They’re at the halfway point and they’re still in contention to win the Mid-American Conference crown.
Thing is, they’re going to have to play extremely well from here on out to make a run at the crown.
On Saturday afternoon the Central Michigan University football team returns to action in Ypsilanti where it will take on the host Eastern Michigan Eagles in a key Mid-American Conference contest.
Game time is slated for 2 p.m. from Rynearson Stadium. The game will be aired live on ESPN+ and on the Chippewa Sports Radio Network.
Coming into the game the Chippewas are 3-3 overall and 1-1 in conference play. EMU is 4-2 overall and also 1-1 in MAC play.
Standings-wise Buffalo, Ohio and Western Michigan are all 2-0 in MAC play to lead the way. Six teams are 1-1 in conference play, thus in order to keep pace one must keep winning.
Saturday’s meeting will be the 102nd between the two programs. CMU leads the all-time series, which dates back to 1902, 64-31-6.
Last weekend the Chippewas fell behind 24-0 at home on homecoming to Ohio before making a game of it in the second half only to fall 27-25. CMU outscored Ohio 25-3 in the second half and got a monster game from running back Marion Lukes as he rushed 20 times for 110 yards and three scores.
However, the Chippewas were penalized 15 times for 133 yards all while allowing Ohio to post 424-yards of offense. Moreover, quarterback Joe Labas left last week’s game in the second quarter with an injury and back-up quarterback Bert Emanuel Jr. didn’t dress for the game.
Thus redshirt freshman Tyler Jefferson was thrust into the spotlight and showed well as he led the Chippewas on four second-half scoring drives. He completed 8-of-13 passes for 95 yards and ran it 10 times for 28 yards.
EMU fell at home to the Miami RedHawks 38-14 last weekend.
Both team average 29 points per game on offense. CMU allows 29 points per game on the defensive side while EMU allows 25.
