Rockets score late, down Chippewas in finale
Redshirt junior Ty Brock extends his arms to catch a pass thrown by junior Kalil Pimpleton during Central Michigan's game at Toledo on Dec. 12 in the Glass Bowl. The play went for 34 yards.
TOLEDO, Ohio — CMU's defense was playing on thin ice as the time clicked away.
The Toledo offense finally crashed the ice in and made the Chippewas pay.
Late in Saturday's game, the Rockets drove down the field methodically and turned an 11-play, 83 yard drive to a 28-yard TD pass from sophomore quarterback Carter Bradley to redshirt freshman wide receiver Jerjuan Newton with 1:33 to play.
The TD pass, following a fumble from redshirt junior quarterback Ty Brock on the ensuing drive, proved to be enough as the Rockets took down the Chippewas 24-23 Saturday at the Glass Bowl.
"I was pretty honest with (the players) in the locker room," McElwain said. "It's unacceptable to have three losses in this league. Those who choose to come back, it's gonna be a pretty good offseason for them."
How it happened
The Chippewas (3-3) drove down the field and opened the scoring on an impressive drive capped off by an 18-yard TD pass from Pimpleton to senior running back Kobe Lewis.
Pimpleton faked the handoff to Lewis before running down the middle. He stepped back just before the line of scrimmage and launched the ball to Lewis for the score. Pimpleton completed two passes on the drive — the other to senior wide receiver JaCorey Sullivan.
After that drive, the play-calling was stagnant with rushes between the tackles. The windy conditions did not help, but CMU's offensive creativity was lacking in the first half.
"The wind was real," McElwain said. "We had a couple things we thought we could get at them before halftime. Give their defense credit, they shut us down."
In the meantime, Toledo (4-2) had jumped out to a 10-7 lead with a 15-yard TD pass from sophomore quarterback Carter Bradley and a 24-yard field goal from sophomore kicker Thomas Cluckey.
Then, almost as if like clockwork, the Chippewas were driving down the field in the second quarter; they got the play they needed from their star wide receiver — as the quarterback.
Pimpleton motioned Lewis through the wildcat set, faked the handoff and ran out right. Pimpleton stopped in his tracks and fired a pass over Toledo's defenders into the hands of redshirt junior Ty Brock's outstretched arms.
Brock, making his second start at quarterback, stumbled down to the Toledo 12-yard line. Setting up a game-tying field goal from redshirt junior Marshall Meeder.
Pimpleton said he was thankful for the opportunity to be able to throw the ball and connect for the TD for Lewis and the long-ball to Brock.
"It was in the game plan, and we came out and executed that," Pimpleton said. "I want to thank the coaches for trusting me and allowing me to go out and make those type of plays and allowing me to show the versatility I have."
The Chippewas went three-and-out six times in the first half. Including twice off of Bradley interceptions.
After punting late in the first half, the Rockets were able to punch in a TD from Bradley to Isaiah Winstead from 13-yards out with 57 seconds left in the half, putting UT up 17-10 at the break.
CMU was able to stop the Rocket offense and force a three-and-out on the first drive of the third quarter. Then, redshirt freshman running back Lew Nichols turned on the jets and bolted for a 68-yard TD run and tied the game at 17 all.
Later in the third, with the wind at Meeder's back, the Eaton Rapids native connected for the second time — this time for a career-long 53 yards that sailed just over the cross bar. He gave his team a 20-17 lead with 5:49 to play in the third quarter.
Off an interception from junior cornerback Dishon McNary, Meeder hit another long-range field goal — a 47-yarder — to put CMU up 23-17 at the end of the third. CMU forced four turnovers and scored just three points off of those turnovers.
After the game going scoreless for 16:27, the Rockets found the end zone to steal the win.
"They hit us with a couple runs off the edge and got some chunk yardage," said coach Jim McElwain. " ... Defense pressured the quarterback like we knew we had to do going in."
"You would think you get that many turnovers and not producing points was probably what nailed it for us."
Stat leaders
Brock finished his second start at quarterback 9-of-19 passing for 101 yards.
Nichols finished the game with 101 yards on 10 carries and the long TD run.
Pimpleton finished with 36 receiving yards on three catches.
Carter finished 18-of-33 passing for 265 yards and three TDs, he also had three interceptions.
Koback finished with 123 rushing yards on 24 carries and also hauled in 44 yards and a TD.
Newton was the Rockets' leading receiver with 68 yards on three catches and the TD.
Toledo outgained CMU 391-362 in total offense. Toledo was 8-of-17 on third down while CMU was 3-of-15.
The Chippewas finished 2-1 away from Kelly/Shorts Stadium this season after going 2-6 away from home in 2019.
McElwain confirmed CMU's season is over and it will not seek or accept a bid to a bowl game.
"I guarantee this offseason is going to test some guys," McElwain said. "These kids went through a lot, we'll get back and figure out who really wants to be here."
