Brown’s explosive plays lead football attack

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Once junior wide receiver Antonio Brown saw open field ahead of him, he knew he would not be touched.

Brown fielded a punt at CMU’s 25-yard line, sprinted right, then cut upfield with space around him.

“As soon as I saw the open field, as soon as I saw that lane straight ahead, I knew it was pretty much a wrap,” Brown said.

And 75 yards later, Brown was celebrating in the south endzone in front of the student section.

It was not the first big-yardage play Brown had in Saturday’s 56-8 CMU win at Kelly/Shorts Stadium. On CMU’s first possession, Brown caught a screen pass at the line of scrimmage. After following the block of right guard Allen Ollenburger, Brown broke away from everyone. The screen pass went for 70 yards and a touchdown.

Coming into Saturday’s game, Brown had only four touchdowns of 70 yards or more. Last year, he had a 79-yard touchdown reception against Indiana and a 75-yard punt return against Ohio. In 2007, Brown’s freshman year, he had a 76-yard touchdown reception in the Motor City Bowl against Purdue, and also returned a kick 90 yards against Northern Illinois.

Coach Butch Jones said the team failed to create big plays last week against Buffalo, but did well today.

“Antonio did a great job once he got the ball in his hands,” he said. “I thought we blocked well down the field. When you don’t have explosive plays, you got to play perfect, and that’s extremely hard to do.”

With Brown making plays in space, CMU did not have to play perfect.

“You put it in some playmakers’ hands, and things are going to happen,” said senior quarterback Dan LeFevour. “Those are probably my favorite passes, when I throw it 0 yards and they go 75.”

Jones said Brown’s play benefits much more than the offense.

“He means a lot to our football team,” he said. “Again, in the return games on offense, but also in the field position game. He helps our defense, because he can flip field position.”

Brown town

When Brown arrived in the south endzone to conclude his 75-yard punt return touchdown, he ran in front of a sign on the left side of the student section. It read “Brown Town,” in appreciation of CMU’s wide receiver.

It was not a coincidence that Brown ended up in that section of the endzone, Brown said.

“I kind of love them,” he said. “They really support Antonio, so I try to take it right in front of them.”