Rapid reaction: Central Michigan 29, Northern Illinois 19
Opening the Mid-American Conference season on Homecoming Saturday, Central Michigan football put away Northern Illinois 29-19 at a cold and rain-soaked Kelly/Shorts Stadium.
Last season, the Chippewas spoiled NIU's Homecoming in DeKalb, Illinois, handing the Huskies their first and only MAC loss of 2014.
The win brings CMU's record to 2-3 (1-0 Mid-American Conference) on the season.
How it happened:
NIU's junior quarterback Drew Hare was a lot for the Chippewas to handle in the first half, but was rendered ineffective in the second half.
CMU quarterback Cooper Rush threw for 182 yards and two touchdowns with one interception, completing 16 of his 31 passes on the afternoon.
Three turnovers forced by CMU's defense in the third quarter helped put the game away for the Chippewas.
The kicking game:
CMU junior kicker Brian Eavey connected on a 44-yard field goal in the first, a career long for the Grand Ledge-native.
Eavey made three of his four field goal attempts, also a career-high for the sophomore.
What it means:
A win on homecoming weekend will go a long way for CMU's confidence going into next week.
Considering last weekend's 30-10 loss to No. 2-ranked Michigan State, Saturday's win gives the Chippewas momentum.
Also, beginning the conference season on a positive note with a win puts CMU in a tie with Toledo for the top spot in the MAC West standings.
What's next:
The Victory Cannon will be at stake once again next Saturday as the Chippewas will face off with arch-rival Western Michigan.
Last season at Kelly/Shorts Stadium, CMU fell to the Broncos 32-20 in a game played on the last week of the regular season.
This time around, the matchup shifts to Kalamazoo's Waldo Stadium.
WMU comes into rivalry weekend off of a bye week with a 1-3 record.
The Broncos lead the all-time series 46-37-2. In the seven years since the Victory Cannon's inception, CMU has brought it to Mount Pleasant four times.
Kickoff is scheduled for noon.
