Football loses two receivers to injury in preparation for Syracuse


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Senior tight end Tyler Conklin watches warmups before the football game against Rhode Island on Aug. 31 at Kelly/Shorts Stadium.

Playing back-to-back games against Power Five conference teams doesn't make a difference in how Central Michigan football prepares for a game, said head coach John Bonamego.

“We have a good weekly routine that enables us to get our work in,” the third-year coach said. “We also take players' health into consideration. We already have measures built in terms of when we lift, how hard we train and which days we push them or back off. 

“Everything is about routine. If you disrupt that routine, adjustments have to be made like playing on a short week or having a longer prep time.”

CMU (2-0) is coming off its first road win of the year Sept. 9 against Kansas. The Chippewas head to New York to take on Syracuse at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 16 in the Carrier Dome. 

Since 1999, Syracuse beat CMU in all of its three meetings.

Injury Report

Senior wide receiver Corey Willis suffered a fractured hand after coming into contact with a Kansas player's helmet while being tackled. Bonamego said Willis will likely be out for four weeks.

Sophomore wide receiver Brandon Childress has an ACL tear and will be out for the rest of the season, Bonamego said. 

"(Childress) has some significant damage that will require surgery," Bonamego said. "He has worked really hard and he was starting to emerge as a playmaker."

There will be an update on Tyler Conklin's broken foot on Sept. 18. He is scheduled for a medical appointment to find out if more treatment is needed. Bonamego is hopeful Conklin will return this season, saying the tight end is out of a boot and walking. 

"With that particular injury, we want to be very mindful and cautious," Bonamego said. "We do not want to push him back into action before he is ready."

Playing Indoors

Any football game played inside a dome has a different atmosphere compared to games played in traditional outdoor facilities, Bonamego said.

This is Bonamego’s second trip to the Carrier Dome as CMU's coach and he knows how loud it can be. This week at practice, the team has been doing drills with fan noise playing in the background to try and simulate the feel of an indoor game.

Bonamego said preparing for the Carrier Dome has its difficulties.

“Because (the stadium is) not air conditioned, that place can heat up quickly. We found that out when we played there in 2015,” Bonamego said.

“It’s a tough place to play just because of the way the it is built. They have a passionate fan base. We have to be prepared to handle our communication.”

Morris takes strides

Quarterback Shane Morris had a career game against the Jayhawks, leading the offense down the field constantly throughout the contest.

The University of Michigan transfer connected with seven different receivers, completing 28-of-37 passes for 467 yards and five touchdowns.

“It felt good to have a good day offensively because we executed what we did in practice all week,” Morris said. “The offensive line did a great job, the receivers did a great job getting open and making plays with the ball in their hands. It makes it much easier for me. I just have to get it to them and they do the rest.”

His standout performance last Saturday showed his relationship with his receivers is growing.

“The chemistry with the quarterbacks and receivers is always really important," Bonamego said. "The more guys play or practice with each other, the more it develops over time." 

What to know about Syracuse

The Orange (1-1) are coming off their first loss of the season against Middle Tennessee State, 30-23. This came after a blowout 50-7 win in week one against Central Connecticut State.

Syracuse is in the Atlantic Coast Conference, with their last meeting against the Chippewas resulting in a 30-27 overtime win in 2015.

Both teams feature fast-paced offensive attacks. Phil Steele with ESPN said Syracuse is second in the nation with 93 plays per game and CMU is ranked at sixth with 88.


"They present you with a lot of challenges schematically. It will take a great effort for us to go in there and beat them,” Bonamego said.

CMU seems to have the advantage on defense compared to the Syracuse offense, as the Orange are shuffling between three quarterbacks to become the starter. The CMU secondary has eight interceptions on the year.

Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. Saturday. The game is being televised on the ACC Network, an ESPN Network affiliate.

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