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RedHawks must match Chippewas offense
Quarterbac LeFevour keys CMU's explosive attack.
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Friday, November 30, 2007
OXFORD — The main problem as the Miami RedHawks see it is keeping up with Dan LeFevour.
They don't really expect to prevent the Central Michigan quarterback, the Mid-American Conference Offensive Player of the Year, from doing his thing in today's MAC Championship Game.
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The RedHawks can only hope they can do it back to the Chippewas.
"They have one of the most explosive offenses, if not the most explosive offense, in the conference, and the most talented offensive player in the conference in LeFevour," Miami head coach Shane Montgomery said.
"Their defense has given up some points and yards. The key for us this week will be to score points," Montgomery said. "We cannot settle for a lot of field goals. This (Central Michigan) is an offense that, I don't know if we can stop them. We'll have to slow them down."
Central Michigan's 6-foot-3, 226-pound sophomore quarterback can do it all. LeFevour ranks sixth in the nation in total offense. As a thrower, he has completed 66.1 percent of his passes for 3,175 yards and 22 touchdowns. As a runner, he has gained 838 yards and 15 touchdowns while averaging a league-best 6.2 yards per carry.
He is the ultimate reason the Chippewas have scored fewer than 34 points just once in their last eight games.
"The most glaring statistic for them is that they are last in the league in time of possession but first in scoring, which means they are a very explosive offense," Montgomery said.
CMU has other threats. Junior transfer Justin Hoskins has run for 649 yards and 10 touchdowns. Walk-on freshman Antonio Brown has 92 receptions for 879 yards and five touchdowns. Sophomore wide receiver Bryan Anderson has hauled in 78 catches for 969 yards and seven touchdowns.
"They like to control the tempo," Montgomery said. "They're a fast-paced, no-huddle offense.
They like to run the ball first," he added, "they like to spread it out, and they like to get the quarterback involved in their running game."
Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2197 or pconrad@coxohio.com.
Saturday's game
Who: Miami RedHawks (6-6, 4-2 MAC East) vs. Central Michigan Chippewas (7-5, 4-1 MAC West) in MAC Championship Game
When: 11 a.m.
Where: Ford Field, Detroit
Radio: WMOH-AM (1450), WFTK-FM (96.5), WONE-AM (980)
TV: ESPN2
Series: Miami leads 11-9-1 (Central Michigan won the last meeting 38-37 in Oxford, Sept. 10, 2005)
