Football drops seventh straight game to Toledo


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Junior running back Devon Spalding runs through a tackle during a game against Toledo on Saturday, Oct. 22 at the Glass Bowl. 

John Bonamego said Saturday’s matchup against Toledo was a potential elimination game in the Mid-American Conference West Division.

Though the game started as a defensive struggle, Toledo handed Central Michigan a 31-17 defeat and its seventh straight against the Rockets.

The loss dropped CMU to 5-3 overall and 2-2 in the MAC West Division, essentially eliminating them from the division race with both Toledo and Western Michigan being undefeated.

“It was a hard fought game,” Bonamego said. “But in the end we made too many mistakes and hurt ourselves with penalties and turnovers.”

The Chippewas struggled defensively covering Toledo’s Cody Thompson who caught four touchdown passes on three different CMU cornerbacks.

Thompson hauled in two touchdowns catches in the third quarter and two more in the fourth quarter to seal the victory for the Rockets. 

Thompson’s final two touchdown catches came after CMU cut the deficit to 17-10 heading into the fourth quarter.

“We weren’t consistent enough stopping them in the second half and we weren’t consistent enough all day offensively,” Bonamego said. “We have to pick up the pieces and go back to work tomorrow.”

On CMU’s last drive of first half, senior quarterback Cooper Rush connected with junior running back Devon Spalding who scampered 16-yards to the goal line.

Spalding reached for the endzone, but fumble the ball and it was ruled a touchback. The Rockets were able to run out the clock to preserve a 3-0 lead heading into the break.

Spalding grabbed his right wrist following the play, and had to be helped off the field. He returned in the second half and finished the game with 10 carries for 65 yards.

Early in the third quarter, UT quarterback Logan Woodside found Cody Thompson for a 16-yard touchdown pass to take a 10-0 lead.

On the ensuing drive, Rush threw the ball into tight coverage and was intercepted which led to Thompson’s second touchdown of the game on UT’s next drive, extending the Rockets advantage to 17.

Rush would make up for the turnover with a 21-yard rushing touchdown and eluding several Toledo defenders and muscling his way into the endzone to put the Chippewas on the board.

Rush connected with junior tight end Tyler Conklin for a 4-yard touchdown pass late in the fourth quarter to cut the deficit to 31-17.

Rush finished the game 18-for-31 for 229 yards and one touchdown passing as well as one rushing touchdown.

“We just didn’t execute well enough,” Rush said. “Hats off to them. They made more plays than we did, and we can’t start slow in the first half like that. We just have to put ourselves in a better position.”

Conklin pulled in five catches for 74 yards and a touchdown, and junior receiver Corey Willis led the team with six catches for 73 yards.

CMU attempted an onside kick, but the Rockets recovered and ran out the clock.

The Chippewas hosts Kent State next Saturday at noon.  

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