CMU football falls to FIU in blowout
Central Michigan senior wide receiver Jesse Prewitt III rushes the ball past Central Connecticut redshirt freshman wide receiver Michael Trovarelli during the first game of the season, Thursday, Aug, 29 in Kelly/Shorts Stadium. (CM-Life | Ella Miller)
Central Michigan football traveled to Miami, Florida and were defeated 52-16 at the hands of Florida International University. With a few key players back on the field, CMU holds on to their previous losing streak on the road.
Senior running back Marion Lukes, who was previously out with a minor injury in the Chippewas 66-10 win over Central Connecticut State University, returned to the field.
Lukes ended the game with 37 yards rushing while senior running back Myles Bailey had 54 yards in the backfield.
One of the most significant issues for CMU was its struggle with turnovers. Quarterback Joe Labas threw five interceptions, which not only halted their offensive momentum but also gave FIU favorable field positions throughout the game.
Along with the five interceptions, Labas ended the game with 151 yards passing and two touchdowns.
CMU’s defense was unable to contain FIU’s balanced offensive attack. The Chippewas allowed 185 rushing. Despite accumulating 369 total yards, Central Michigan’s offense wasn’t enough to close the gap.
The game began with FIU quickly taking control. Panthers quarterback Keyone Jenkins opened the scoring with a 4-yard touchdown run, capping a swift 33-yard drive that took just under two minutes off the clock.
Despite a strong start from CMU’s offense, they were unable to find the end zone, and the first quarter ended with FIU leading 7-0.
The second quarter saw FIU continue to dominate the game with a 36-yard touchdown pass, and a 17-yard touchdown reception just five minutes later. The pivotal moment came when Labas threw an interception. It was returned 21 yards for a touchdown, pushing the Panthers' lead to 28-0.
Central Michigan managed a brief response with a 12-yard touchdown pass from Labas to Gavin Harris with 14 seconds left in the first half to cut the lead to 20.
CMU showed some signs of life in the third quarter, with Labas connecting with Chris Parker for a 44-yard touchdown pass followed by a two-point conversion.
However, FIU responded with another impressive drive, culminating in a 35-yard touchdown run by Lexington Joseph to start the fourth quarter. The Chippewas’ inability to close the gap was evident, and the Panthers maintained a comfortable 42-16 lead.
In the end, FIU sealed their victory with a 42-yard field goal and a 15-yard touchdown run. Despite the Chippewas’ last efforts, the final score was 52-16.
CMU stands 1-1 overall before Mid-American Conference play.
The Chippewas will remain on the road as they travel to Champaign, Illinois to take on the University of Illinois Saturday at noon ET.
