Serpa has career game as Chippewa defense earns another victory
AKRON, Ohio — Most fans and critics consider the Central Michigan football team's offense its biggest strength. On Saturday, it was the defense and senior defensive end Blake Serpa that earned the Chippewas their fourth Mid-American Conference victory of the season.
Serpa recorded six tackles, two sacks and forced two fumbles during CMU's 14-6 victory over Akron on Saturday.
It was the best game of the veteran's college career.
"I've always known I can get sacks," Serpa said.
He explained his frustration earlier this season as CMU had one of the smallest sack totals of any MAC team coming into Saturday's onslaught.
"I get there quite a bit," he said. "I was just getting there a second late. It was frustrating earlier when I wasn't getting there."
CMU entered Saturday's game with six sacks total and took Zips quarterback Tommy Woodson down four times, going unblocked on more than one occasion.
"It was really just the way Akron's offensive line was sliding," Serpa said. "I did a little bit more than just sacks this game."
Serpa's biggest moment of the game came near the end of the first quarter, when he blasted Woodson from the passer's blind side and forced a fumble that bounced 18 yards backward before rolling out of bounds.
"That was exciting," Serpa said. "It was good to keep them from getting any points at the end of that drive it was a big part of the game."
As junior quarterback Cooper Rush and the CMU offense struggled, his teammates admired Serpa's work from the sidelines.
"You could tell (they were locked in) with all those guys," Rush said. "The defense did a great job today and they deserve all the credit."
Head Coach John Bonamego took notice, as well.
"We ended up winning some matchups," Bonamego said. "Blake was pretty darn good. He was good last week, too. He's put together a couple of really excellent performances."
