Fire Up Chips! - A Central Michigan University Dynasty

[alifeincomplete]

Ohio 20, CMU 17 F/OT
James Fakeguy | OSPN FBS Correspondent | October 12, 2013



Athens, OH -- What a difference a week makes. One week earlier, the Central Michigan Chippewas gouged Miami of Ohio for fifty-four points and four turnovers. Today, the Chippewas struggled mightily. A defense that prides itself in stopping the run was largely absent against the Bobcats' read-option. Ohio QB Tyler Tettleton (RS-SR) carved up the Chippewas' defense for 87 yards on 17 carries and 1 rushing touchdown.

Central showed a lot of promise in the ground game, with Zurlon Tipton again accounting for a big day. His 189 yards on 25 carries kept the Chippewas in the fight. QB Cody Kater was able to put together a late drive to tie it at 17-17 in the 4th Quarter. This pushed the game into overtime where the Chippewas put up a field goal on their opening volley. Once again, CMU's defense was helpless to stop the QB-keeper, and Tettleton trotted in on a 3rd-and-6 for the winning score.

"I won't mince words: we were physically dominated out there," Coach Boyd said in his post-game press conference. "[Defense] didn't get off the field when we needed to... it was a mess. Sloppy plays, bad turnovers."

Perhaps Coach Boyd was being too harsh on his team, as they were relatively evenly-matched throughout the game. Depending on how the MAC shakes out, it's a possibility that these two teams could see one another again in the conference championship.

--- Key Leaders ---
C. Kater - 10/23, 134 yards 2TD, 1 INT
Z. Tipton - 25 car, 189 yards
T. Davis - 4 rec, 73 yards, 1 TD

T. Tettleton - 11/19, 145 yards, 0 TD, 2 INT, 17 car, 87 yards, 1 rushing TD
B. Blankenship - 23 car, 120 yds, 1 TD
L. Smish - 3 rec, 33 yards

Full stats can be found in the attached PDF.

[alifeincomplete]

Homecoming Hero! Kater Shines Against the Huskies
Adam B. Fictitious | OSPN FBS Correspondent | October 19, 2013



Mt. Pleasant, MI -- Homecoming always has a certain aura about it. The little things mean just a little bit more when you're playing in front of usually the biggest home crowd of the year. The Chippewas hosted strong MAC rival, the Northern Illinois Huskies in front of a packed crowd at Kelly/Shorts Stadium. The contest did not disappoint.

Out of the gate, CMU debuted a new-look offensive attack that relied heavily on a no-huddle rushing attack not unlike what is displayed in many schools around the nation. This was a stark departure from their more traditional pro-style offense that Coach Jon Boyd has brought to the team. It produced immediate results, however. CMU raced down the field for a score in under a minute on the legs of Zurlon Tipton. NIU immediately responded. The shots traded fast and furiously: another quick drive for 6 by CMU, followed by a kickoff return by NIU. Halfway through the first, it was 14-14. CMU's special teams pinned NIU against their own endzone and the defense stepped up, producing a safety. 16-14 at the end of one.

NIU's superior speed, however, quickly took over. Quarterback Jordan Lynch, a favorite for MAC MVP, carried the Huskies to a commanding lead by the late third quarter, 36-19. CMU's defense was exposed, for the second week in a row, as helpless against the read-option rushing attack, getting gouged for big runs by the dynamic Lynch.

"We were naked out there," Coach Boyd said later. "It was embarrassing."

Maybe embarrassment was a good thing, however. It gave the Chippewas a spark. After utilizing a radically different offense for the first half, CMU adopted a pass-first scheme after the rushing game failed to provide continued results. Following a huge fumble recovery by Central Michigan, QB Cody Kater tore apart NIU's secondary and completed a 17-point comeback to take the lead with under a minute left to play. The defense held and CMU shocked the Huskies in front of a raucous Mt. Pleasant crowd, 47-43 F.

Where the defense failed, the offense came through in a big way. CMU outgained NIU 559 to 352 in total yards. Kater's 322 yards for 4 TD/0 INT performance paved the way for the huge win. Running back Zurlon Tipton accounted for 137 yards on 31 carries and 1 TD.

"It was the kind of win this program needed. We put ourselves out there, put everything on the line," Boyd said.

Asked about the win, Kater simply said, "I couldn't be happier."

CMU moves to 5-3 on the season (2-1 MAC) and heads into a bye week.

--- Key Leaders ---
C. Kater - 26/35 322 yards, 4TD, 0INT
Z. Tipton - 31 car, 137 yards, 1 TD
A. Flory - 4 rec, 47 yards, 2 TDs

J. Lynch - 8/15 45 yards, 1 TD
J. Lynch - 13 car, 159 yards, 4 TDs
A. Daniels - 9 car, 100 yards, 0 TDs, 2 rec, 22 yds

Full stats in the attached PDF.

[alifeincomplete]

"Embarrassing" Chippewas Fall to Rival Ball St.
Adam B. Fictitious | OSPN FBS Correspondent | November 2, 2013



Muncie, IN -- After two consecutive bye weeks following their comeback upset victory over Northern Illinois, the Central Michigan Chippewas (5-3; 3-1) headed down to Indiana to take on MAC rival Ball State (4-5; 2-3). The result is surely turning a lot of heads around the conference. Favored by ten points, CMU failed to produce all evening on the field and fell victim to a fearsome defensive effort that left the team without answers.

Ball State's pass rush blasted QB Cody Kater for five sacks, numerous hurries and knockdowns, and resulted in one interception on an ill-conceived cross-body throw as Kater scrambled for his life. The Cardinals offense lit up CMU's conference-leading defense, hanging 417 total yards on the Chippewas in a demoralizing 35-21 defeat.

"We didn't have a solution out there this afternoon. It was on every front ... thoroughly outplayed, outperformed, out-coached," Coach Boyd said following the loss that dropped the Chippewas to 5-4 on the season and 3-2 in MAC play.

"We made a lot of mistakes," Kater said in his brief interview. "I made a lot of mistakes out there. It wasn't a... it was a bad game. Not really a lot of different ways to put it."

While the score seems close on paper, it can be easily argued that it is a deceptive outcome. The game was never really close in observation; Ball State jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter and never looked back. Their offense, powered by sophomore RB Jahwan Edwards, played high-tempo, mistake-free football. Edwards accounted for the lion's share of play, 194 yards on the ground, including a game-opening 69 yard long on their first play, and two rushing touchdowns. He also caught 7 balls for 58 yards.

On CMU's opening drive, everything seemed to click as it did against NIU. They once again adopted a no-huddle, run-first scheme that featured a healthy dosage of RBs Zurlon Tipton and Saylor Lavallii. But the wheels came off in the red zone, where CMU failed to punch it in and then missed the subsequent field goal. A second drive met the same result -- a missed 43-yarder -- and the Cardinals capitalized to go ahead 14-0. With the running game contained, CMU turned to Kater to lead their comeback through the air. While he produced solid numbers on the stat line (27/45 330 yards 2 TDs, 1 INT), BSU's constant pressure broke the Chippewas' momentum often and resulted in multiple dead-end drives.

"It was frustrating," Kater said.

His coach echoed that sentiment: "Whenever we found some success in the passing game, we were shut down. We never got that consistency that you need to win football games against good teams. We couldn't do it out there today."

On his team's season-worst defensive showing? "Embarrassing," Coach Boyd said.

The loss may not affect the Chippewas too much in the long-run, assuming they can win out at least. The MAC West is by far the weaker division this year. If the season ended today, Central Michigan would play Kent State (8-1; 4-0) in the MAC Championship.

CMU has another tough test ahead next week as they take on their hated rival, Western Michigan, in Kalamazoo.

Full stats in attached PDF.

[alifeincomplete]

Central Michigan Defeats Western Michigan, 45-7
Anna Fiction | OSPN Online Contributor | November 16, 2013


Kalamazoo, MI -- In a frigid, snowy game, the hottest rivalry in the MAC lit up the night.

In a devastating display of offensive firepower, the Chippewas ripped apart their rival's defense. The snow was not enough to slow down CMU's surprisingly high-octane attack. The disparity between total offense? 475 yards to 183 in Central's favor. Cody Kater accounted for 2 touchdowns while the running back tandem of Zurlon Tipton and Saylor Lavallii accounted for 268 yards and 3 touchdowns.

"We really got going out there," Coach Boyd said. "... once we got into a groove, and everything went as we had schemed."

The Chippewas' defense rose to the occasion to effectively silence their as-of-late criticism. Three turnovers -- two picks and a fumble -- helped pave the way for a blowout. A dominating defensive line sacked Western quarterback Tyler van Tubbergen five times.

CMU's victory raises their bowl chances. Next week, they take on U Mass.

--- Key Leaders ---

T. Van Tubbergen - 16/31 147 yards 0 TD, 2 INT
D. Chance - 7 car, 25 yards
D. Braverman - 5 rec, 56 yards

C. Kater - 11/23 172 yards 2 TDs/0INT
Z. Tipton - 29 car, 151 yards, 2 TDs
S. Lavallii - 13 car, 117 yards, 1 TD

Full stats in PDF.

[alifeincomplete]

Chippewas Continue Winning Ways, Clobber U Mass
Chris Faketopia | OSPN Online Contributor | November 23, 2013


Mt Pleasant, MI -- In front of a frenzied home crowd, the Central Michigan Chippewas poured on the offense against an outmatched Massachusetts team. U Mass was unable to get CMU's offense off the field when they needed to early, and the Chippewas offense took advantage of the opportunities that their defense afforded them en route to a 41-17 win.

A high-powered passing attack engineered by junior quarterback Cody Kater accounted for three touchdowns. Senior running back Zurlon Tipton carried the ball 32 times for a season-high 210 yards.

U Mass QB Mike Wegzyn tried to mount a third quarter rally after U Mass returned the second half kick-off, but his efforts proved as futile as his rushing game. Wegzyn's option runs accounted for an embarrassing -56 yards on 11 carries. This strategy was quickly abandoned and Wegzyn made more attempts air it out, but the deficit was too great to overcome.

"When we started getting it going," Wegyzn said after the game, "it was just too late. A real [expletive deleted]-show."

Coach Jonathan Boyd of Central Michigan was more enthusiastic, citing his team's dominating defensive showcase and yet another forty point game: "We stepped up. Plain and simple. I'm proud. Cody [Kater] was lights-out and .... the defense, we came to play."

CMU (7-4) finishes their season next week at home against Eastern Michigan on Senior Day.


--- Key Leaders ---

C. Kater - 14/20 224 yards 3TDs/0 INT
Z. Tipton - 32 car, 210 cards, 1TD
T. Davis - 5 rec, 75 yards, 1 TD

M. Wegzyn - 23/36 244 yards, 1 TD/1 INT 11 car, -56 yards
L. Woodley - 7 car, 44 yards, 1 TD
R. Miller - 6 rec, 69 yards, 0 TD

Stats in PDF.

[alifeincomplete]

Chippewas Rout Eagles on Senior Day
Adam B. Fictitious | OSPN FBS Correspondent | November 30, 2013


Mt Pleasant, MI -- On Central Michigan's 2013 Senior Day, the Chippewas took on the Eastern Michigan Eagles... and it was never close. 45-7 at halftime, the game would go on to finish 66-14 in the absolute definition of a rout.

Junior QB Cody Kater played lights-out on the night, throwing 16/28 for 337 yards and 4 TDs without an interception. He, along with all the starters, was pulled in the late third quarter. Zurlon Tipton, senior star running back for CMU, left the game in the second quarter with bruised ribs. His return for next week is currently listed as probable. In his stead, Saylor Lavallii ran for 150 yards and two scores on 17 carries. Tight end Connor Odykirk only caught three receptions, but two of those were for touchdowns and he totaled 171 yards on the three deep grabs.

"It was a dominating performance, unlike we've had before," Coach Boyd stated in an online interview. "These are the types of games you wish you could play every week."

"A game where really everything went right," Kater said. "[We're] looking forward to next week."

EMU was nearly shutout in the first half save for a quick drive by junior QB Tyler Benz that resulted in a touchdown. Benz was harassed all game, and took an absolute pounding with 4 sacks. It wasn't until CMU benched their starting line-ups that EMU really showed any life on either side of the ball.

Following the win, CMU closes out their season 8-4 (6-2 in the MAC) and has earned a spot in the Mid-American Conference Championship next week against Kent State (9-3; 6-2 MAC) at Ford Field in Detroit. EMU finishes 5-7 (3-5 in the MAC). OSPN Bowl Projections indicate that CMU will play in the Little Caesar's Pizza Bowl against Indiana.

--- Key Leaders ---

C. Kater - 16/28 334 yards, 4 TDs/0INTs
S. Lavallii - 17 car, 150 yards, 2TDs
C. Odykirk - 3 rec, 171 yards, 2 TDs

T. Benz - 20/36 222 yards, 1 TD/0INT
B. Hill 10 car, 21 yards, 1 TD
D. Creel - 7 rec, 73 yards, 1 TD

Stats in PDF.

[alifeincomplete]

2013 MAC Championship

Ford Field - Detroit, MI - 12.6.13

vs.

[alifeincomplete]

Central Michigan University 2013-14 Schedule
DATE	OPPONENT	RESULT
Aug 31	at Michigan	Lost, 56-26
Sep 7	vs New Hampshire	Won, 21-0
Sep 14	at UNLV	Won, 42-21
Sep 21	vs Toledo	Won, 34-7
Sep 28	at North Carolina St	Lost, 28-21
Oct 5	at Miami (Ohio)	Won, 54-17
Oct 12	at Ohio	Lost, 23-20 (OT)
Oct 19	vs Northern Illinois (Homecoming)	Won, 47-43
Oct 26	vs BYE
Nov 6	at Ball State	Lost, 35-21
Nov 16	at Western Michigan	Won, 45-7
Nov 23	vs U Mass	Won, 41-17
Nov 29	vs Eastern Michigan	Won, 66-14
Dec 6	vs MAC Championship