Scouting Report: Streaking Ohio Bobcats host CMU football
Freshman quarterback Tony Poljan throws the football during the game against Miami Ohio on Sept. 23 in Kelly/Shorts Stadium.
Three-straight losses hover over the Central Michigan football team (2-3 overall, 0-1 Mid-American Conference) as they try to even up their MAC record against Ohio (4-1, 1-0) this Saturday.
A season ago, the Chippewas defeated the Bobcats 27-20 at Kelly/Shorts stadium.
In Peden Stadium, head coach John Bonamego said what happened last year has no barring on this seasons matchup.
“Every team is different and is comprised of individual people,” Bonamego said. “If you change one person in a group, you change the dynamic of how it functions. We’re a different team, Ohio’s a different team and we just need to prepare for a new game.”
The last meeting between the two programs at Peden Stadium in Athens, Ohio resulted in a 26-23 victory for CMU in 2013. The last time the Bobcats beat CMU at home was in 2000.
Last weekend, Ohio won in a shootout against UMass 58-50 on the road getting them to four wins on the campaign. Their only loss came in week two against Purdue 44-21. The game on Oct. 7 is the Bobcats homecoming.
Rourke’s passing attack
Ohio sophomore quarterback Nathan Rourke has been almost perfect this season. He has thrown seven touchdown passes and zero interceptions in five games.
In 2017, he’s completed 65-of-104 passes for 813 yards, good for a 78.6 quarterback rating.
CMU’s defense continues to lead the nation with nine interceptions this year.
Against the pass, the Chippewas have allowed 237.6 yards per game and eight total touchdowns on the season.
Rourke rushed for 113 yards on 16 keepers and scored two touchdowns last week.
Turnover battle
Ohio has six total turnovers as a defense with three interceptions and three fumble recoveries.
Last week, CMU had three turnovers off the left arm of quarterback Shane Morris.
“Besides the Kansas game, we have been the one’s hurting ourselves,” Bonamego said. “It's penalties, missing assignments, giving up big plays in the kicking game and turnovers.
“We have the potential to be a very good football team, but until we stop making those mistakes it'll be more of the same.”
CMU has turned the ball over 13 times this season (eight interceptions, five fumbles) while the Bobcats only have four fumbles on the year.
The Chippewas' opponents have scored 34 points off turnovers this season.
Slowing the linebackers
The upperclassmen in the middle of the Bobcats defense has been their strong suit so far this season.
Senior linebacker’s Quentin Poling and Chad Moore have combined for 38 tackles on the season, while junior Evan Croutch leads the team with 2.5 sacks and 3.5 tackles for loss.
Last week, Poling had nine solo tackles and added 10 assists against UMass.
In 2017, CMU has allowed five sacks for a loss of 28 yards, while totaling 102 lost yards in the rushing game.
Poling currently ranks No.3 in the MAC in tackles per game with CMU’s Alex Briones right behind him at No. 6.
CMU and Ohio collide at 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 7 at Peden Stadium in Athens, Ohio.
