UB faces big test vs. champs
Dual threat LeFevour leads Central Mich.
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. — Finally, five weeks into a football season, we can get down to learning more about the University at Buffalo.
So far the Bulls’ script for the season has gone predictably, with them winning games against UTEP and Temple and losing at Pittsburgh and Missouri.
Now, with a trek to Central Michigan for a meeting this afternoon against the two-time defending Mid- American Conference champion, maybe there will be some conclusions to draw about a team that began the season dripping in optimism: 18 returning starters, an East Division co-championship and a 5-7 record.
There isn’t a better test than going against the team picked by many as the one to beat in the MAC this season, but UB coach Turner Gill prefers not to measure his team against others.
“We’re more concerned about what we need to do,” he said. “We need to get better in our execution on certain things and if we continue to do that, we’ll have a great opportunity to win ballgames. If you don’t improve each week, that’s when things don’t go your way.”
In Central Michigan (2-2, 1-0), the Bulls’ defense faces another potential headache with the spread offense, and the Chippewas have one of the premier players in the country at the controls in dual-threat quarterback Dan LeFevour.
“We have to go out there and execute and practice whatever the coach calls,” said junior free safety Mike Newton, who will lead the Bulls (2-2, 1-0) against the Chippewas at Kelly/Shorts Stadium (4 p. m., Radio 1230 AM). “It helps that we’ve seen the spread before and [LeFevour] runs a little bit more so that should help us out.”
The Chippewas run a spread option version of the offense that differs from Missouri’s pass-happy attack under Heisman Trophy candidate Chase Daniel. Despite the multireceiver sets, the spread option is a run-first scheme that requires a quarterback who is comfortable carrying the ball, a mobile offensive line that can pull and trap effectively, and receivers who can hold their blocks.
Few quarterbacks run it with better precision than LeFevour, a 6- foot-3, 230-pound junior who ranks eighth nationally in total offense. LeFevour averages 279.8 yards passing and leads CMU in rushing with 218 yards.
“He’s their leading rusher and he will take off and run,” Gill said. “They also have designed run plays for him so that’s the added dimension. We have to prepare for a guy who will take off running plus he can extend plays.”
LeFevour is similar in style to Temple’s Adam DiMichele, who generated 336 yards of total offense and three touchdowns in the Bulls’ 30-28 win over the Owls two weeks ago.
“He has more of a run mentality,” Gill said of LeFevour. “He wants to run, he loves to run, he loves to throw too, but he has that added dimension.”
It should be a good test for the Bulls’ run defense, which ranks No. 1 in the league and 40th nationally (108.3 ypg). But the Bulls are struggling against the pass and rank 12th in the MAC and 112th nationwide. Yet if the Missouri game proved anything it’s that the Bulls’ secondary, especially Newton and sophomore strong safety Davonte Shannon, can lay out the hits.
“They’re very, very physical and I really like their secondary and their linebackers run downhill,” Central Michigan coach Butch Jones said. “It’s going to be a great challenge for us.”
Last week, Central Michigan appeared on the verge of upsetting Purdue but ended up losing, 32-25, when the Boilermakers scored a touchdown with a minute remaining.
“It’s time to move on,” LeFevour said. “Buffalo doesn’t feel sorry for us, I guarantee that.”
The Bulls received good news with the possible return of junior tailback James Starks. The former Niagara Falls High star was listed as doubtful on Tuesday because of a hip injury that caused him to miss last week’s 42-21 loss at Missouri. Starks, who suffered the injury against Temple, was able to practice this week.
While Starks will likely start, sophomore Brandon Thermilus and junior Mario Henry are still expected to see playing time at tailback.
