2008 Woodie Awards
Home finale to Central
Senior reporter Brian Manzullo breaks down tonight's football game against Eastern Michigan.
By: Brian Manzullo
Issue date: 11/16/07 Section: Sports
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QUARTERBACKS
Sophomore Dan LeFevour showed greatness yet again last week when he led CMU to a game-winning touchdown over WMU. EMU's Andy Schmitt has thrown 13 touchdowns and just five interceptions, while also running for 219 yards.
ADVANTAGE: CMU. LeFevour has been dominant in Mid-American Conference play - the team is 13-1 against the conference when he starts.
RUNNING BACKS
Junior tailback Justin Hoskins gets the call for tonight, although he rushed for 49 yards against Western. Pierre Walker leads EMU with 690 yards and seven touchdowns on 183 carries.
ADVANTAGE: CMU. Hoskins should run on an EMU defense that gives up 192 rushing yards per game.
CMU OFFENSIVE LINE
VS. EMU DEFENSIVE LINE
The Chippewas' line finally broke last week when WMU sacked LeFevour three times. Eastern Michigan's line, led by senior Eric Young (four sacks), is second-to-last in sacks with just 16.
ADVANTAGE: CMU. Prior to Western, it had allowed no sacks in four games. It should return to that form.
EMU OFFENSIVE LINE
VS. CMU DEFENSIVE LINE
Senior Khalid Walton leads an Eagles offensive line that has allowed 15 sacks, fourth-fewest in the MAC. CMU's line has been better lately, allowing fewer holes for runners and putting pressure on quarterbacks.
ADVANTAGE: Even. Both units should see some sort of success.
CMU WIDE RECEIVERS
VS. EMU SECONDARY
Sophomore Bryan Anderson continues to impress, catching seven passes for 120 yards at WMU, including the 39-yard catch that set up CMU's winning touchdown. EMU's Ryan Downard is second in the MAC with six interceptions.
ADVANTAGE: CMU. EMU has been successful defending the pass, but Anderson and freshman Antonio Brown are two of the best receivers in the MAC.
EMU WIDE RECEIVERS
VS. CMU SECONDARY
Jacory Stone leads Eastern with 404 yards and three touchdowns on 40 receptions. CMU's pass defense continues to struggle, giving up 301.2 yards per game, by far a MAC-high.
ADVANTAGE: EMU. While its passing game numbers are not eye-popping, it should have success moving the ball.
SPECIAL TEAMS
CMU's Brown is third in the MAC with 27.8 yards per kick return, including a touchdown. Meanwhile, EMU's Dontayo Gage is sixth with 24.3 yards per kick return, including a touchdown.
ADVANTAGE: CMU. Brown has been an X-factor all season, but watch out for Gage, too.
COACHING
Butch Jones has led CMU to its second consecutive MAC West Division title in his first season as coach. Jeff Genyk is 12-33 in four seasons at EMU.
ADVANTAGE: CMU. Jones is 5-1 after a devastating 44-14 loss to North Dakota State and has continued the Chippewas' success.
PREDICTION
Eastern always wakes up for CMU, so it will look tougher than its 3-8 overall record shows. But the Chippewas should come out on top in their home finale.
Central 38, Eastern 28
Sophomore Dan LeFevour showed greatness yet again last week when he led CMU to a game-winning touchdown over WMU. EMU's Andy Schmitt has thrown 13 touchdowns and just five interceptions, while also running for 219 yards.
ADVANTAGE: CMU. LeFevour has been dominant in Mid-American Conference play - the team is 13-1 against the conference when he starts.
RUNNING BACKS
Junior tailback Justin Hoskins gets the call for tonight, although he rushed for 49 yards against Western. Pierre Walker leads EMU with 690 yards and seven touchdowns on 183 carries.
ADVANTAGE: CMU. Hoskins should run on an EMU defense that gives up 192 rushing yards per game.
CMU OFFENSIVE LINE
VS. EMU DEFENSIVE LINE
The Chippewas' line finally broke last week when WMU sacked LeFevour three times. Eastern Michigan's line, led by senior Eric Young (four sacks), is second-to-last in sacks with just 16.
ADVANTAGE: CMU. Prior to Western, it had allowed no sacks in four games. It should return to that form.
EMU OFFENSIVE LINE
VS. CMU DEFENSIVE LINE
Senior Khalid Walton leads an Eagles offensive line that has allowed 15 sacks, fourth-fewest in the MAC. CMU's line has been better lately, allowing fewer holes for runners and putting pressure on quarterbacks.
ADVANTAGE: Even. Both units should see some sort of success.
CMU WIDE RECEIVERS
VS. EMU SECONDARY
Sophomore Bryan Anderson continues to impress, catching seven passes for 120 yards at WMU, including the 39-yard catch that set up CMU's winning touchdown. EMU's Ryan Downard is second in the MAC with six interceptions.
ADVANTAGE: CMU. EMU has been successful defending the pass, but Anderson and freshman Antonio Brown are two of the best receivers in the MAC.
EMU WIDE RECEIVERS
VS. CMU SECONDARY
Jacory Stone leads Eastern with 404 yards and three touchdowns on 40 receptions. CMU's pass defense continues to struggle, giving up 301.2 yards per game, by far a MAC-high.
ADVANTAGE: EMU. While its passing game numbers are not eye-popping, it should have success moving the ball.
SPECIAL TEAMS
CMU's Brown is third in the MAC with 27.8 yards per kick return, including a touchdown. Meanwhile, EMU's Dontayo Gage is sixth with 24.3 yards per kick return, including a touchdown.
ADVANTAGE: CMU. Brown has been an X-factor all season, but watch out for Gage, too.
COACHING
Butch Jones has led CMU to its second consecutive MAC West Division title in his first season as coach. Jeff Genyk is 12-33 in four seasons at EMU.
ADVANTAGE: CMU. Jones is 5-1 after a devastating 44-14 loss to North Dakota State and has continued the Chippewas' success.
PREDICTION
Eastern always wakes up for CMU, so it will look tougher than its 3-8 overall record shows. But the Chippewas should come out on top in their home finale.
Central 38, Eastern 28
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