Oklahoma State 24, Central Michigan 13: Offensive struggles cost Chippewas season opener
All the hype and emotion the Central Michigan University football team carried on the field for the first time this fall manifested itself into an inspired first-half performance and resulted in significant feeling of hope entering the second half.
For 1:39 of game clock, the Chippewas held the lead against the heavily-favored visitors.
But a pair of second-half scoring drives by the Cowboys and several failed efforts on third down late in the game resulted in the Chippewas dropping their 2015 season opener to Oklahoma State 24-13 on Thursday night at Kelly/Shorts Stadium.
It was first-year head coach John Bonamego’s debut with the team. Bonamego described the moments before kickoff as a time he will never forget.
“It was emotional,” Bonamego said. “I’m very proud to be here. I love these players. I love this institution. I’m just disappointed that we didn’t come out of here with a win. It really felt like we could compete with (OSU).”
In an unprecedented showing to his traditional pocket-passing style, junior quarterback Cooper Rush showed off his ability to run effectively and even scampered passed the goal line.
Rush’s approach earned CMU its only touchdown of the game, and put the team ahead 13-10 on a 16-yard scramble early in the second half.
“That’s just what happens, you’ve gotta make plays however you can,” Rush said. “When you’re that close to the end zone, you’ve gotta score.”
Reaching striking distance was an issue for CMU’s offense all night long. Chippewa running backs Martez Walker and Devon Spalding combined for just 32 yards rushing on 17 carries.
Rush finished the game with 51 yards on the ground and 225 yards passing in the loss.
“If we could have just got a couple of those plays back, we would have had this one,” Rush said. “We had a couple of things we needed to capitalize on and we didn’t.”
Punting the ball seven times, CMU was 8-for-18 on third-down conversions and had six penalties for 30 yards.
“It was at times border-line chaotic,” Bonamego said. “Sometimes things happen. That’s pretty standard, I think. Staffs tend to work their way through that.”
Cowboys passer Mason Rudolph led his team’s fastest and most efficient drive of the game on the next series after Rush’s touchdown run, and the Cowboys reclaimed a 17-13 lead, which they never lost.
The Chippewas had a chance to ride a major momentum swing back into the lead late that quarter when OSU missed a 42-yard field goal, wide right.
The Cowboys put the game out of reach on Rudolph’s 18-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Marcell Ateman, which bulked the OSU lead up to 24-13 early in the fourth quarter.
The Chippewas (0-1) host FCS foe Monmouth at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 12 at Kelly/Shorts Stadium.
