The first game against Purdue on Sept. 15 was anything but memorable for the CMU football team.

The offense struggled early. The defense could not contain quarterback Curtis Painter. And before they knew it, the Chippewas found themselves behind 38-0 in the third quarter.

And although CMU scored 22 straight points after that, the lead proved to be insurmountable as the Boilermakers won 45-22.

“We felt like we didn’t give them our best shot through four quarters,” said senior linebacker Red Keith. “We feel that right now, we’re a better team than we were when we played them that first time. We like our chances going into this game.”

Plenty has changed since September for both teams heading into the Motor City Bowl at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 26 at Ford Field.

CMU was reeling at 1-3 after a 44-14 loss to North Dakota State after losing to Purdue, but since is 7-2.

Purdue started the year 5-0 and found itself in the Associated Press Top 25. But the Boilermakers have lost five of seven since, including the last three to Penn State, Michigan State and Indiana.

CMU coach Butch Jones said the Chippewas have grown since their early-season struggles and said the 45-22 loss should have little impact on this game.

“It’s a completely different game,” Jones said. “Teams are still working on their identity and their personality early in the season. Our kids are looking at this as another opportunity.”

Still, the team showed signs of promise during its 22-point stretch in the second half against the Boilermakers.

The Chippewas scored their first touchdown with 8 minutes, 3 seconds remaining in the third quarter, then scored two more off an interception and a fumble to make it a two-possession game, 38-22, with 12:16 remaining.

But Purdue kick returner Dorien Bryant returned the following kickoff 58 yards to set up the Boilermakers’ game-sealing touchdown.

Sophomore quarterback Dan LeFevour said the team is not looking at this year’s Motor City Bowl as a rematch of that game.

“We’re looking at it as a chance to play in a bowl game against a great team,” he said.

Another major difference in this game will be the venue.

Instead of playing at Purdue’s Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind., CMU will play in Detroit, where in just more than a year it has won two Mid-American Conference Championships and its first Motor City Bowl.

“There’s something about it,” Jones said. “The atmosphere is great, it’s one of the greatest venues of all sports to play in, and it’s great for our fans. We have a large fan base in the Detroit area.”

bmanzullo@cm-life.com

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