Slow start sinks CMU football against New Mexico
Central Michigan University senior quarterback Angel Flores calls a different play during CMU's spring football game in Kelly/Shorts Stadium on Tuesday, April 21, 2026. (CM-Life | Trevor Sparks)
Headed into halftime with 33 total yards and facing a 20-0 deficit to New Mexico, Central Michigan football was struggling to find its rhythm on either side of the ball.
"We didn't do anything better than they did," head coach Matt Drinkall said. "They did everything better than us and that is 100 percent on me, so I have to get that fixed."
In the second half, CMU found moments where it settled into the game. However, a 10-play 75-yard touchdown drive capped off by a 23-yard Nasir Williams touchdown run marked the Chippewas' only points of the game as the squad fell 38-7.
The team in maroon and gold falls to 0-1 after its season opener in Albuquerque.
"It was one of those wonky games where they got the ball and held onto it and we could not get it going in the first half," Drinkall said. "The damage was done, we were playing catch up too-little-too-late."
The offense struggled early for the Chippewas, going three-and-out in the team's only two drives of the first quarter allowing New Mexico to capitalize both times, gifting the Lobos a 14-0 lead going into the second quarter.
The Chippewas starting quarterback, Angel Flores, split snaps with Jadyn Glasser throughout the game, but neither was able to find much success through the air. CMU finished the game with a total of 30 passing yards combined between the two.
"I love our players, they do everything right they do everything that we ask of them, I have to do a better job of getting them in a position to be successful," Drinkall said.
The Chippewas continued to struggle in the second quarter with two consecutive three-and-outs turning into back-to-back field goals by the opponent, allowing New Mexico to establish a 20-0 lead at halftime.
"We only had four possessions in the first half and one of them was a one minute series," Drinkall said. "In those three possessions to start the game we didn't make very many yards on first down so it put us behind the sticks and you go three-and-out."
Coming out of the break, Central Michigan was able to extend a couple of drives but ultimately came up without points until the fourth quarter as the Lobos defense continued to make it difficult for the squad from Mount Pleasant to find consistent answers.
"I really think that is a championship contender on their side," Drinkall said.
UNM started its own tandem of quarterbacks with Luke Moga and Toa Fa'avae filling in for starting quarterback Jack Layne, who suffered a season-ending injury this offseason.
"They [Moga and Fa'avae] are both very similar as far as both are mobile, both run it very well, both throw it very well," Drinkall said.
the New Mexico offense proved to be a test for the CMU defense, which only returned three starters from last season's team.
"The positives are, we played a billion guys and they are all now game experienced," Drinkall said. "We didn't even do our normal in-game adjustments and procedures because in game one with this many new people, sometimes people get in there and the lights go on and they go crazy doing stuff they didn't do in practice."
The Chippewas will take the field at Kelly/Shorts Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 12 at 1 p.m. for the team's home opener against Colgate.
