Escape Artists
Lavallii, CMU get out of Buffalo with win
A windy afternoon in Buffalo meant the Central Michigan University football team needed to run the ball early and often if it wanted to beat the Bulls on Saturday.
When senior running back Thomas Rawls was knocked out of the game with a leg injury on CMU’s first drive, junior Saylor Lavallii stepped up and led CMU to a 20-14 victory.
Lavallii and sophomore Martez Walker combined for 37 carries, 137 yards and two touchdowns, as the Chippewas moved to 5-4 overall and 3-2 in the Mid-American Conference this season.
“Saylor ran hard,” said Head Coach Dan Enos. “He walked out here today and didn’t know if he was going to get any carries and next thing you know, he’s in the game.”
After jumping out to a 14-0 lead, the CMU offense sputtered, ending five consecutive drives with either a punt or a turnover.
The Bulls scored a pair of touchdowns on their first two drives.
Buffalo had the ball on the CMU 34-yard line with 2:37 to play in the third quarter when junior defensive back Brandon Greer made a leaping interception at the Chippewa two-yard line.
It was on the next drive that senior wide receiver Titus Davis made the play that proved to be the difference in the game.
On CMU’s longest drive of the year, Davis was responsible for 51 of the Chippewas 98 yards, capped by a seven-yard touchdown catch on third down with 8:08 to play.
The touchdown reception was the 29th of his career, surpassing Bryan Anderson for the most in CMU program history.
“It’s a good individual accomplishment,” Davis said. “I have a better feeling knowing that it was the game-winning touchdown. It all came together and it feels good.”
After redshirt freshman Brian Eavey missed the extra point following Davis’ touchdown, Buffalo had two chances to take the lead back in the closing moments.
But the Chippewa defense held.
“Some of those runs (Lavallii) had at the end of the game got us into that third and one at the end so we didn’t have to give them the ball back,” Enos said. “For a guy that was the leading rusher last year and then comes in this year and he’s not carrying the ball very much, a lot of guys would pout and be selfish. Saylor has not done that at all.”
After sitting out of two of the past three games, defensive back Jason Wilson broke up three passes, two of which came on fourth down situations for Buffalo in the final six minutes of the game.
CMU’s defense held Buffalo running back Anthone Taylor to 25 rushing yards on 14 carries. It was Taylor’s worst performance of the season.
“I told the guys, ‘thanks a lot, you just took another five years off my life,’” Enos said. “I thought it was a great character win for our team.”
The Chippewas are now 5-0 when allowing 17 points or less and 0-4 when allowing more than 17 in a game.
CMU has an opportunity to become bowl eligible with a win at Eastern Michigan (2-6, 1-3 MAC) next weekend.
Rawls was not dressed, in crutches and a leg brace during the second half. The status of his health remains unknown.
The Chippewas are 0-2 without Rawls in the lineup this year.
