Chippewas corral Cowboys
Central Michigan held a 26-20 lead and the Chippewas were pinned down to their own 10 yard line., with 9:28 to go in the fourth quarter of Saturday’s game against Wyoming
That’s when Derrick Vickers went to work.
The junior quarterback directed his offense to a 90-yard touchdown drive that sealed the 32-20 home win for his team.
With the win, CMU’s record improves to 2-0 for the first time since 1986.
“I was thinking, we have to drive the ball down, and we’ve got to make good decisions,” said Vickers. “If we block well, and they catch the ball, then I’ll make the throws.”
On the drive, Vickers was 6-for-6 on passes, compiling 70 yards. It resulted in a 4-yard touchdown pass to Tory Humphrey, the sophomore tight end’s second score of the day. The drive lasted 7:07 and put the game out of reach for the Cowboys.
“Anytime you have a drive like that, the guys are going to have to do some things, make a diving catch, or make a guy miss or make a leaping catch and that happened in that drive,” said Head Coach Mike DeBord.
The drive was only a part of the record-setting day for Vickers, who set a school-record for completions in the game. He finished the day 28-39 for 361 yards, with two touchdowns and no interceptions. The 361 yards was also a personal best for the Miami, Fla. native.
Senior runningback Robbie Mixon also ran for 150 yards and a touchdown as the offense racked up 529 yards in total offense.
The loss was Wyoming’s 10th consecutive dating back to last season.
Mixon opened the scoring with a 4-yard run set up by his own 31-yard run three plays prior.
Kicker Mike Gruzwalski’s 29-yard field goal evened the score going into the half at 13. Gruzwalski ended up 4-for-4 on the day, tying the school-record for field goals in a game and silenced concerns of a suspect kicking game for Central.
Gruzwalski’s final two field goals came in the third quarter, and Humphrey’s first touchdown gave Central its largest lead at 26-13.
Coverage broke down on a Bramlet 67-yard bomb to Malcolm Floyd at the end of the quarter to bring Wyoming within 6 with one quarter to play.
CMU's defense held the Cowboys to 64 yards rushing.
Rob Turner led CMU with seven catches for 90 yards.
The team will begin a road trip next week at Akron and will visit Indiana and Boston College.
