakota State, 44-14, in 2007. All 15 of those games have been played in Mount Pleasant.
The Chippewas are 3-0 against FCS opponents under McElwain. They won the last two by shutout, 41-0, over Bucknell in 2022, and 45-0 over Robert Morris in 2021.
Matters little, if at all, to Chippewa coach Jim McElwain.
"These guys are really good," McElwain said of FCS New Hampshire, the opponent for the Chippewas' home opener on Saturday (1:30 p.m.) on Kramer/Deromedi Field at Kelly/Shorts Stadium. "They've got a lot of talent, they're big, they're physical, they've got some guys who are on draft watch lists.
"They're coming in here to show that they can play. We've got to go play and really not care who the opponent is. We've got to get better."
The Chippewas opened a week ago with a 31-7 loss at Michigan State. Yes, there were plenty of positives that CMU took from that game. The Chippewas moved the ball effectively at times, and they were down just 10-7 at halftime and 17-7 entering the fourth quarter.
An inability to cash in early when they had the ball on MSU's 2-yard line and an interception early in the third quarter proved to be turning points. After the interception, which came in Spartan territory, the game turned heavily in MSU's favor as CMU's offense stalled.
"You can't ever give a team opportunities like that and we did," McElwain said. "It's something we've got to learn from. We can't give up explosive plays. That killed us, obviously, in that last game and we've got to get some consistency. We've got to get first downs. Can't have three-and-outs."
The game, as openers do, gave the Chippewas a good gauge.
"I feel like we understand where we are," said senior defensive lineman Jacques Bristol, who made seven tackles, including two for loss, against MSU. "(We're) not trying to take (it as) a moral victory … we felt like we could have won. There's things we could have done better throughout the game.
"It's just really focusing in on the details, and that's what we take from (the MSU) game. We've got to lock in on the details."
The Chippewas can't afford to look past the Wildcats to next week's game at No. 10 Notre Dame and beyond to a rematch with South Alabama, this time in Mobile. The Jaguars handed CMU a 38-24 defeat a year ago.
"You've got to treat every opponent with respect," said sophomore tight end Mitchel Collier, who shared the team lead with three catches against MSU. "You've just got to put every ounce – everything physical, spiritual – into that one game. You can't dwell on what happened in the past and you can't look forward to the future. That's when you can slip up and start making errors."
Scouting New Hampshire
McElwain is correct. These Wildcats, who are ranked 11th in FCS, are good.
They finished 9-4 a year ago and shared the Coastal Athletic Association championship with William & Mary and then advanced to the second round of the FCS playoffs.
Junior quarterback Max Brosmer was named the FCS National Performer of the Week after throwing for 284 yards and five touchdowns last week in a 51-17 win over Stonehill College. He registered a video-game-like 237.4 efficiency rating.
A year ago, Brosmer, who has thrown for 5,536 career yards, ranked ninth nationally in FCS in both passing yards and TDs. He was the Coastal Athletic Association Football Co-Scholar-Athlete of the Year in 2022.
But Brosmer may not be the most dangerous player on the Wildcat roster. That distinction may go to triple threat Dylan Laube, who rolled up 229 all-purpose yards and scored three times last week and was named the FCS National Special Teams Player of the Week.
Laube, who has amassed more than 5,000 all-purpose yards and scored 32 touchdowns in his career, was named to every FCS All-American team a year ago and was joined on the Preseason All-America Team by teammates Dylan Ruiz and Josiah Silver, both whom play defensive end.
10-Year Itch
Saturday's game marks the third meeting between CMU and New Hampshire. The Chippewas won, 24-21, in 2013, and 40-33 in 2003.
History
The Chippewas are 14-1 against FCS opponents. They have won 14 consecutive such games since falling to FCS power North Dakota State, 44-14, in 2007. All 15 of those games have been played in Mount Pleasant.
The Chippewas are 3-0 against FCS opponents under McElwain. They won the last two by shutout, 41-0, over Bucknell in 2022, and 45-0 over Robert Morris in 2021.
Players Mentioned
DL
/ Football
TE
/ 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