Central Michigan University
Eastern Michigan
Football Preview: Chippewas Face Pivotal Game at Eastern Michigan
10/18/2024 2:06:00 PM | Football
Kickoff is at 2 p.m. ET at Rynearson Stadium for an ESPN+ broadcast; CMU looks to win its fifth contest against EMU in the last six tries.
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – A long way to go in the Mid-American Conference football race.
Still, they're all important. And for Central Michigan, Saturday's game (2 p.m.) at Eastern Michigan could be a turning point. A win keeps the Chippewas squarely in the hunt; a loss, while it wouldn't eliminate CMU from championship and bowl contention, would certainly put a damper on those hopes.
The Chippewas enter the game at the Eagles' Rynearson Stadium at 3-3, 1-1 MAC. The Eagles are 4-2, 1-1 after a 38-14 home loss last week to Miami (Ohio). Eastern opened MAC play with a 52-33 victory at winless Kent State.
CMU has played with fire in each of its past three games, all at home. The Chippewas managed to pull out dramatic wins over Ball State, 37-34; and San Diego State, 22-21; and then lost, 27-25, to Ohio.
All three games have been the classic tale of two halves: The Chippewas started slow in all three then made a frantic second-half comeback – successful against the Cardinals and Aztecs, but not against the Bobcats.
"I guess I'd better give my halftime speech right at the beginning," CMU coach Jim McElwain quipped earlier this week. "This week's all about maturity -- the maturity of learning from the last game and moving forward -- and our ability to correct the mistakes individually that we need to.
"(We need) some consistency throughout a ball game. You're going to have a little lapse here and there, but let's cut those to a minimum."
The Chippewas will have to do it without quarterback Joe Labas, who suffered a season-ending injury in the loss to Ohio. Redshirt freshman Tyler Jefferson will start against Eastern.
Jefferson replaced Labas in the second quarter last week and threw for 95 yards on 8-of-13 passing. He also rushed for 28 yards on 10 carries. On the season, Jefferson has completed 17 of 26 passes for 212 yards. He has not yet thrown a touchdown pass or an interception.
Bert Emanuel Jr., who was quarterback 1A alongside Labas, and was quite productive, for the Ball State and San Diego State games, is questionable for Saturday's game. Emanuel did not dress last week against Ohio.
The largely untested Jefferson nearly led the Chippewas back from a 24-0 halftime deficit. Running back Marion Lukes turned in his best game of the season with 110 yards and three touchdowns, while the Chippewa defense forced two turnovers. It was the first time that the CMU defense had recorded a takeaway since the season-opening 66-10 win over Central Connecticut State.
"Our belief level is really high," CMU wide receiver Chris Parker said. "We have the pieces, we've just got to put them all together.
"We had a phenomenal second half (against Ohio); if we did half of what we did in the first half that we did in the second half, the results would have been better. We know what we have to do, we just have to worker hard to achieve it.
"If you don't have a why, just remember you've got brothers out there; do it for them."
• The Chippewas are seeking to end a six-game road losing streak.
• The game is the first this season in the battle for the Michigan MAC Trophy. CMU plays host to Western Michigan on Nov. 19; Eastern goes to Western in the regular season finale on Nov. 30. The team that finishes with the best record in the head-to-head with the other two teams captures the trophy. CMU last held it in 2021.
• Saturday's game marks EMU's homecoming. The Chippewas are 10-4 in Ypsilanti in homecoming games.
• Saturday's game marks the 102nd meeting between Central and Eastern. It began in 1902 and is the longest-running series between MAC schools. CMU holds a 64-31-6 edge in the series and is 26-17-4 in games against the Eagles played in Ypsilanti.
• The Chippewas won last year, 26-23, at Kelly/Shorts Stadium. EMU won the last meeting in Ypsilanti, 38-19, in 2022.
• Next: CMU goes to Miami (Ohio) on Saturday, Oct. 26 (2 p.m.). The RedHawks (2-4, 1-1) entertain Ohio on Saturday.
