Football ready for tenacious MAC opponent Buffalo
Of the 12 teams in the Mid-American Conference, Buffalo is ranked No. 5 in total offense. Meanwhile, the Central Michigan football team is just one spot from the bottom.
Buffalo also has the MAC sack leader in defensive end Chuck Harris, going hand-in-hand with linebacker LeDarius Mack, brother of NFL star Khalil Mack.
The Chippewas (1-4) are in dire need of a conference win. Head coach John Bonamego looks at the game against the Bulls (4-1) at noon on Oct. 6 at Kelly/Shorts Stadium as an opportunity to put CMU on the map.
"When you lose, you die a little bit inside. When you win, you're reborn," Bonamego said. "It's early in the season, and there's a lot of football to be played. We have to start playing better now."
Bonamego said the Chippewas have shown him a consistent improvement since Week 1. Coming off a 31-20 loss to Michigan State a week ago, the fourth-year coach believes CMU is closer than ever to emerging.
With a fully healthy offensive line and a solid quarterback in junior Tommy Lazzaro, the run game remains a question.
For the fourth-straight week, during the designated media availability time, star running back Jonathan Ward declined an interview with Central Michigan Life.
At 6-foot, 202 pounds, Ward has yet to find the end zone as a running back or receiver. He has 60 carries for 182 yards through five games, an average of just three yards per carry.
Bonamego believes Ward is just one play away from a stellar performance, but he noted the entire offense must execute.
"Jonathan Ward is only one man," Bonamego explained. "It's going to take some other people around him to make plays. That's started to happen with Julian Hicks, JaCorey Sullivan and Brandon Childress."
Lazzaro, under center for the Chippewas, went as far to say Ward will have a breakout performance this weekend.
"Ward is going to have a great game," Lazzaro said. "I think there's a lot of things we have to open things up for him."
In CMU's loss to the Spartans, Lazzaro was 19-of-39 for 153 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. He added 11 carries for 32 yards.
The junior took complete responsibility for the mistakes and hopes to turn his play around to start a streak of seven-straight conference games.
Buffalo held Delaware State to 10 points on Sept. 1 and Rutgers to 12 points on Sept. 22. Besides those two games, the Bulls have allowed an average of 33 points.
Despite struggles against Temple, Eastern Michigan and Rutgers, Lazzaro is not taking the Buffalo lightly due to its impressive 4-1 record.
"They are a great defense and have physicality," Lazzaro said. "It's going to be a test for us."
Buffalo's playmakers on offense are near the top of the MAC. Junior quarterback Tyree Jackson is 88-of-150 through the air for 1204 yards, 16 touchdowns and three interceptions. However, he is one dimensional, only running the ball twice.
The run game is led by freshmen Kevin Marks and Jaret Patterson. The duo have combined for 477 yards and nine scores.
Senior Anthony Johnson, junior K.J. Osborn and freshman Charlie Jones – three wide receivers – are Buffalo's greatest offensive strength. Johnson is currently listed as day-to-day, but he is expected to at least get some time against the Chippewas.
Defensive backs coach Cory Hall is preparing his secondary – cornerbacks Sean Bunting and Xavier Crawford and safeties Alonzo McCoy and Devonni Reed – for all the Bulls are going to bring to the table.
Hall said the game plan is for the Chippewas to play their game and make plays. Then, it is up to the offense.
"Sean, Xavier and Devonni are going to compete," Hall said. "They are scouting us like we are scouting them. Nothing is going to change. We will play up, as we should every Saturday."
Losing 24-16 against MAC opponent Northern Illinois in Week 3, Bonamego's group is ready to make their mark before it's too late.
"Our margin of error is running short for us to accomplish our goals," Bonamego said. "Everything is in front of us."
