Defense rights past mistakes

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Junior linebacker Nick Bellore said the blame on the previous two years’ losses to Eastern Michigan was on the defense.

It gave up a combined 104 points and 1,057 offensive yards in losing 56-52 last year and 48-45 the year before.

“All we had to do was play adequate defense and we win both of those games,” he said. “But we didn’t.”

Things turned out differently Saturday.

The starters held EMU’s offense to less than 150 yards and kept the Eagles out of the redzone. They were taken out late in the third quarter in the team’s 56-8 win Saturday at Kelly/Shorts Stadium.

On the opening three offensive drives for EMU, the defense held the Eagles to one first down. It set up the offense, which scored on its first three drives.

“We thought that was critical (getting early stops), and that was critical early,” said coach Butch Jones.

Senior quarterback Dan LeFevour said it helps when both sides of the ball are performing at a high level.

“At this point, the offense and the defense are feeding off each other,” LeFevour said. “Whether they get a stop to start the game or we score, I think that kind of energizes the team a little bit.”

Last season, the defense allowed 616 yards of total offense against EMU and were just 5-of-18 in stopping the Eagles on third downs, giving up 38 first downs. In 2007, the team gave up 441 yards of total offense and failed to stop the Eagles on their six fourth down opportunities. But Saturday, the team held EMU to 255 yards, 14 first downs and stopped 10-of-18 third down attempts.

“Finally, to play some good defense around here is really uplifting for our team,” Bellore said. “I think we gel a lot better as an entire team, not just offense, (but) defense, when we’re doing that.”

Bellore led with 10 tackles, two for a loss, and one sack. Freshman linebacker Kyle Zelinsky finished with seven tackles.

Season long trend

The win was somewhat of a microcosm of how the season has gone so far for the defense. Last season, the defense allowed an average of 30.2 points per game and the passing defense allowed 287.2 yards per game, second-worst in the nation. This season, the team’s defense is allowing 14.7 points per game, best in the MAC.

Bellore said he hopes to keep the play going into next week’s game against rival Western Michigan. Bellore had 13 tackles in last season’s 38-28 win against the Broncos in Mount Pleasant.

“You really feel the intensity in the air, I really can’t wait to play the game,” Bellore said. “They have a lot of great weapons on offense, we know that.”