CMU football team begins second three-game road trip of season

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Ball State marks the first stop of the Central Michigan football team’s second three-game road trip of the season at 2 p.m. Saturday at Scheumann Stadium in Muncie, Ind.

CMU hopes to have more success on this trip after finishing the last one 0-3 with losses coming against Kentucky, Western Michigan and Michigan State.

“We can’t worry about that,” said junior safety Jahleel Addae. “The only thing we can do is travel to the destinations they give us and go out and play Chippewa football.”

The Chippewas are coming off a 35-28 loss to Eastern Michigan Saturday in which the Eagles rushed for 350 yards to crash CMU’s homecoming.

“Ball State is very similar in they have got two backs and two tight ends and they pound the ball,” said head coach Dan Enos. “The only difference is (their quarterback) isn’t as good on the run, but he’s a better passer.”

Quarterback Keith Wenning, whose 184.1 yards per game ranks eighth in the Mid-American Conference, leads the Cardinal offense.

Quarterback Ryan Radcliff is ranked third in the conference, averaging 249.7 yards per game and throwing almost twice as many touchdowns as Wenning.

Radcliff has thrown to 17 different players this season. His favorite targets have been Cody Wilson (35 receptions), Jerry Harris (21 receptions) and David Blackburn (17 receptions), though freshman Titus Davis and Courtney Williams have stepped up as of late.

“Titus and Courtney and Anthony Garland; they’re taking some of the load off the older guys and giving us some more depth,” Radcliff said. “The team is really rallying together.”

The young offense looks to rip through a BSU defense that ranks last in the MAC in total defense and pass defense. Its rush defense ranks 12th and its points allowed per game ranks 10th.

“We’re going to take the same mindset,” Enos said. “We’re going to try and run the ball and keep our defense off the field as much as we can. We try to be balanced and at the end of the day, you’ve got to run the ball.”

BSU came out on top of the last meeting, pulling out a 31-17 victory. CMU looks to win its fourth-straight game in Muncie, the last one coming in 2009 via a 35-3 beating.

All-time, CMU leads the series 22-20-1 against the Cardinals.

Injuries

As previously injured players are working their way into the lineup, CMU continues to be hit with roster inconsistency.

Senior running back Paris Cotton is a game time decision after suffering an injury that held him to four touches against EMU.

“(Cotton) didn’t look very good yesterday, but he looked much better today,” Enos said at practice Wednesday. “I’d say he’s probable to questionable right now.”

Garland and sophomore Tim Phillips would earn the call on the majority of carries if the senior is unable to suit up. Enos said Garland is looking to erase his previous performance.

“I thought Anthony Garland didn’t play as well last week as he has,” he said. “That’s just what’s going to happen when you’re dealing with young guys. Anthony is chomping at the bit to play this Saturday — he’s not happy with how he played last week.”

The linebacker core has been the most banged-up position this season for the Chippewas, though senior Armond Staten, junior Alex Smith and freshman Cody Lopez will all be back in the lineup this week.

Senior captain Mike Petrucci will be sidelined and Enos said his injury is going to be evaluated week by week.

Placekicker Connor Gagnon suffered an injury to his foot last week and Enos has ruled him out against BSU, leaving the kickoff responsibilities to David Harman, who has handled the field goal kicking this season.

Enos didn’t have much to say about the players whose statuses have recently changed with the program.

“(Staten) is back, I think he’s listed as the two (at linebacker),” Enos said. “Jake Bentley has left the team and Cedric Fraser is not practicing with us right now.”