Miami Football Travels to MAC West Contender Western Michigan Saturday
10/30/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 30, 2006
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MIAMI TRAVELS TO MAC WEST CONTENDER WESTERN MICHIGAN SATURDAY: Reeling from a string of heartbreaking league losses, Miami University's football team (1-8; 1-4) enters the final quarter of its season Saturday when it travels to Mid-American Conference West Division contender Western Michigan University (6-2; 4-1 MAC). The RedHawks suffered a 20-17 loss to Ball State last weekend, in which the Cardinals scored the game-winning touchdown with just 1:11 to play, while the Broncos rallied from a 15-3 fourth-quarter deficit to down Eastern Michigan, 18-15. The teams are meeting for just the third time since 1994.
SCOUTING THE BRONCOS: A resurgent program under second-year head coach Bill Cubit, Western Michigan enters the final three games of its league schedule in control of its MAC West Division destiny. The Broncos, who have won six of their last seven games, face West Division leader Central Michigan next week in a contest that could decide the division's representative in the MAC Championship game. Leading the Broncos is a big-play defense that returns nine starters from last season and which ranks 12th nationally in total defense. WMU ranks fourth in the MAC in scoring offense at 25.5 points per game.
SERIES HISTORY: Saturday marks the 55th meeting between Miami and Western Michigan, who first met in 1936 ... traditional MAC rivals for more than 50 years, scheduling has limited the RedHawks and Broncos to just two meetings since 1994, with Miami maintaining a 37-16-1 overall record and current two-game winning streak ... the teams last met in 2004, when Miami roughed up the Broncos, 42-21, in Kalamazoo ... the teams have previously met 26 times in Kalamazoo, with Miami owning a narrow 15-11 edge ... Western Michigan, which owned a 10-2-1 mark versus the Red and White from 1982-94, last downed Miami, 28-25, in 1994.
ON THE ROAD AGAIN: There is little rest for the road-weary RedHawks, who play at Western Michigan Saturday and at Bowling Green on Wednesday, Nov. 15. Since opening the season with two home dates in its first three contests, Miami has played four of its last six games on the road. The RedHawks, who are 1-4 on the road this season, close out the season with a Nov. 24 home game versus Ohio and look forward to 2007, when they host six regular-season home games for the first time in program history.
A FINE LINE: There has indeed been a fine line between winning and losing for Miami's football program since the start of MAC play. The RedHawks have lost four MAC games by a combined total of just 19 points or 4.75 points per game. Among those losses were a two-point loss to Kent State, a three-point loss to Northern Illinois and a three-point loss to Ball State. The RedHawks owned second-half leads in three of their four league losses and had an opportunity to tie Kent State, after rallying from a 16-0 deficit, when a late two-point conversion failed.
A ROUGH ROAD: Limping from a series of heartbreaking losses, Miami receives no respite over the final quarter of its schedule. Still awaiting the RedHawks are three MAC opponents in the midst of their respective division races, who own a combined record of 11-4 (.733). Both Western Michigan and Ohio, two of Miami's final three opponents, can clinch their respective division titles by winning out.
NEXT UP: Miami, which will have played on nine straight weekends following Saturday's game, receives some much-needed time off next week when it has 11 days to prepare for a mid-week clash against Bowling Green that is being carried by ESPN2. The RedHawks and Falcons kick off at 7:30 p.m. from BGSU's Perry Stadium on Wednesday, Nov. 15. Miami will seek to avenge a 42-14 loss to the Falcons last season.
MIAMI'S OFFENSE: Plagued by key injuries and struggles on the offensive line, Miami's offense, which has traditionally ranked among the top nationally under Shane Montgomery, has struggled in 2006 ... the RedHawks rank 25th nationally in passing offense (243.0 ypg) but have struggled on the ground, posting 82.9 ypg and ranking 105th nationally ... junior quarterback Mike Kokal, a mobile first-year starter, ranks 14th nationally and leads the MAC in total offense (250.1 ypg) ... senior wide receiver Ryne Robinson leads the MAC in both receptions (7.11) and receiving yards (91.2) per game.
WMU'S DEFENSE: Western Michigan features one of the nation's most imposing defenses, allowing just 272.8 yards of total offense per game and leading the MAC in both total defense and rushing defense (71.0 ypg) ... the Broncos, who have allowed just three opponents to top 20 points this season, lead the nation in interceptions (19) and rank second nationally in quarterback sacks (4.13) ... senior linebacker Ameer Ismail leads the nation with 14.0 quarterback sacks, while sophomore cornerback Londen Fryar leads the MAC with five interceptions.
NOT ADDING UP: While Miami's offense has had trouble translating possessions into points, it is not from a failure to move the ball. The RedHawks have had an edge in time of possession in eight of their nine games and have totaled more first downs than their opponent in each of the last eight games. Miami ranks ninth nationally in time of possession (32:33) and is averaging 19.0 first downs per game to rank second in the MAC.
MIAMI'S DEFENSE: Though very young with nine new starters from last season and eight redshirt and true freshmen on the two-deep, Miami's defense has been solid in 2006. The RedHawks enter the week ranked fifth in the MAC in total defense (317.2 ypg) ... the majority of the opposition's damage has been done on the ground, where the Red and White is allowing an uncharacteristic 4.6 yards per carry and 159.6 yards per game ... Miami's pass defense, which is permitting just 157.7 ypg, has not been tested often this season, as only Purdue has attempted more than 25 passes against the RedHawks ... Miami has forced 17 opponent turnovers, including 11 interceptions.
WMU'S OFFENSE: Western Michigan has not posted big yardage numbers but ranks fourth in the MAC in scoring offense at 25.5 points per game ... senior quarterback Ryan Cubit ranks fifth in the MAC in total offense at 204.8 ypg and is completing 65.6 percent of his passes ... junior running back Mark Bonds is second in the MAC in rushing at 98.9 yards per game ... Bonds has rushed for seven touchdowns and also has amassed 20 receptions ... the Broncos do not have a receiver averaging more than 4.0 catches per game.
TOUGH YARDS: While field position has put it in some tough spots in terms of scoring defense, Miami's defense has performed well in terms of yardage. The RedHawks have actually outgained three of their last four opponents and are allowing only 276.0 yards of offense over the last three games. No one has posted 400 yards of total offense on the RedHawks this season, and four opponents have been held under 300 yards. The 317.2 yards of total offense per game allowed by the RedHawks is actually Miami's lowest average since 1998.
MIAMI'S SPECIAL TEAMS: Miami returns its starting longsnapper, punter and holder from last season, leaving it with a veteran group of specialists ... true freshman place kicker Trevor Cook has converted seven-of-nine field goals on the year and has missed only once from inside of 50 yards ... sophomore kicker Nathan Parseghian took over Miami's kickoff duties versus Akron (Oct. 21) ... punter Jake Richardson is averaging 40.2 yards per punt ... led by dynamic punt returner Ryne Robinson, Miami ranks fourth in the MAC in punt returns.
WMU'S SPECIAL TEAMS: Senior Nate Meyers is the Broncos' starting place kicker and has converted on 11-of-16 attempts, including three from outside of 40 yards ... punter Jim Laney is averaging 38.2 yards per punt, but the Broncos rank 116th nationally in net punting (28.71) ... WMU is averaging 14.0 yards per punt return but have had just 11 punt returns ... the Broncos lead the MAC in kickoff coverage, allowing only 14.8 yards per return.
