Rapid Reaction: Central Michigan 35, Western Michigan 28
With the rain pouring down and the cold air setting in, Shane Morris stepped in with the biggest throw of the season for the Central Michigan football team.
The graduate transfer quarterback found senior wide receiver Corey Willis for a 77-yard bomb and gave the Chippewas the 35-28 win Wednesday night at Waldo Stadium in Kalamazoo.
CMU improves to 5-4 this season and 3-2 in the Mid-American Conference. The win ended WMU’s three-game winning streak in the series. The Victory Cannon will come back to Mount Pleasant for the first time since 2013.
Trailing by 14 points with eight minutes left, sophomore running back Jonathan Ward helped save the day for the Chippewas. Ward ran for a 29-yard touchdown to make it a one-score game.
After CMU blocked a punt, Morris found senior wide receiver Eric Cooper for a nine-yard passing touchdown to tie the game at 28-28 with six minutes left. The CMU defense did the rest and forced the Broncos to turn the ball over on downs with two minutes left.
Morris finished with 243 yards on 12-of-30 passing. Ward finished with 132 rushing yards and 81 receiving yards.
WMU running back Jarvion Franklin scored from 47-yards out on the opening drive. He would find the end zone again with an 8-yard touchdown in the third quarter.
WMU running backs Davon Tucker and Jamauri Bogan each found the end zone from 8 and 2 yards out in the first half to give the Broncos a 21-7 lead at the break.
Morris ran in a pair of scores from three and eight yards, respectively, to keep it close.
After Morris’ second touchdown run in the third quarter, CMU forced a punt and had a chance to tie. Senior wide receiver Mark Chapman fumbled the punt and Franklin scored four plays later to increase the Broncos’ lead back to double digits.
The CMU defense stepped up late to keep the Broncos off the scoreboard in the fourth quarter.
What’s Next
The Chippewas take on Eastern Michigan next Wednesday, Nov. 8 at Kelly/Shorts Stadium. Kickoff has yet to be determined.
