Central Michigan Chippewas — 2014 Syracuse football scouting report

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Enos left CMU after the 2014 season

Syracuse will try to move to 2-0 when they head to Central Michigan to play the Chippewas. Here is a quick look at the game:

BIG 10 ROUT: When Central Michigan rolled into West Lafayette to play Purdue, it was already without wide receiver and 2013 MVP Titus Davis, who was forced out with a sprain knee.  In the opening quarter, the Chippewas also lost kicker Ron Coluzzi to a concussion. None of that prevented Central Michigan from handily defeating the Boilermakers on the road to win their second game in three seasons against a Big 10 opponent (they also defeated Iowa on the road in 2012). The Chippewas benefited from a flurry of Purdue mistakes, and capitalized each time for a 38-17 pummeling. CMU’s Brandon Greer returned an interception 57 yards for a touchdown on the game’s first drive, and Purdue’s Frankie Williams was ejected from the game for a vicious hit on a defenseless receiver in the first half. On the afternoon, the Boilermakers turned the ball over three times, and were flagged seven times for 69 yards.

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CMU is off to a 2-0 start

» Related: What we learned from Syracuse’s first win of the season

SCOUTING THE CHIPPEWAS: While Purdue was stumbling, Central Michigan received stellar play from QB Cooper Rush (11-for-16 passing for 172 yards and two TDs) and back Thomas Rawls (155 yards and two touchdowns on 31 carries). Rush hooked up with Anthony Rice for a 65-yard strike on CMU’s first possession to put the Chippewas out front 14-0, and then Rawls would punch it into the end zone midway through the second quarter to give CMU a 21-7 lead. Rawls and Rush would combine for two more touchdowns as Central Michigan improved to 2-0 for the first time since the 2002 season.

HISTORICALLY SPEAKING: Syracuse and Central Michigan have faced each other only once, with the Orange winning 47-7 on Sept. 11, 1999 at the Carrier Dome. QB Troy Nunes threw for 170 yards and three touchdowns, as SU raced out to a 34-7 lead at half. Receiver Quinton Spotwood added six catches for 135 yards and two scores.

GAME INFORMATION: Saturday, Sept. 13 at 12 p.m. at Mount Pleasant, Michigan. TV: ESPNews.

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About Wes Cheng 2907 Articles
Wes has worked for Rivals.com covering the New York Knicks, as well as for Scout.com covering Syracuse athletics. Wes has also been a contributing writer for the South China Morning Post (Hong Kong), for SportsNet New York (SNY) as a news desk writer covering all of New York professional sports, and reported on the NBA and MLB for the New York Sportscene. A native of Long Island, New York, Wes graduated from Syracuse University in 2005 with a degree in journalism. Contact him at wes[at]sujuiceonline.com.