The Miami University RedHawks (3-4, 2-1 in Mid-American Conference (MAC) play) will stay at Yager Stadium this weekend against the Central Michigan University Chippewas (3-4, 1-2 in MAC play) on Oct. 26 in their third conference showdown.
The RedHawks are coming off back-to-back wins, and the team that struggled mightily to move the ball offensively now has two consecutive 30+ point performances. The offense averaged 8.3 points per game in their first three games, and the progress Miami made has given it a shot of momentum.
The ground game has been led by emergent senior running back Keyon Mozee. After starting the season averaging less than seven carries a game, he has 100 or more rushing yards in three of the last four games along with two touchdowns.
The offense was the highlight in last week’s 30-20 win over the rival Ohio University Bobcats in the 100th edition of the Battle of the Bricks. Sixth-year quarterback Brett Gabbert had three touchdowns on 14 of 21 passing for 178 yards.
In his last four games, Gabbert has nine touchdowns and two interceptions and has looked more like the man who was named preseason first-team All-MAC.
Gabbert, who is second in the MAC in passing yards, along with three receivers in the top 15 in receiving yards in the MAC, has made what was once a moribund unit spring to life.
Central Michigan looks to rebound after blowing a 34-16 fourth-quarter lead against Eastern Michigan en route to a 38-34 loss.
Redshirt junior quarterback Joe Labas, a University of Iowa transfer, went down for the season on Oct. 12. Backup quarterbacks Bert Emanual Jr. and Tyler Jefferson combined for 98 passing yards on five of 12 attempts against the Eagles.
The Chippewas, the MAC’s current leader in total yards per game, will likely continue to rotate the two quarterbacks and rely on a rushing attack that combined for 285 yards on 45 carries against Eastern Michigan.
Last week’s loss was the Chippewas’ second in a row, with both losses being less than one score.
Central Michigan’s offense against the Miami defense will be a key matchup, as the RedHawks’ middle-of-the-pack rushing defense will be tasked with defending against a rushing attack that is second in the MAC in yards per game.
Especially with the loss of Labas, the key for the RedHawks will be in stopping the run game and forcing a lackluster quarterback situation to step up for the Chippewas.
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Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m.
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