CMU football soars past Eagles
The Central Michigan Chippewas take the field against the Eastern Michigan Eagles. CMU would go on to win 24-13. (CM-Life | Trevor Sparks)
After a successful touchdown drive cut Central Michigan football's lead to just one possession at the start of the second half, EMU football found itself at the 50-yard line, primed to even the score at 21.
On first down with ten yards to go, Eastern Michigan quarterback Noah Kim faced pressure after snapping the ball causing him to loft a ball deep into the secondary. That is when CMU defensive back Maddix Blackwell made a diving catch to intercept the pass, giving the Chippewas the momentum it needed to finish strong in a 24-13 victory.
"Those guys can make play after play after play and you have got to kind of hang around and it can be very frustrating and Maddix just did such a great job," CMU head coach Matt Drinkall said. "Coach Cronin and the defensive staff talk all the time about 'you cant win the game in one play but we have to win the play every play.'"
The victory bumps the Chippewas up to 3-2 and 1-0 in Mid-American Conference play.
"It is just another win," defensive lineman Michael Heldman said. "You look at the past three years and we have only experienced not many wins but a lot of losses and some guys can get comfortable with three and two, oh we have a winning record, that is not who we are."
The team in maroon and gold came out of the gates swinging with quarterback Joe Labas connecting with wide receiver Tommy McIntosh for a 47-yard gain on the first play of the game, moving the chains to EMU's 28-yard line.
Central Michigan punched it in eight plays later on a two-yard pass to Brock Townsend to capture an early 7-0 lead.
The CMU defense impressed in its first outing as well holding the Eagles to a quick three-and-out.
Chippewa running back Nahree Biggins immediately capitalized on the defensive stop, gashing EMU for a long 49-yard rushing touchdown to expand the lead to 14-0.
"I saw how Jacob Booth, one of our offensive lineman, he had an awesome block on the play and as soon as I got to the second level I felt as though it was good," Biggins said. "I was talking with a couple of my teammates, saying this is my first time scoring since, like 2019."
The Eagles found success on their second drive of the game, but the drive eventually stalled out on the CMU 24-yard line due to great secondary play by cornerback Jaion Jackson, forcing EMU to kick a 41-yard field goal to make the score 14-3.
However, the squad from Mount Pleasant refused to let up, putting together a five minute and 39 second drive for 75 total yards, punctuated by a 2-yard touchdown catch from wide receiver Langston Lewis.
The team from Ypsilanti responded with another field goal after yet another drive died inside of the CMU 25-yard line.
The Chippewas had a chance to expand on the 21-6 lead with one minute left before halftime, but a missed field goal sent both of the teams into the locker room with no further scoring.
Eastern Michigan refused to concede, coming out of halftime with renewed vigor leading quarterback Noah Kim to find the end zone on a 14-yard rush to cut CMU's lead to eight.
"When you play other good teams, they have a say in it too," Drinkall said. "They are going to battle back and play really hard and make effort plays, so for us to battle through some resistance... I thought coach Chapin did such a good job too."
In its next two drives, CMU totaled just 26 total yards as the offense began to struggle, allowing Eastern Michigan an avenue back into the game.
However, just when it seemed all momentum was going EMU's way, the fans at Kelly/Shorts Stadium erupted as Blackwell made a diving interception catch to prevent a potentially game tying touchdown.
"He threw the ball and im like 'alright I trust one of my guys are going to be there for a deflection or interception,'" Heldman said. "He [Blackwell] is one of those guys that will just go make a play when it needs to happen."
Fueled by the momentum of a crowd that totaled 28,605 in attendance, CMU once again found its offensive footing, muscling through a nearly eight minute drive that stretched 72 yards resulting in a field goal to make the score 24-13.
"We had 28,605 people in attendance, a top ten largest crowd in the history of Kelly/Shorts and we needed everybody," Drinkall said. "The crowd was a huge advantage for us, the environment was intimidating, everybody had fun and the energy was great from the get-go."
With 4:22 remaining in the game Eastern Michigan lined up to kick a 40-yard field goal, but the attempt was no good.
CMU refused to let the Eagles offense see the light of day again as Labas eventually kneeled out the clock.
The Chippewas dominated the ground game, rushing for 317 yards on 51 attempts while holding EMU to only 130 yards on 29 attempts.
Quarterback Angel Flores led Central Michigan in rushing, finishing with 137 yards on the ground.
"Angel is such a dynamic kid because when he comes in it is not like it is a running offense, he just runs the whole thing," Drinkall said. "It is the same offense with a different flavor to it."
CMU football returns on Oct. 4 as it makes the trek to Ohio to take on the Akron Zips at 3:30 p.m.
