Rush throws for 352 yards as CMU moves to 3-0 with win over UNLV
CMU 44, UNLV 21
Following one of the most improbable wins in program history, the Central Michigan football team returned to Mount Pleasant on Saturday and advanced to 3-0 against the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
In what began as a back-in-fourth game, the Chippewas pulled away in the second half, beating the Rebels (1-2) 44-21. It's the first time CMU has began a season 3-0 since 2002.
"It was great to get a win at home. The student section was fantastic," said head coach John Bonamego. "We stumbled out of the block to start. The second half was a different story. We simplified (the game plan) and made some big plays."
CMU got off to a sluggish start, unable to get a first down until midway through the first quarter. A blocked punt and recovery in the end zone by UNLV gave the Rebels an early 7-0 lead. After that, the Chippewas' offense let senior quarterback Cooper Rush spread the field.
The Charlotte native had one of the best games of his career, completing 20 of 33 passes for six touchdowns and 352 yards through the air. Rush became the 12th quarterback in Mid-American Conference history to surpass 10,000 career passing yards.
His six touchdown passes Saturday were the most he's had since the 2014 Bahamas Bowl and a Kelly/Shorts Stadium record.
"I did not realize (it was a record)," Rush said. "It just shows the great guys we got. A lot of play makers. We spread it all around and it was a combination of hard work and great talent."
READ: Halftime stats from CMU v. UNLV
Rush found his junior receivers Mark Chapman and Corey Willis for a combined 188 yards and four touchdowns. He also found senior Jesse Kroll for a 31-yard score and redshirt freshman Brandon Childress for his first-career touchdown.
"Jesse had a huge play and did a nice job breaking a tackle (on his touchdown)," Rush said. "Mark did a nice job jumping up and making a catch and Corey had a third down catch. Those are big drive sustainers we were able to get going with."
On the other side of the ball, the CMU defense came away with one interception, a fumble and eight tackles for loss against the Rebels' offense.
After allowing an 85-yard touchdown run in the first half to Lexington Thomas, CMU held UNLV to 71 rushing yards the rest of the game. The Rebels came in averaging more than 200 rushing yards per game.
Sophomore linebacker Malik Fountain led the team with nine tackles and two tackles for loss.
The team struggled on special teams, allowing a blocked punt and a muffed punt. Senior kicker Brian Eavy missed all three of his field goal attempts of 40,43 and 43 yards, respectively.
Bonamego said if there was any game to make those mistakes in, a 23-point win was the game to do it.
"I don't normally mess with kickers during the game," he said. "That's not the time to do that. It was a windy day, but we thought we put him in positions to make kicks. We'll go back and look at it and get back to work on it."
The Chippewas head to Charlottesville, Virginia next Saturday to take on the University of Virginia. Even though the Cavaliers are 0-3, Bonamego said he never overlooks a team.
"I don't know anything about them yet," Bonamego said. "I know their colors are orange and blue. They have a V on their helmet and it has two cross swords going through it. I haven't watched one play on them yet. We'll start that when I get back tomorrow morning and we'll grade the tape."
