We got more midweek #MACtion on tap for this week with our trio of programs this week, including the latest chapter of a long rivalry.
EASTERN MICHIGAN EAGLES at CENTRAL MICHIGAN CHIPPEWAS
RECAP: Eastern Michigan (3-6, 1-4 MAC) finally broke through with a dominating performance against Ball State last week, snapping a six-game losing skid. Central Michigan (5-4, 3-2 MAC), meanwhile, outscored rival Western Michigan 21-0 in the fourth quarter to steal a victory over the Broncos last week.
UP NEXT: The two teams now renew a rivalry and meet for a 96th time on Wednesday. Central holds a rather commanding 59-29-6 advantage. But EMU won last year’s meeting at home, snapping a four-game winning streak in the series for the Chippewas. The Eagles have not won in Mount Pleasant since 2011.
A win for CMU will earn them the annual Michigan MAC Trophy, which has resided in Kalamazoo for the last three seasons. The Chips will also become bowl-eligible for a fourth consecutive season (fifth time in six years) with a victory.
PLAYERS TO WATCH: With a prolific performance tonight, EMU quarterback Brogan Roback could become the school’s all-time leader in a) passing touchdowns, b) total offense, c) passing yards and d) completions.
CMU tailback Jonathan Ward tallied 130 yards on 18 carries last week against Western Michigan, his second consecutive game averaging at least seven yards per tote. It was also only the second game of 100+ yards on the ground for Ward this season. He now faces an EMU rush defense that has allowed at least 110 yards on the ground in five straight games.
BROADCAST: Wednesday, November 8 | 8 p.m. ET on ESPNU
WESTERN MICHIGAN BRONCOS
RECAP: Western Michigan coughed up a two-score lead at home in a driving rain against Central Michigan last week. And to add injury to insult, they lost a pair of key contributors on offense in running backs Jamauri Bogan and Davon Tucker for the remainder of the season do to foot injuries, respectively.
Bogan and Tucker were the Broncos’ second- and fifth-leading rushers. The two join a laundry list of injuries for WMU, headlined by quarterback Jon Wassink, who was knocked out of the game (and season) against EMU two weeks ago with a broken collarbone.
UP NEXT: It will be interesting to see how Western responds after losing to rival CMU at home and losing two key cogs on offense. The good news, at least on paper, is that Kent State (2-7, 1-4 MAC) pays a visit to Kalamazoo this weekend. The Golden Flashes have dropped two straight, allowing 40+ points in both games, and lost five of their last six overall. They rank at or near the bottom in many major categories in the MAC.
PLAYER TO WATCH: The Broncos’ undisputed bell cow Jarvion Franklin is sure to get the rock plenty more times with injuries riddling Western’s backfield down the stretch. The program’s new record-holder in career rushing yards and career touchdowns exploded for 228 yards on the ground last week against the Chippewas.
BROADCAST: Wednesday, November 8 | 7 p.m. ET on CBS Sports Network
