Led by senior safety Da'Quaun Jamison, secondary takes another step forward
Central Michigan defensive back Da'Quaun Jamison celebrates after intercepting a pass against Bowling Green Oct. 19 at Doyt L. Perry Stadium in Bowling Green.
The ball was tipped twice and fell toward the turf. For a split second, it looked like just another incomplete pass.
In soared senior safety Da’Quaun Jamison, who secured a diving interception.
Jamison leaped to his feet and waved a finger. It was his second interception of the day and the third of his career.
In the big picture, it was yet another important play made by the Chippewa secondary.
The 38-20 victory over Bowling Green marked the first road win of the year for a young squad, and right at the center of it was the veteran leader – Jamison.
The starting safety made six tackles and was part of a solid effort by the Central Michigan secondary that has found its stride following a few poor performances early in the season.
Making Loy one dimensional
Bowling Green redshirt junior quarterback Grant Loy accounted for over 300 yards of total offense last week in an upset win over Toledo. With both the passing and running aspect of Loy to be accounted for, Jamison's unit was prepared for a challenge.
“(Loy) is a great competitor,” said Jamison, “But we knew if we could make him one dimensional, we would have a better chance to win.”
Jamison’s first interception of the afternoon thwarted a Bowling Green rally and ended the first half. After sophomore cornerback Montrae Braswell dropped back-to-back would-be interceptions, Jamison was able to leap and finish the job.
The interception came with 13 seconds remaining in the half and ended the Falcon’s longest drive of the first two quarters.
Coming out of the locker room, the Falcons got the first possession and moved straight down the field, scoring on Loy’s 3-yard run.
Central Michigan coach Jim McElwain was not pleased. He indicated frustration in his postgame presser when talking about the defensive effort in the third quarter.
"We didn't play good," McElwain said. "We didn't hold them right after half."
The Falcons were able to rack up another touchdown late in the game, but for the most part, it was a solid defensive effort. The Chippewas were able to hold Loy to just 67 yards on the ground. Through the air, Loy was intercepted three times.
Troy Brown intercepted Loy on the Falcons’ last possession of the game, effectively icing the game.
It was his second interception in as many weeks, once again cutting off a route and high-pointing the football near the sideline to close the book on the Chippewa victory.
Central Michigan defensive back Gage Kreski tackles Bowling Green quarterback Grant Loy Oct. 19 at Doyt L. Perry Stadium in Bowling Green.
A group effort
The secondary was solid as a whole Saturday.
Jamison secured the two interceptions, but he wasn’t alone when it came to contributions.
Junior safety Gage Kreski continued his aggressive play, reading the Falcons’ fly motion and coming up to make two huge hits on jet-sweep plays. One of those hits stopped the Falcons on downs and gave the Chippewas great field position.
“I just think he’s doing a good job on film studying and knowing his role on the defense,” Jamison said of his defensive backfield counterpart.
“He’s just out there making plays.”
Another storyline for the Chippewas is the continued emergence of true freshman cornerback Kyron McKinnie-Harper.
After some struggles from the corner position early caused the coaching staff to turn to McKinnie Harper, he has quickly taken over his half of the field.
Teams are not quick to test McKinnie-Harper, as his man coverage has become feared among opponents in the conference. The Falcons took just one deep shot his way Saturday, on which McKinnie-Harper had great coverage and was able to break up the play.
When McKinnie-Harper left the field with a trainer late in the third quarter, Loy wasted no time firing up a shot to the spot vacated by him.
McKinnie-Harper’s replacement, sophomore cornerback Brandon Brown, was unable to make the play.
Sophomore safety Devonni Reed finished with a season-high 11 tackles and had to step up with junior safety Alonzo McCoy out with an injury.
Even though Reed is the typical starter, he was called on more often, and McCoy's injury also forced Kreski to fill the void.
Reed delivered another solid performance in the defensive backfield.
Braswell, a redshirt freshman, was credited with two pass breakups on the dropped interceptions. The two pass breakups and three tackles are season highs. He has continued to improve and work toward locking up the opposite side of the field – just like McKinnie-Harper.
Saturday wasn't a perfect effort from the Central Michigan defense.
However, the Chippewas did exactly what they planned to do. Holding Loy to just under 4 yards per carry took the threat of him using his legs out of the game plan and forced him to put it in the air.
It was a good test for a young Chippewa secondary, as the game plan showed defensive coordinator Robb Akey’s confidence in the cornerbacks and safeties.
Given the result, the victory over the Falcons showcased growth for a young secondary that is working its way into the thick of the MAC West Division title race.
