Toledo 42, Central Michigan 28: Chippewas fall to 2-3 on season with loss in MAC opener
| Photo Editor || Senior running back Thomas Rawls carries the ball past the Toledo defense Saturday.
For a few moments early in the fourth quarter of the Central Michigan University football team's loss to Toledo Saturday night, it appeared a passionate comeback was underway.
But the Chippewas' defense failed to come through with its half of the comeback effort at the most crucial time of the game.
Toledo quarterback Logan Woodside's 12-yard touchdown run with three minutes remaining capped a 42-28 victory over the Chippewas in CMU's Mid-American Conference opener.
"We certainly had our opportunities," Head coach Dan Enos said. "Our defense has to play better. It was very disappointing to our entire team the way our defense played."
CMU gave up 543 yards of total offense to the Rockets.
A pair of second-half touchdowns by senior running back Thomas Rawls cut the Rockets' lead down to seven points with 7:54 remaining.
Woodside led UT down the field for the game-winning drive using a spread offense that the Chippewas struggled to contain all night.
"The no huddle offense was not the problem. We've seen that before," Enos said. "We just didn't make the plays back there when we needed to."
The Rockets broke the game open with a 5-play 50 yard drive punctuated by a 3-yard touchdown run by sophomore tailback Damion Jones-Moore. That score made it 34-14 with 3:44 left in the third quarter.
"It hurts, man," senior defensive back Kevin King said. " Our defense as a while just needs to play better than we did tonight. We will learn a lot from this but right now it just hurts."
It was the third consecutive loss the Chippewas have suffered this season and the fifth straight loss to Toledo.
The Chippewas host Ohio University next weekend for the program's annual Homecoming Game at Kelly/Shorts Stadium.
For more on Saturday's loss to the Rockets, read Monday's Central Michigan Life.
