Scouting Central Michigan: Wyoming Preparing for Physical Test on the Road
LARAMIE, Wyoming - Central Michigan’s passing numbers offer an easy first impression. Through two games, the Chippewas have averaged just 53 yards through the air and have yet to throw a touchdown.
Wyoming head coach Jay Sawvel knows a hungry team is waiting Saturday in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. One that has a physical offense that found success running the ball in its most recent game, backed by a defense that has kept both opponents under 365 total yards.
Article Continues Below
Article Continues Below
“[They] play a physical style on offense, they’re good on defense, and we got to go do that on the road,” Sawvel said at his Monday press conference. “Big opportunity for our program this week.”
Central Michigan enters at 1–1 after losing 38–7 at New Mexico and rallying to beat Colgate 13–10. The Chippewas trailed the Raiders 10–0 at halftime before quarterback Angel Flores broke a 50-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter. Running back Vaughn Blue scored the winner from six yards out in the fourth.
CMU rushed for 200 yards against Colgate. Flores supplied 122 of them on 22 carries, while Blue and Jayden Clerveaux combined for another 52. That ground production stood in sharp contrast to the passing game: three Chippewas combined to complete 10 of 21 attempts for 76 yards and two interceptions.
Sawvel said CMU appeared to find more of an offensive identity after halftime against Colgate, when it committed heavily to the run. This sounds similar to what Wyoming went through against the University of Northern Colorado last Saturday in the fourth quarter. However, he doesn’t expect the Chippewas to abandon that approach against Wyoming.
“We’re going to have to play physical. We’re going to have to do a great job getting off blocks. We’re going to have to do a great job of tackling and not letting 2-yard gain turn into five,” Sawvel said. “Then now it’s second and five, and they can bleed the ball and bleed clock.”
Flores and Jadyn Glasser have both seen substantial time at quarterback through two games, and Marcus Beamon has also thrown four passes against Colgate. CMU has averaged 159.5 rushing yards and just 53 passing yards per game. CMU’s quarterbacks have thrown three interceptions and scored no touchdowns. CMU has used a three- and sometimes four-quarterback system in the past.
Those numbers give Wyoming a lot to work with, but Wyoming must know that stopping the run cannot come at the expense of defending play action. The Cowboys have allowed 146.5 rushing yards per game and, according to Sawvel, seven plays of more than 25 yards through their first two games.
Against Northern Colorado, Wyoming needed two fourth-quarter touchdowns to erase a 13–7 deficit and win 21–13. Defensive end Esaia Bogar has been a bright spot with 12 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and a sack through two games. Sawvel called him the Cowboys’ best defensive player so far, praising his effort and impact beyond the stat sheet.
The other factor is a Central Michigan defense that has allowed an average of 291.5 yards per game. New Mexico gained 364 yards in its win over CMU; Colgate managed 219. Linebackers Mayson Hitchens and Xavier White each recorded 10 tackles against Colgate, and Hitchens added an interception.
“The linebackers in particular are very active,” Sawvel said. “I think they’ve got a couple edge players that are disruptive as well. And in the secondary, they’re going to challenge you.”
Wyoming has averaged 288.5 yards and 17 points through two games. Quarterback Tyler Hughes has completed 30 of 45 passes for 279 yards and two touchdowns, but the Cowboys have committed six turnovers as a team. Giving CMU’s offense a short field would undercut the advantage Wyoming hopes to gain by containing the run.
The Cowboys can turn to two productive backs. Samuel “Tote” Harris has rushed for 111 yards, and Markell Holman has 94 on just 12 carries while adding five receptions. Sawvel said both can catch and protect Hughes, giving Wyoming flexibility against CMU’s linebackers and pressure.
Sawvel wants the entire offense to play with the urgency it showed during the comeback against Northern Colorado. He said hunting for explosive plays is less useful than consistently executing with force.
“The biggest thing we got to do is just play with the force that we played with the last 10 minutes of the game,” Sawvel said. “The explosives will come.”
Saturday also brings Wyoming’s first long road trip of the season. The Cowboys lost their opener at Colorado State before returning home to beat Northern Colorado, and Sawvel said playing well away from Laramie is essential to the program’s progress.
“You’ve got to be able to go everywhere and bring your defense, and you’ve got to go everywhere and bring your special teams,” he said. “You’ve got to be able to go everywhere and take care of the football.”
Three keys to the game for Wyoming
Contain Angel Flores. Central Michigan’s quarterback rushed for 122 yards against Colgate, including a 50-yard touchdown. Wyoming must keep him from escaping for big gains while staying alert for play action. CMU has utilized three QBs so far this season. Don't expect that to change.
Protect the football. The Cowboys have committed six turnovers in two games. Giving CMU short fields would help a Chippewas offense that has averaged just 10 points per game.
Play with urgency from the start. Wyoming scored twice late to beat Northern Colorado, but cannot count on another fourth-quarter comeback. Sawvel wants the force and intent from that finish to carry through all four quarters.
Don't forget to sign up for our email list, and follow us on our socials!
Subscribe to receive our newsletter here (no spam, we promise): Subscribe
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pokesnews
X (formerly known as Twitter): https://x.com/Pokes_News
