Late rally not enough as CMU falls to WMU 52-44
A blink of an eye would cause one to miss Central Michigan's fast start.
Up 14-0 just under four minutes in behind a long touchdown run from junior wide receiver Kalil Pimpleton and an interception by fellow junior George Douglas, the Chippewas delivered a strong opening statement what multiple players called their championship game.
Yet, Western Michigan didn't blink. And it showed. Trailing by two scores, the Broncos galloped down the field on the strength of their run game to get back within a score, 14-7, and the rest was history.
WMU did anything it wanted offensively and held off the Chippewas 52-44 Wednesday to retain the Victory Cannon for the third straight season.
"That was a really good football team we faced," coach Jim McElwain said. "They took it to us in every phase of the game."
The Broncos gained 628 yards offensively, punching the Chippewas with the perfect combination of runs and passes. WMU coach Tim Lester's play calling picked apart the CMU defense to the tune of 31 first half points, and redshirt sophomore quarterback Kaleb Eleby paired an early rushing touchdown with # more through the air.
Three of those touchdown passes connected with senior receiver D'Wayne Eskridge, who finished with 212 yards and three TDs on 4 catches.
CMU struggled to move the ball in the first half, earning just seven first downs. The Broncos continued to score, while the Chippewas were stuck in neutral. Heading into the break, WMU was outgaining CMU 359 to 132 and held a 31-14 advantage.
Yet, the Chippewas didn't stop fighting.
After Eleby and Eskridge connected for a 72-yard touchdown on the second play from scrimmage in the third quarter, the Chippewas answered when Pimpleton took a direct snap 25 yards to the end zone. Eleby and Eskridge linked up again on the ensuing play, this time from 85 yards out, but once again the Chippewas had the answer. This time, junior Kobe Lewis scampered 69 yards to pull his team within two scores.
However, the early lead established by the Broncos proved to be insurmountable. The Chippewas had multiple chances to put together a drive, yet were unable to do so. Eleby connected with Jaylen Hall from 43 yards out to essentially put the game away. A late rally, fueled by two touchdowns kept the Chippewas in it, but an ensuing onside kick attempt failed to seal the victory.
"There's things you can build on," McElwain said. "Not every day do you win, sometimes you lose. The measure there is what you learn from it."
The Chippewas were 1-for-10 on third downs, a conversion rate offensively that does not spell success.
Redshirt freshman Daniel Richardson finished 13-for-19 for 157 yards and a touchdown while nursing an arm injury. Pimpleton tallied 180 total yards, including three rushing touchdowns. Lewis finished with 114 rushing yards on 16 carries and scored two touchdowns.
"There is stuff that we can clean up," Pimpleton said. "That was a good football team that we played."
Eleby, meanwhile, set new career highs in passing yards and touchdowns. In his first start within the rivalry, he was 12-for-20 for 382 yards and five touchdowns. Running back La'Darius Jefferson, a Michigan State transfer, gained 153 yards on 33 carries. The Broncos outgained the Chippewas 628-406.
The Chippewas (2-1) return to action Nov. 27 at Eastern Michigan (0-3). WMU (3-0) next takes the field at home against Northern Illinois on Nov. 28.
