Sports
8 | Friday, Nov. 22, 2013 | Central Michigan Life | cm-life.com
Against UMass, Enos most concerned with tight end Branchflower Much like New Hampshire, UNLV and Toledo, the Massachusetts offense also features two quarterbacks. Leading up to Saturday’s game against the Minutemen (1 p.m., ESPN3), that’s not what Central Michigan head coach Dan Enos is necessarily worried about. “That tight end, he hurt us last year,” Enos said, referring to Rob Branchflower. “They find a lot of different and good ways to get him the football. I’ve seen him a lot on tape this year. He’s a very good player.” While CMU (4-6, 3-3 MidAmerican Conference) was able
to pull away from UMass in the second half last year in Foxborough, it was Branchflower who proved to be a thorn in the Chippewas side. He had 10 catches for 100 yards, including an 8-yard touchdown reception that tied the game at 14 points with four seconds left in the second quarter. Branchflower, a fifth-year senior, has solidified himself as one of the premier tight ends in the MAC. He is second on the Minutemen in receiving yards (313 yards, three touchdowns) despite missing four games due to injury, with 851 yards total for his career. While he hasn’t experienced the success he probably would
Changes, challenges pay off for the Central Michigan defense By Aaron McMann Senior Reporter
What a difference 10 days make. Plus a couple of changes, and a different opponent. After Central Michigan laid an egg on national television against Ball State, missing tackles left and right and allowing the Cardinals to drive down the field at-will, the Chippewas defense put together one of their strongest performances of the season last Saturday in the 27-22 win over Western Michigan. “We were disappointed with the way we played (against Ball State),” said head coach Dan Enos. “We were embarrassed; we didn’t think we competed. We thought we were making very good strides on defense the three games before that, and we challenged our group. We challenged the coaches, we challenged the players every day at practice.” The result was a different looking secondary with redshirt freshman Tony Annese and junior Kevin King starting at secondary over Kavon Frazier and Jarret Chapman. Annese, making his first career start, responded with a thirdquarter interception that he returned 34 yards for a touchdown. King was second on the team with 10 tackles, while
have liked to — the Minutemen (1-9, 1-5 MAC) have only had one winning season since he arrived in 2010 — head coach Charley Molnar credits Branchflower’s leadership in the school’s transition to the Football Bowl Subdivision. “On the practice field, on the game field and even in meetings and everything he does, he sets such a great example for our younger players,” Molnar said. “Rob is a talented young man, but the talent only takes you so far. His attitude is really what sets him apart. “If you want to be recognized as one of the best players at your position, this is what it takes.” sports@cm-life.com
Turnovers a recurring problem By Jeff Papworth Staff Reporter
Annese had seven. Enos said both are expected to start again Saturday vs. Massachusetts (1 p.m., ESPN3). “It was a little competition thing, and we thought Tony deserved it,” said defensive coordinator Joe Tumpkin. “(We) thought him and Kevin deserved it when they finished up the Ball State game. We talked about it as a staff, and I went at that point and talked to Kavon and Jarret. “(We) made it a competition during the week and whoever came out would get it. I feel comfortable with any four of them playing for us right now.” Tumpkin always stresses the need for the CMU defense to eliminate “big plays” from the opposing offense, and the Chippewas were able to do that with their 4-2-5 zone defense. The Broncos reached the CMU red zone five times during the game, going four-for-five in scoring chances, but the CMU defensive limited them to three field goals. Corners Jason Wilson and Brandon Greer, who combined for 11 tackles and three pass breakups, had their best games of the season and credited the defensive line, particularly nose guard Leterrius Walton and backup defensive end Blake Serpa, who recorded a pass breakup himself and sack, to getting some pressure
Tony Annese
Kevin King
Jason Wilson
Brandon Greer
Leterrius Walton
Blake Serpa
on WMU quarterback Zach Terrell. “Most of your big plays in football are not over the top, they come in when you miss tackles,” Tumpkin said. “We made an effort last week to make sure we were running to the football, we were taking proper angles and I think that showed up on tape. “If a big run-play is given up, it’s not the front seven — the secondary’s involved with that. If there’s a big pass that’s given up, it’s not just the (defensive backs) — we didn’t get enough pressure up front. We try to make everybody on the field accountable and we try to minimize those things.” sports@cm-life.com
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Andrew Kuhn | File Photo Central Michigan head coach Dan Enos watches from the sidelines during the second half of an Oct. 6, 2012 game against Toledo at the Glass Bowl in Toledo, Ohio.
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The football team has had a problem with turnovers all season, and the issue came to the forefront in last weekend’s Western Michigan game. While many might want to put all the blame on redshirt freshman quarterback Cooper Rush, there is plenty to go around. Running backs — redshirt freshman Maurice Shoemaker-Gilmore and senior Zurlon Tipton — each fumbled the ball in their own territory against the Broncos, leading to nine points. “You put those guys in all sorts of practice situations that you can,” said head coach Dan Enos. “Fundamentally and technique-wise, we work on those things every day. It’s a lot different on game day. We’ve got to eliminate those things.” Discounting the interceptions thrown, Central Michi-
BY THE NUMBERS
By Aaron McMann Senior Reporter
gan would still not be on top the Mid-American Conference in fewest turnovers given up since it has fumbled the ball nine times this year. If you add Rush’s 14 interceptions and two by quarterback Alex Niznak, the Chippewas are tied for last in the MAC in giveaways with 25. While Enos continued to brush off Rush’s three interceptions against the Broncos, the first year quarterback said he has to do better, though he is improving. “I had to learn the hard way with a few things and I’m just making some bad decisions,” Rush said. “I think I’m getting a little better and I think we’ll improve and we’ll definitely get in better shape as far as turnovers.” The strategy by the coaching staff has been to slowly work the quarterback into the game. He had two short passes on CMU’s first drive against WMU, which ended
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The Chippewa quarterbacks have thrown 16 interceptions this season, led by redshirt freshman quarterback Cooper Rush. Rush has thrown 14 interceptions, one in every game he has appeared in except for New Hampshire. Redshirt sophomore Alex Niznak threw two in that New Hampshire game where Rush took over.
CMU has nine fumbles lost while fumbling the ball 14 times this season. Redshirt freshman Maurice ShoemakerGilmore has lost the ball twice in the last two games while senior Zurlon Tipton and sophomore Saylor Lavallii both have lost fumbles in the last two games as well.
with a touchdown to fullback Adam Fenton for 24 yards. The first evidence of the quarterback testing the waters came about three minutes into the second quarter when Rush had an overthrow that was within the grasp of a Bronco. In the second half, WMU made more of its opportunities. Rush threw eight times. Three of those throws were intercepted and another was dropped by the Broncos. Rush’s first interception was the result of a tipped pass and then another came on the next offensive play because of defensive holding, according to Enos. After his third interception, with about 10 minutes left in the game, CMU was willing to rely on the running backs and defense to hold onto a five-point lead without calling another pass play for the rest of the game. sports@cm-life.com
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The Chippewas have turned the ball over 25 times this year, which is tied for the most in the Mid-American Conference with Western Michigan. The team has a -10 turnover margin, which is the worst in the MAC and averages to one turnover per game.