RAPID REACTION: Kent State 27, CMU 24
Junior running back Devon Spalding, left, is pushed out of bounds by a defender during the game against Kent State on Oct. 29 at Kelly / Shorts Stadium.
Bowl eligibility will have to wait another week for the Central Michigan football team as the Chippewas fell to Kent State 27-24 on Saturday at Kelly/Shorts Stadium.
Turnovers, penalties and a last-second field goal propelled the Golden Flashes to victory and dropped the Chippewas' record to 5-4 overall and 2-3 in the Mid-American Conference.
Senior quarterback Cooper Rush completed 20-of-43 passes for 244 yards and two touchdowns. He also threw three interceptions, which tied him for the most in the MAC.
The Chippewas held the Golden Flashes to 102 passing yards, but gave up 228 rushing yards.
Kent State quarterback Nick Holley rushed for 144 yards and one touchdown and led KSU down the field on the Golden Flashes' final drive.
First half by the numbers: CMU 10, Kent State 10
Turnovers and a lack of offensive production hurt the Central Michigan football team during the first half against Kent State.
The Chippewas are tied with the Golden Flashes 10-10 at halftime.
How it happened:
After CMU took a 24-10 lead in the third quarter, Kent State stormed back to tie the game in the fourth.
With four seconds remaining, KSU’s kicker Shane Hynes nailed a 35-yard field goal to knock off the Chippewas.
It was a sloppy first half for CMU as the team turned the ball over three times, including two interceptions by Rush.
Late in the second quarter, Rush found Corey Willis for a 3-yard touchdown pass to tie the game after Kent State held a 10-2 lead for most the entire first half.
Rush connected with junior receiver Mark Chapman to give the Chippewas a 17-10 lead early in the third quarter. An interception returned for a touchdown by senior safety Tony Annese gave the Chippewas a 24-10 advantage before KSU made its comeback.
What it means:
The Chippewas struggled in all three phases of the game Saturday. Offensively, they turned the ball over four times. The defense couldn’t stop the Kent State running game and CMU had three field goal attempts blocked, though two were negated by penalties.
The Chippewas will have to respond to losing a game in which many picked them to win.
Up next:
The Chippewas take on Miami (OH) on Friday.
