Syracuse 40, Central Michigan 3: Chippewas fall to 2-1 on season after blowout loss
Central Michigan wide receiver Anthony Rice catches a pass during the first half of CMU's 40-3 loss to Syracuse Saturday at Kelly/Shorts Stadium. (Meagan Dullack | Photo Editor)
Without graduate transfer student and running back Thomas Rawls, the Central Michigan University football team suffered its first loss of the season 40-3 to Syracuse on Saturday at Kelly/Shorts Stadium.
Rawls, CMU's leading rusher this year, was announced as inactive Saturday morning due to “an issue that came to (the program’s) attention Friday,” according to a statement from the team.
Following the game, Head coach Dan Enos refused to answer any questions regarding Rawls' absence.
"We lost to a good football team today," Enos said. "We didn't execute down the stretch. That's what killed us. It's not a good feeling."
The loss snapped a five-game CMU win streak dating back to late in the 2013 season. Senior wide receiver Titus Davis (knee) also sat out of Saturday’s loss. Enos said playing Davis was not an option for him.
"I don't make that call," Enos said. "Someone tells me if he is available to us and he wasn't. Hopefully we'll get him back soon."
The Chippewas gained just 34 yards on the ground against Syracuse. Yet Enos insisted runners Devon Spalding, Saylor Lavallii and others were ready for Saturday's game.
"We get all of our guys ready all week," Enos said. "We just struggled in that department after our first drive."
The Chippewas went 66 yards on 15 plays on their first drive, culminating in a 26-yard field goal by freshman Brian Eavey.
Syracuse responded by scoring 40 unanswered points en route to their second victory of the season.
SU’s senior quarterback Terrel Hunt carved the Chippewas defense up for 289 yards passing and a career-high 92 yards on the ground. Hunt scored three rushing touchdowns in the rout of the Chippewas.
“(Hunt’s) ability to make those throws on third down, is the one thing you haven’t seen him do consistently over time. We saw him do it today,” Enos said. “It’s tough to teach guys to do that."
CMU sophomore quarterback Cooper Rush struggled during the loss completing 18 of his 34 pass attempts, and throwing for 183 yards. He was sacked five times.
Rush’s biggest mistake came in the form of a second-quarter fumble that was brought back 23-yards for a touchdown by the Orange, who jumped out to a 17-3 lead late in the first half.
“(Rush) just has to learn to take the sack in that situation,” Enos said. “There’s a fine line between being smart and being a playmaker. I think Cooper still has got to figure out where he’s at with that.”
Rush was also called for intentional grounding when he got rid of the ball in his own end zone, ballooning the deficit to 19-3 early in the second half.
Syracuse held onto the momentum for the majority of the contest, driving down the field with ease against an increasingly exasperated CMU defense.
"It was a humbling game today," Enos said. “We went from the penthouse to the outhouse pretty quick."
