Bull Rush: Chippewas aim to continue success against first MAC East opponent Buffalo
The matchup: Central Michigan (2-4, 1-1 in MAC) vs. Buffalo (2-3, 0-1 in MAC)
Time: 1 p.m.
Date: Saturday, Oct. 19
Place: Kelly/Shorts Stadium
TV/Radio: ESPN3
Coaches: Lance Leipold (UB), 2-3, first season vs. John Bonamego (CMU), 2-4, first season
With its toughest opponents in the rearview mirror, the Central Michigan football team is ready to rough up some competition from the other side of the Mid-American Conference.
Members of the MAC West Division, the Chippewas (2-4, 1-1 in MAC) are set to play their first game against a MAC East opponent this season when they take on the Buffalo Bulls (2-3, 0-1 MAC) at 1 p.m. on Saturday at Kelly/Shorts Stadium.
“They’re a good football team,” said Head Coach John Bonamego. “They’re improved from a year ago. It was an impressive showing at Penn State for them. And then to hold Bowling Green to that low (offensive numbers) in their last game is a great sign for them.”
CMU is 9-0 against MAC East teams since 2012 and has beaten Buffalo in the last four matchups. CMU leads the all-time series 6-1.
Last season, MAC West teams finished 30-18 overall while teams from the East combined for a 21-33 record. This season, MAC West teams are 15-19 overall while the teams east of Toledo have posted an 18-22 mark.
CMU handed the Bulls a 20-14 loss in Upstate New York during 2014.
The Chippewas are coming off a 41-39 loss to rival Western Michigan in Kalamazoo last week. The Bulls were on a bye in Week 6 following a 28-22 loss to defending MAC East Champion Bowling Green.
Junior quarterback Cooper Rush and UB senior passer Joe Licata are the third and fifth-best quarterbacks in the MAC, respectively. Rush is averaging 259.2 yards passing per game, while Licata has 248.4 yards passing per game.
Licata has 1,242 yards and seven touchdowns, completing 117 of his 186 attempts this season. He became the first UB quarterback to throw for more than 300 yards in back-to-back games two weeks ago against Bowling Green.
Both Rush and Licata lead offenses that rank in the top third in the MAC in red zone efficiency.
CMU might want to think twice about trying to steal extra yards at the end of a drive. Opponents have attempted to convert fourth downs on Buffalo’s defense 11 times and were successful just three times.
The Bulls held BGSU quarterback and MAC-leader in passing yards Matt Johnson to just one touchdown through the air and his team’s lowest point total this season.
UB’s two wins came against Albany during Week 1 and Florida Atlantic during Week 3.
Saturday’s meeting is only the second between Buffalo and CMU in Mount Pleasant and the first since 2008.
It will also be the last Saturday home game for senior leaders like center Nick Beamish.
“Man, the time flies,” he said. “It’s exciting.”
Beamish said after committing a season-high eight penalties for 75 yards in Kalamazoo, the Chippewas have become hyper-focused on cutting down on mental mistakes.
“Everyone has been really keyed into the meetings this week,” he said. “Basic education is huge. We start off slow in a game and it affects that whole half. We’ve gotta keep executing. If we do that, we should be alright.”
