The Chippewas jumped out to an early 14-0 lead on a touchdown pass by quarterback Kent Smith and a scoring run by Ontario Sneed. Kicker Rick Albreski could have made it 17-0, but he missed a 41-yard field goal. That’s when momentum swung in Western’s favor.

WMU got its first score on a 76-yard touchdown pass from Tim Hiller to Greg Jennings. Hiller went on to throw three more touchdowns as the Broncos scored 31 unanswered points.

CMU outscored WMU 10-0 in the fourth quarter and had a chance to tie the game, but quarterback Kent Smith’s Hail Mary pass fell incomplete as time expired. Smith set three school records in the game — pass attempts (70), pass completions (46) and passing yards (460).

2003 | Western Michigan 44, Central Michigan 21
Nov. 15, 2003. Waldo Stadium

The Broncos rolled to the win, breaking numerous school records, and had a season-best 491 yards of total offense.

CMU senior Terrence Jackson scored a two-yard touchdown to bring CMU within 10 points in the third quarter, and had a chance to get within three points after stopping Western’s offense.

But the Broncos forced the Chippewas to punt and cashed in on their next opportunity despite starting at their 6-yard-line. WMU wide receiver Greg Jennings made a leaping 94-yard touchdown reception in double coverage. CMU fumbled on its next two possessions.

Jennings had 204 yards receiving and three touchdowns in the game.

2002 | Western Michigan 35, Central Michigan 10
Nov. 23, 2002. Kelly/Shorts Stadium

The Broncos scored 24 consecutive points to break a 3-3 tie in the first quarter to get their first game at Kelly/Shorts Stadium and their first win in Mount Pleasant since 1973.

CMU used three quarterbacks, who combined for

8-of-21 passing. The Chippewas actually won the turnover battle 4-1. Western closed the scoring with a 67-yard punt return and got the two-point conversion after a bad snap.

2001 | Western Michigan 20, Central Michigan 17
Nov. 17, 2001. Waldo Stadium

CMU quarterback Derek Gorney threw a 4-yard touchdown to Rob Turner on fourth down to tie the game late in the fourth quarter, but Western didn’t settle for overtime.

Broncos freshman kicker Robert Menchinger made a 23-yard field goal as time expired, nullifying a Chippewas comeback.

CMU running back Terrence Jackson ran for 153 yards in the loss. It was his seventh consecutive 100-yard game of the season.

2004 | Central Michigan 24, Western Michigan 21 (OT)
Oct. 30, 2004. Kelly/Shorts Stadium

CMU completed an improbable comeback thanks to a walk-on kicker who didn’t even start the game.

WMU led 21-14 after Kent Smith ran for a touchdown and looked to run the clock out. But Broncos running back Daniel Marks fumbled the ball and CMU recovered. The Chippewas drove 75 yards in just four plays to tie the game with 54 seconds remaining.

In overtime, Western kicker Robert Menchinger missed a 40-yard field goal, giving CMU walk-on kicker Ronnie Budd a chance to win the game.

CMU kicker Mike Gruzwalski had missed two first-half field goals, leaving the game up to Budd. He didn’t disappoint, kicking a 25-yard field goal to give CMU its first win against Western since 2000.

A look back at the last five games in the rivalry

Related Stories

Share: