Domination
Chippewas handle EMU to claim bowl eligibility
Senior wide receiver Titus Davis’s leaping second-quarter touchdown grab, moved the Central Michigan University football team’s lead over Eastern Michigan University to 28-0 and put the game away early.
The Chippewas (6-4, 4-2 MAC) came into Saturday’s matchup with Eastern Michigan (2-7, 1-4 MAC) ahead in almost every statistical category on paper. On the field, the result was the same.
“I had a good feeling it was going to be a good game for us,” said junior running back Saylor Lavallii. “At halftime we all got together and said it’s not going to be one or two guys, we’re all going to eat a little bit.”
With senior running back Thomas Rawls on the sidelines due to a knee injury he suffered last week against Buffalo, Lavallii, freshman Devon Spalding and sophomore Martez Walker torched the Eagles defense.
Coming into Saturday, all CMU running backs not named Thomas Rawls had combined for 336 yards and three touchdowns on 169 carries.
The trio combined for 283 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 51 carries Saturday.
“They called me and told me to stay ready if my number is called,” Spalding said. “I’m always ready. It’s football and what I’ve done since I was 8. It wasn’t me. Our offensive line opened bigger holes than I’ve ever seen playing college football. It was easy, I couldn’t do wrong with those holes.”
With the win, the Chippewas are one of three Mid-American Conference teams that are now bowl eligible. Northern Illinois and Western Michigan are the other two.
EMU became the fourth MAC team to be guaranteed to miss the bowl season with the loss Saturday.
“We just kept our foot on the throat,” said senior linebacker Justin Cherocci. “Don’t let up, that’s the mentality we have. We wanted (the shutout) bad. We thought we had it, too.”
EMU freshman starting quarterback Reginald Bell Jr. left the game with a head injury after EMU’s first drive, on which the Eagles went three-and-out.
Bell was EMU’s leading rusher on the day with 12 yards.
“We just knew when he came out of the game, (EMU quarterback Rob) Bolden wasn’t going to be as mobile as (Bell Jr.),” said senior defensive tackle Leterrius Walton. “The game plan didn’t change.”
Eastern Michigan’s only score came on its final drive, which started in the red zone at the CMU six-yard line following a punt block.
The Chippewas outgained the Eagles 501 yards to 97.
CMU has a bye week next week and will face Miami (Ohio) and Western Michigan in the final two games of the regular season.
