Chippewas can’t take Colonels lightly
Greg Burghardt
A Division I-AA team comes to Kelly/Shorts Stadium for the second consecutive week, but Head Coach Mike DeBord and the football team know a win is not a given.
“We have to continue to make strides,” DeBord said. “We’re playing a better football team this week than we did last week.”
The Chippewas know better than to take their opponent — Ohio Valley Conference foe Eastern Kentucky— lightly. The Colonels are ranked No. 21 in the ESPN/USA Today I-AA poll and defeated No. 11 Appalachian State 35-7 last week.
“It was a huge win for our program,” said EKU Head Coach Danny Hope. “It was a shot in the arm to win such a big game.”
Big games keep coming for the Colonels, who engineered a tumultuous non-conference schedule. Before defeating the non-conference Mountaineers, the Colonels opened the season with a 61-14 loss at Bowling Green.
With the Chippewas representing EKU’s second MAC opponent in three weeks, Hope feels the team in more prepared heading into Mount Pleasant.
“We have two games under our belt so we’re more ready,” Hope said. “We are excited to play another big I-A school. These schools have more scholarships and bigger players. We have to play very hard in order to succeed.”
Another key to EKU success is the efficiency of its offense. Quarterbacks Matt Guice and Adam Ellis have split snaps, and both have effectively moved the ball. With 225 passing yards and two touchdowns last week, Guice was named OVC Offensive Player of the Week.
EKU also possesses a strong return game, as Tremayne Perkins returned a kickoff for a score last week. DeBord is cognizant of the Colonels ability, and may look to avoid game-breaking situations.
“If we kick the ball out of bounds, its not because we have a bad punter, it’s by design,” DeBord said.
CMU Keys for victory:
1. Continued rushing production Through the first two games, the CMU rushing offense ranks No. 5 in the nation, averaging 285 yards a game. This number will be tested with the loss of senior halfback Terrence Jackson and his 91.5 yards a game average.
The development of freshman Jerry Seymour softens the blow. Seymour attacked the New Hampshire defense for 166 yards and three touchdowns last week. Now not an unknown commodity, the Colonels will focus on stopping the MAC’s leading rusher.
“I don’t know what defenses will try to do to stop me this week,” Seymour said. “All I can do is practice hard and be aggressive.”
Senior Kenan Lawhorne returns after suffering a hamstring injury against the Wildcats. Sophomore Spencer Lewis and freshman Isaac Brown also will likely see playing time.
2. Front seven pressure While CMU’s offense has not allowed a sack this season, the defense has only registered one. Freshman Dan Bazuin has been solid at defensive end, but DeBord wants the rest of the defensive line to step up.
CMU’s linebacking depth is depleted with an injury to starter Omari Colen. Junior Anthony Tyus, who had 15 tackles last week, senior Eddie Hillery and junior Jon Nelson will try to pick up the slack. The Chippewas also will count upon junior James King — the MAC’s leading tackler.
After struggling to solve UNH’s spread offense in the first half, CMU held the Wildcats to punts in four of their first five possessions in the second half to take control of the game. DeBord wants the team to play two halves of solid defense this week.
“Our defense did an outstanding job in the second half,” DeBord said. “It was a tale of two halves — our defensive coaches made some good adjustments.
3. Special teams success Central struggled in the return game against UNH, muffing one punt, surrendering an onside kick and giving up field position on poor return decisions. DeBord admitted sophomore returner Justin Harper had a rough week, but still has confidence in his ability.
“We did better in the punting game, but we went downhill from our punt return execution from Michigan,” DeBord said. “We’ve gone to work this week. (Harper) had a bad day. But, he’ll come back and do all right.”
The Chippewas may have suffered a post-Michigan letdown, squeaking by New Hampshire 40-33. DeBord hopes focus will be stronger this week, as the Chippewas are mindful of the Colonels ability.
“They had a huge win last week and they are a very good football team,” DeBord said. “If we want to continue our improvement, we want to raise our level of play.”
