Detroit, MI -- (Sports Network) - The Central Michigan Chippewas will try to repeat as Mid-American Conference champions, but to do so the team must get past the Miami-Ohio RedHawks this Saturday afternoon at Ford Field.

For the first time since the 2004 season, the RedHawks will finally have a chance to capture the MAC title. Miami's run to the championship contest was not an easy one, as the team suffered through plenty of peaks and valleys. The RedHawks opened the year with a win over Ball State (14-13), but quickly followed with three straight losses. The team was able to regroup, posting three consecutive wins, including a convincing, 47-14 victory over Bowling Green. Down the stretch however, the team began to slide again, losing three of its last five games, including a tough, 38-29 loss to Ohio last weekend.

As for the Chippewas, they are ironically the first team since Miami-Ohio to make consecutive appearances in the MAC title game. Just like their counterpart, the Chippewas opened the year with a 1-3 mark, with the lone victory coming against Toledo, 52-31. The slow start did not keep the Chippewas down however, as the team posted five wins in its next six games. After a shocking three-point loss to Eastern Michigan two weeks ago, the Chippewas managed to slip past Akron last week to finish the year with a 6-1 conference ledger and earn the West Division title. If the Chippewas are victorious on Saturday, they will be the first team since Marshall to win the MAC Championship game in consecutive seasons. It will also be the first time since 1979-1980 that CMU has collected back-to-back MAC championships.

The RedHawks have a slim, 11-9-1 edge over CMU in the all-time series. However, the last time these two schools collided on the gridiron, Ontario Sneed scored in the final minutes of the contest to give the Chippewas a slim, 38-37 win.

The RedHawks were not overwhelming in any stretch of the imagination on offense, as the team only produced 20.0 ppg during the regular season. Dan Raudabaugh has been the signal-caller for the majority of the season, but he has been extremely inconsistent throughout the year. Raudabaugh only completed 54.2 percent of his passes up to this point, while throwing for just 2,177 yards. In 10 contests, the quarterback has tossed only 11 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. The ground game has also had its troubles this season, but that is due to the revolving door of players in the backfield. Cory Jones and Austin Sykes have been the top two options out of the backfield for Miami, as Jones is leading the squad with 464 yards to go along with two touchdowns, while Sykes is right behind him with 460 yards and three scores. In the regular-season finale, the RedHawks suffered a tough loss to Ohio, 38-29. Raudabaugh's inconsistent ways continued in the loss, as the QB completed just 21-of-44 passes for just 223 yards and one score. Raudabaugh also tossed two interceptions and was sacked twice. As for the rushing attack, Miami tallied 132 yards on 3.2 ypc. With Sykes dealing with an ankle injury, Jones got the majority of the carries, finishing the game with 103 yards.

For the majority of the season the RedHawks were led by their defensive unit, which after 12 games is surrendering 369.0 total ypg, leading to 24.8 ppg. The unit has done a solid job against the pass, holding teams to just 208.7 ypg through the air. However, where the team has struggled is against the run, as opponents are gashing Miami for 160.3 ypg. Allowing 38 points in the recent setback to Ohio gives the wrong impression on how well the RedHawks played in that contest, as Miami held the Bobcats to just 199 total yards, including an outstanding 81 yards on 38 carries (2.1 ypc). The defense only forced one turnover in the game, but did finish with three sacks. On the year Miami has recorded just 23 takeaways, but has done a great job at pressuring the quarterback, collecting 30 sacks The main spark plug to this unit is linebacker Clayton Mullins, who was tabbed the MAC Defensive Player of the Year. Mullins finished the regular season with a conference best 129 tackles. The junior also recorded 13.5 TFLs, four sacks, two fumble recoveries and one forced.

Throughout the season the Chippewas have relied heavily on the play of quarterback Dan LeFevour, who could be considered the Tim Tebow of the MAC. LeFevour who was recently named the MAC Offensive Player of the Year, completed 66.1 percent of his throws for 3,175 yards and tossed 22 touchdowns against 11 interceptions. On top of that, LeFevour is pacing the team on the ground, rushing for 838 yards and 15 touchdowns on 6.2 ypc. LeFevour has also received help from Justin Hoskins in the backfield, as the running back has contributed 649 yards and 10 scores on the year. The top two targets down field for LeFevour has been Bryan Anderson and Antonio Brown. Anderson, who has 78 receptions for 969 yards and seven scores, broke the record last year at CMU for most catches in the season with 73, but that accolade was quickly taken by Brown, who in his first season, has grabbed 92 balls for 879 yards and five scores. Brown, who started the season as a walk-on and finished the regular season as the MAC Freshman of the Year, is also a dangerous return specialist. Brown, who is averaging 27.7 yards on kick off returns, has accumulated 2,009 total yards this year, which is the most by any freshman in MAC history.

The defensive play has been the Achilles' heel for Central Michigan throughout the season, as the team was been hammered for a whopping 38.0 ppg. The unit has struggled against the pass, as well as the run, surrendering 287.4 ypg through the air, while being pounded for 174.8 ypg on the ground. Over the last two games alone, the Chippewas allowed 80 total points against Eastern Michigan and Akron, two schools that rank near the bottom of the conference in points scored. In the come-from-behind victory over Akron this past weekend, the defense surrendered 32 points, but held the Zips to just 323 total yards. Central Michigan limited the Zips to just 113 yards on 32 carries, but did surrender three rushing touchdowns. The team also did a commendable job against the pass, allowing just 210 yards while collecting one interception. In the contest, the team finished with two turnovers, giving the unit 25 takeaways on the year. Red Keith was the motor of this defense all year and heads into this title game tied for the conference lead in tackles with 129.