Top rushing attacks meet staunch run defenses in CMU-Buffalo matchup
Central Michigan running back Kobe Lewis runs against Bowling Green Oct. 19 at Doyt L. Perry Stadium in Bowling Green.
In recent weeks, the Central Michigan football team has been able to lean heavily on its run game offensively while shutting down its opponents’ ground attack.
The Chippewas improved to 5-3 overall and 3-1 in the Mid-American Conference after rushing for 254 yards in their 38-20 victory over Bowling Green State. Over the past three games, CMU has amassed 914 yards and an astounding 12 touchdowns on the ground.
Meanwhile, the Chippewa defense has put in major work to stop the run, and it’s paying off: over the same three-game span, the unit has allowed a mere 369 yards rushing and three touchdowns.
The combination of offensive and defensive success in the run game is what set CMU up for three consecutive wins – all in dominating fashion.
The Chippewas try to make it four straight wins in their 3:30 p.m. Oct. 26 road game at Buffalo.
Although the Bulls currently sit below .500 at 3-4 overall and 1-2 in the MAC, Buffalo is still a formidable opponent – as is evident by the fact it is favored over CMU by three points in the betting lines.
Buffalo’s season remains afloat primarily due to its strength in the rushing department on both sides of the ball.
The Bulls enter the matchup against CMU with a season-long average of 224.4 yards per game while stifling opponents on defense and holding them to an impressive 95.3 yards rushing on average.
“This team has a great run defense and a couple of running backs who can put it on you,” first-year coach Jim McElwain said of Buffalo.
Bulls sophomore Jaret Patterson has rushed 686 yards for the Bulls this season, with sophomore Kevin Marks adding another 603 yards on the ground.
“Honestly, those two running backs are great running backs,” sophomore safety Devonni Reed said in regard to Patterson and Marks. “Much respect to them, because they do know how to run the rock.”
With that said, it’s not as if the Chippewa defense has never seen a tandem of running backs go out and take over a game. After all, they’ve watched senior Jonathan Ward and sophomore Kobe Lewis do the same to opponents all season.
Ward has rushed for 616 yards despite missing two games for injury, and second-string Lewis has stepped up massively this season to tally 616 yards rushing.
Central Michigan defensive lineman Jacques Bristol sacks Bowling Green quarterback Grant Loy Oct. 19 at Doyt L. Perry Stadium in Bowling Green.
It’ll be a battle between the two duos of running backs in this week’s game, but neither defense is willing to concede any easy gains in the ground game.
“With this defense and plan, we’re just gonna stop the run and play ball like we’ve usually been doing,” Reed said.
“You gotta trust the keys, trust the scheme, do your job, and play ball.”
If all goes to plan, the Chippewas will force Buffalo to go away from the run and force the pass attack to try winning the game for the Bulls.
Redshirt freshman Matt Myers started Buffalo’s first five games at quarterback but was injured in the matchup with Miami (Ohio) on Sept. 28. Myers hasn’t played the entire month of October, and on Oct. 22 it was announced that he will be sidelined for the remainder of the season.
Taking his place is sophomore Kyle Vantrease, who has completed 33 of 51 passes for 292 yards this season in Myers’ absence.
The Bulls average only 127.7 passing yards per game, roughly half of the Chippewas’ mark at 241.4.
A win over Buffalo would be monumental. CMU lost 34-24 at home to the Bulls en route to an abysmal 2018 season, and with five wins so far this season, a victory on Oct. 26 at UB Stadium would make the Chippewas bowl-eligible.
“(Buffalo) is a really good football team and for our guys, it'll be interesting to see,” McElwain said. “This is growing up; they're kind of in uncharted territory right now so it'll be real interesting to see how they react.”
