When Jim McElwain entered the locker room following the first road win of the season against Bowling Green, he made something clear to all his players.

His words had nothing to do with the offense, defense or special teams. He wasn't there to praise a certain player or position group, and he didn't bash anyone for a poor play.

Rather, the first-year Central Michigan coach wanted his Chippewas to know what's at stake for the remainder of the 2019 season – postseason implications.

"Here's the cool thing guys," McElwain recalled telling them. "Every game now actually has a little meaning. There's something to it."

Following a 38-20 victory over the Falcons at Doyt L. Perry Stadium, McElwain's squad improved to 5-3 overall and 3-1 in the Mid-American Conference.

"We got a monkey off our back," McElwain said.

The remainder of the schedule features Buffalo (1-2 MAC), Northern Illinois (1-2 MAC), Ball State (3-0 MAC) and Toledo (1-2 MAC). If the Chippewas win out, they will earn a trip to the MAC title game at Ford Field.

As it turns out, the team that was predicted to finish last in the conference has a shot to win it, and a battle against the Cardinals might be the deciding factor.

But the first task at hand comes against the Bulls, a program that's lost conference games to Miami (Ohio) and Ohio before securing a 21-0 victory against winless Akron.

"Having to get on a plane and go back-to-back in league and go to Buffalo, who is obviously a very good football team, we've got our work cut out for us," McElwain said. "It's a step in the right direction."

Entering the 2019 season, fresh off a 1-11 mark in 2018 under former coach John Bonamego, McElwain's first goal for the team was to learn how to win at Kelly/Shorts Stadium.

It was all about defending the home field.

The Chippewas are undefeated in four games at Kelly/Shorts. Mission accomplished for McElwain.

"The next step for the program was to go on the road and figure out how to get a win," McElwain said.

The 57-year-old was brought in as the driving force to turn the football program in the opposite direction of where it was under Bonamego. Without road wins, there wouldn't be much of an opportunity for postseason success.

After all, Central Michigan only plays six home games – just enough to qualify for bowl eligibility.

On the road, McElwain finally came out on top. It was his third-straight win and fifth overall this season.

"That's a heck of a win," McElwain said. "We played balanced offensively. Defensively, we had a pretty good number on third down, and that was really good. That's a happy locker room, and it should be.

"I'm really proud of these guys. Like I keep saying, I really like this football team."

Isaac Ritchey

Central Michigan quarterback Quinten Dormady (12) prepares to face Bowling Green Oct. 19 at Doyt L. Perry Stadium in Bowling Green.

Central Michigan put together 553 total yards of offense, of which 299 were through the air and 254 were on the ground.

It was the fourth-straight game where the offense accounted for more than 425 yards. Western Michigan (437), Eastern Michigan (587) and New Mexico State (486) were the others.

Graduate transfer quarterback Quinten Dormady finished 22 of 36 for 295 yards, one touchdown and one interception in his second game back from a knee injury. He replaced junior quarterback David Moore, who was suspended by the NCAA for testing positive for a banned substance.

"I think our offense is starting to play with some confidence," McElwain said. "We probably could've thrown a little more, but we didn't have to. You like that."

With 12 guaranteed opportunities to play this season, Dormady said he took it upon himself to make sure the team took advantage of each chance.

Dormady opened the 18-point victory with a 24-yard touchdown strike to junior wide receiver JaCorey Sullivan for a 7-0 lead with 11:53 left in the first quarter. He was also imperative in Central Michigan's 97-yard drive late in the first half that made the score 21-7 at the break.

Throughout the game, Dormady was influential in sustaining scoring drives of 75, 58, 97 and 65 yards. The only other drive that resulted in a touchdown was due to a 51-yard carry from sophomore running back Kobe Lewis.

"It was a huge step for the program," Dormady said of the road win. "It's just something to build on. We are ready to get another one next week."

Senior safety Da'Quaun Jamison did his job on defense with two interceptions. Like Dormady, the veteran leader said the road win was yet another turning point for the program.

It was the first win away from Kelly/Shorts Stadium since 2017.

"Coming into someone else's place and having success is a big part of growing up as a team," Jamison said. "We did that."

Even though there's a pristine opportunity for a MAC West title, Jamison isn't worried about that. He knows what it's like to get caught up in the future.

But he also knows what it's like to take it one game at a time, and that's where success typically follows.

"We just have to take this one within 24 hours and start studying for Buffalo," Jamison said. "We're handling the now. If that be the end result, then that'll be the end result."

Isaac Ritchey

Central Michigan wide receiver Kalil Pimpleton celebrates with fans after beating Bowling Green 38-20 Oct. 19 at Doyt L. Perry Stadium in Bowling Green.

Despite the win, McElwain didn't shy away from critiquing the overall performance, even going as far as to say the team "didn't play good" in the double-digit win.

Bowling Green had a 100-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown after backup quarterback Tommy Lazzaro let the ball slip on the goal line, and it made the game 7-7 with 1:30 left in the first quarter.

"You can't get a yard, that's embarrassing," McElwain said. "We answered right back. I thought that showed some composure offensively. That miscue is going to hurt you down the road. We can't let that happen."

Hoping to put the game out of reach early in the third quarter, the Falcons went on a 10 play, 75-yard drive that took 4:30 off the clock to open the second half. Redshirt junior quarterback Grant Loy's 3-yard touchdown run made it a one-possession game.

When the Chippewas had the ball with 7:38 remaining and a 38-20 lead, Bowling Green forced a three-and-out. The offense wasn't able to move the chains and burn down the clock.

"We didn't finish it with the ball in our hands like we should've on that drive with eight minutes left," McElwain said.

Dormady and Jamison, two veteran college football players, are fully aware of what is at stake in their final season of eligibility.

"From here on out, every game gets bigger and bigger," Dormady said. "We just have to stay the course, do our job and not let the moment get too big. Then, we'll be fine and see where it puts us at the end of the year."

Jamison isn't concerned about a MAC title at this point, but he knows the opportunity is wide open for the taking.

"It feels like we are playing for something," Jamison said. "We just want to take it one game at a time. We aren't trying to look to the future."

"If that be the end result, then that'll be the end result."