CMU-Temple: Halftime notes

CMU 17, TEMPLE 14

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. - Six quick points during halftime of CMU's Homecoming game against Temple at Kelly/Shorts Stadium:

• LeFevour out, Brunner in. Nobody's sure yet on the extent of junior quarterback Dan LeFevour's injury, but it's obviously in his leg because he limped off the field both times he left the game late in the second quarter. Although the team couldn't score on the last possession of the half, Brunner looked solid, his first pass going for a 37-yard gain (to receiver Bryan Anderson). We'll update you on cm-life.com and here if there's any more details on the injury.
• Antonio Brown looks pretty good today. That's a bit of an understatement for the sophomore wide receiver, who looked dazzling on a 52-yard punt return in the first quarter. That set up a touchdown from LeFevour to Brown himself to make it 14-0. He's already got two touchdown receptions today and is showing a lot of flair in the return game. Speaking of wide receivers, though...
• Bryan Anderson's back. The junior wideout who was out two weeks ago against Buffalo is looking like his former self this week. He's got 6 catches for 99 yards and is getting open looks in the secondary. This is critical for CMU to exploit in the second half.
• Field position won early. Although Temple got going in the second quarter, three of its possessions started inside their 20, two right on the one-yard line. That was critical in keeping the Owls off the scoreboard and giving CMU solid field position. Both of the Chippewas' touchdowns came on drives of 32 yards or less. That's probably going to be what it takes to win this game against a stingy Temple defense - win the field position battle.
• Despite some big plays, the defense looks solid. Especially early on, the defense swarmed the running game and kept the Owls one-dimensional. But on some plays, the coverage broke down, leaving several wide receivers wide open, particularly on a 58-yard completion from Chester Stewart to Jason Harper. Harper ran right past CMU defenders and found himself wide open down the field. The Owls' second touchdown drive, however, started at CMU's 18-yard line because of a backwards pass that went incomplete (and, therefore, is a fumble). Temple has 193 yards of total offense thus far - a high number, but for the most part, Central is doing fine in containing the point total.
• The injury-laden offensive line? Not bad, either. Left guard Allen Ollenburger and right guard Kyle Curtis are filling in for center Colin Miller and left guard Jeff Maddux this week (right guard Joe McMahon moved to Center). With Temple's strong D-Line, this unit is playing solid, opening up holes for freshman Bryan Schroeder and senior Ontario Sneed to run through. Schroeder, with his first career carries, has 23 yards on four runs.

Be sure to check cm-life.com and this blog for more updates, especially on LeFevour.