Central Michigan University hosts Toledo in big football game on national TV

It doesn’t get much bigger than Central Michigan’s Mid-American Conference home football game this Tuesday night against Toledo, to be broadcast on ESPN2, starting at 8 p.m.

CMU, Toledo and Northern Illinois are tied for second place in the MAC West Division at 4-1, while first-place Western Michigan (5-0) has three tough games still ahead vs. Bowling Green, Northern Illinois and Toledo.

“If you’re a competitor, the bigger the game, the bigger the stage, the more fun it is,” CMU coach John Bonamego told cmuchippewas.com about Tuesday’s game. “It’s a tremendous opportunity. This is the biggest game we’ve had in (Kelly/Shorts) Stadium in awhile. I don’t have to say much to (my players). They’re aware. They know the magnitude of this game.”

The Chippewas are 5-4 overall with a three-game winning streak and are coming off a bye, while Toledo (7-1) was undefeated and ranked 20th nationally before losing 32-27 to Northern Illinois last Tuesday.

“Obviously (Toledo is) an outstanding football team,” Bonamego told the Daily News during a teleconference last week. “I don’t see a team that has a lot of weaknesses. They have a great defense, an explosive offense, and a very sound kicking game.

“They’re well-coached, athletic, big and strong. They’re built for the long haul,” Bonamego added. “(Toledo coach) Matt (Campbell) has done a fantastic job there.”

The Rockets, in fact, will be the best rushing team that the Chippewas will have faced so far, averaging 223 yards per game on the ground, led by sophomore running back Terry Swanson (5-10, 202) with 103 ypg and junior back Kareem Hunt (6-0, 225) with 98 ypg. Both have run for five touchdowns, as has junior Damion Jones-Moore (56 ypg).

Quarterback Phillip Ely complements that rushing attack with an average of 234 passing yards a game, with 16 TD passes and nine interceptions.

Corey Jones, Alonzo Russell and Cody Thompson combine to average 162 receiving yards per game, with four TD catches each.

The Chippewas’ defense should give Toledo a run for its money. CMU leads the MAC in fewest total yards allowed per game (317) and fewest passing yards allowed per game (182).

CMU has allowed only one 100-yard receiver and two 100-yard rushers. Safety Kavon Frazier, linebacker Tim Hamilton and defensive lineman Blake Serpa have all been named MAC West Defensive Player of the Week this season.

Frazier leads the Chippewas with 76 total tackles. He and Serpa each have two forced fumbles, while safety Tony Annese has two interceptions.

“We’ve got good depth. Our scheme suits our personnel,” Bonamego said. “(Defensive coordinator) Greg Colby and the rest of our defensive coaches have done a fantastic job.

They’re not asking kids to do things they can’t do.”

Meanwhile, junior quarterback Cooper Rush has been the story all season for the CMU offense.

Rush (6-3, 227) has thrown for 2,626 yards and 20 touchdowns with eight interceptions, averaging 292 passing yards a game.

He ranks in the top 11 nationally in passing yards, TD passes, completions per game, and completion percentage (69 percent).

Rush became the first CMU quarterback to throw four TD passes in back-to-back games, doing so against Western Michigan on Oct. 10 and Buffalo on Oct. 17.

One key to Rush’s effectiveness has been his distribution. Seven players have caught at least 13 passes for CMU, led by senior wide receiver Jesse Kroll with 43 catches and 63 receiving yards a game. Kroll and senior tight end Ben McCord both have four scoring catches.

The Chippewas have also spread out the carries in their running game. Junior Jahray Hayes averages 41 yards a game and is one of four players averaging at least 23 yards per game.

But the ground game is a weakness for CMU, which is being outgained 135 yards to 97 yards on average on the ground.

Toledo’s defense is allowing only 18.3 points per game. Chase Murdock has 58 total tackles and Chaz Whittaker and Rolan Milligan each have two interceptions for the Rockets.

NOTES:

• A win over Toledo would make CMU bowl-eligible for the fourth straight year.

• After Tuesday, the Chippewas visit Kent State (3-6) on Wednesday, Nov. 18 and finish the regular season at home vs. Eastern Michigan (1-9) on Friday, Nov. 27.