Central Michigan falters on road, loses 43-20 to Buffalo
BUFFALO, N.Y. - A game full of promise for Central Michigan quickly became a disaster.
The Chippewas (5-4, 3-2 Mid-American Conference) committed five turnovers in their 36-20 loss Saturday against Buffalo in UB Stadium.
On top of the turnovers, CMU had nine penalties for 53 yards, a piece of the game that coach Jim McElwain said is imperative for his team's success.
"We got back to jumping offsides, those are simple details and correctable," McElwain said. "That's disappointing, that's really disappointing. It's about coming in focused on what you need to do to win a play and we didn't do it."
CMU outgained the Bulls (4-4, 2-2) through the air, 272-179, but were outgained by over 100 yards in the running game.
How it happened
After a quick three-and-out on their first drive, the Chippewas marched down the field and capped a 75-yard drive with a 1-yard rush from running back Jonathan Ward.
Following the CMU scoring drive, Buffalo drove it down to the Chippewa 30-yard line before coming up short on fourth down.
After turning the ball over on downs, quarterback Quinten Dormady was strip sacked and the Bulls recovered the fumble at the CMU 24 yard-line.
UB quarterback Kyle Vantrease was able to find Antonio Nunn for an 8-yard passing score to take a 10-7 lead in the beginning stages of the second quarter.
On the ensuing kickoff, Montrae Baswell muffed the kickoff and had to fall on it inside the Chippewa 20-yard line. Ward then fumbled on the first play of the next drive, and the Bulls recovered.
Wide receiver JaCorey Sullivan said that mistakes cost CMU against the Bulls, and that the team needs to focus more on the small details to pick up a win.
"We just have to do better at controlling the ball," Sullivan said. "Eliminating those penalties and those mistakes we made and just come back next week and get ready for the next game."
Jaret Patterson took the next play in from 15 yards out and put the Bulls ahead by double digits midway through the second quarter.
After the Bulls extended the lead to 17 points, CMU put together a quick drive to cut its deficit down to 10 points as the first half was winding down.
Running back Kobe Lewis returned the kickoff to the 41-yard line and the Chippewas were able to move the ball 59 yards in 1:57 with bursts from Ward on the ground. Dormady capped the drive with a 14-yard pass over the middle to Sullivan.
Buffalo was then able to take the ball right back down the field and score again late in the first half. The score was set up by a 54-yard completion from Vantrease to Patterson as the running back bounced off of four Chippewa defenders and sprinted inside the 5-yard line.
The ball was moved even closer by a roughing the passer call against CMU linebacker Troy Hairston.
On the Chippewas' final drive of the first half, they had two straight incompletions from Tyrone Scott, who was hit by a UB defender a few moments after the second incompletion.
To start the second half, the Bulls went three-and-out and punted, which hit off of DeMarcus Governor and into the hands of a Buffalo coverage man, giving UB possession in CMU territory.
On the next play, safety Alonzo McCoy intercepted a deflected pass and returned the ball to the CMU 37-yard line before pitching the ball to linebacker Michael Oliver, who ran into the end zone. However, following a review, McCoy was determined to be down.
The Chippewas could not find an answer for Patterson throughout the game as he was able to make plays and gain yards in critical spots for UB. He finished the game with 151 yards and a touchdown on 28 carries.
"They beat us," McElwain said. "I don't care who you are, if you do stuff like that, you're not going to give yourself a chance to win. All things we can learn from, that's the important piece, and we've got a lot ahead of us."
Up next
CMU returns home to face Northern Illinois at noon on Nov. 2 at Kelly/Shorts Stadium. The Huskies are 3-5, 2-2 coming off a 49-0 victory over Akron at home next Saturday.
The Chippewas round out 10-straight game stretch and head into the first of their two bye weeks after playing the Huskies.
