Central Michigan earns first road win over Bowling Green, improves to 5-3 overall
Wide receivers Kalil Pimpleton (88) and JaCorey Sullivan (11) celebrate during Central Michigan's win over Bowling Green at Doyt L. Perry Stadium.
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - In its fourth try, Central Michigan finally picked up a road win.
The Chippewas had not earned a victory on the road since Nov. 14, 2017 against Mid-American Conference foe Kent State.
CMU (5-3, 3-1 MAC) went on the road and defeated Bowling Green, 38-20, Saturday at Doyt L. Perry Stadium.
"That's a heck of a win," said coach Jim McElwain. "Our guys had to learn how to win at home and we've done a decent job of that. The next step in the program is getting a win on the road."
Jonathan Ward punched in his sixth touchdown of the season from 7 yards out to extend the Chippewas' lead to 14-7 in the early stages of the second quarter.
Ward scored added a 1-yard score in the first half as the Chippewas carried a 21-7 lead at the end of the first half.
Then in the early stages of the third quarter, the Falcons scored a touchdown to cut the CMU lead to 21-14.
Ward, who has been considered a leader for the CMU offense this year, scored his career-best third touchdown.
On the ground, Ward finished with 130 yards on 21 carries, which propelled him over the 2,000 yard mark for his career. He also finished with 12 yards on three catches.
"I think he stepped up huge," quarterback Quinten Dormady said about Ward. "He got us going yesterday and had a heart-to-heart with everyone, so for him to come out and play like that was huge."
Dormady opened the scoring early in the first quarter when he found wide receiver JaCorey Sullivan for a 24-yard pass to cap off the Chippewas' first drive of the game.
The senior graduate transfer finished the day 22 of 36 for 295 yards and the touchdown against an interception. He also had a 53-yard pass to tight end Tony Poljan, which set up Ward's second touchdown of the day.
McElwain said during the week that "mistakes are magnified" when playing on the road. CMU figured it out the hard way late in the first quarter.
Senior quarterback Tommy Lazzaro entered the game toward the end of the first frame after he had a package implemented for him against New Mexico State.
With a fourth and goal on the Falcon 2-yard line, Lazzaro found a hole in the offensive line and got through it. He leaned toward the end zone but a hit from Kohlbe Coleman jarred the ball loose just before Lazzaro crossed the goal line.
Caleb Biggers scooped the ball up in the end zone and sprinted for a 100-yard touchdown.
"I can't believe that," McElwain said. "You can't get a yard, that's embarrassing. That's something we have to get short of. But we answered right back and I thought that was really good."
Bowling Green came out fast in its opening drive of the second half and moved the ball with authority led on the ground by quarterback Grant Loy, who scored on a 3-yard run just before Ward's third touchdown.
The Chippewa defense rose up to the challenges BGSU presented throughout the day as the visitors were able to force three Falcon turnovers - including two interceptions from senior safety DaQuaun Jamison.
"We knew they would come in with some momentum," Jamison said. The Falcons were coming off a 20-7 victory over Toledo just a week prior. "As a defense, (defensive coordinator Robb) Akey challenged us to stop the run and we knew we could make him one-dimensional and we'd have a chance to win."
CMU was also able to stand tough on fourth down as they forced three turnovers on downs.
Kobe Lewis shot through a hole in the Falcon defensive line and found broke free for a 51-yard score in the beginning of the fourth quarter to put the game away.
"I think our offense is starting to play with some confidence," McElwain said. "The big piece there is we stayed balanced again, you kind of like that. That's a happy locker room and we got a monkey off our back."
The Chippewas moved one win closer to bowl eligibility and need just one more win in their final four games to gain the chance to play in the post season.
CMU's first chance to earn bowl eligibility comes 3:30 p.m. next Saturday on the road against Buffalo.
