Wednesday, November 15
Athens, Ohio/Peden Stadium
7 p.m.
Central Michigan University
20
at
34
Ohio
CMU's Tyson Davis corrals a touchdown pass on Wednesday at Ohio's Peden Stadium. It was Davis' fourth TD reception this season.
Photo by: Jack Reeber
Slow Start Dooms Chippewas at Ohio, 34-20
11/15/2023 11:15:00 PM | Football
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CMU enters finale against Toledo needing a win to remain bowl eligible
ATHENS, Ohio – Ohio came in to Wednesday's Mid-American Conference football game with Central Michigan with the No. 1-ranked defense in the Mid-American Conference.
The Bobcats used that defense as an offensive weapon in handing the Chippewas a 34-20 Mid-American Conference loss before 14,736 at Peden Stadium.
Ohio returned an interception for a touchdown midway through the first quarter en route to a 17-0 lead and the Chippewas never fully recovered in falling to 5-6, 3-4 MAC.
CMU closes the regular season on Friday, Nov. 24 (noon) against Toledo at Kelly/Shorts Stadium. The Chippewas need a win over the Rockets to become bowl eligible. Toledo, 10-1, 7-0 has wrapped up the MAC West title and punched its ticket to the league title game.
"Somehow I failed them," said a despondent CMU coach Jim McElwain, referring to his players. "We haven't gotten wins we needed to get. I'm pointing at me. I failed them. I haven't gotten us to win."
The Chippewas moved the ball effectively in the first half, rushing for 137 yards in the first two quarters against a defense that entered the game allowing an average of 95.3 yards per contest on the ground, the best in the MAC.
But the Chippewas could never mount enough sustained offense to pull even. They twice pulled within 10 points, the first at 17-7 late in the second quarter and the second at 24-14 early in the third.
"If we get a couple stops there … you know, at the end of the day, they beat us," McElwain said. "Got to get on the bus and figure out how we're going to get a win at home."
CMU quarterback Jase Bauer threw for 157 yards on 10-of-21 passing and two touchdowns against one interception. His TD passes went for 50 yards to Tyson Davis and for 62 yards to Chris Parker.
CMU's Marion Lukes ran for 75 yards and a touchdown on 15 attempts.
The Chippewas finished with 162 on the ground, the second highest total the Bobcats have allowed this season. But only 25 yards of that total came in the final two quarters when CMU was forced to go more to the air in its comeback attempt.
The Defense
Cornerback Da'Raun McKinney led the Chippewa defense with nine tackles, while Caleb Spann added seven.
Linebacker Kyle Moretti returned to the field for the Chippewas after missing the last three games. The ball-hawking junior, who was the Chippewas' leading tackler when he was injured against Akron, was in on five tackles and was credited with a pass breakup despite limited playing time.
Offensive Numbers
Lukes, who left last week's game at Western Michigan with an injury in the fourth quarter, also made a team-high three receptions for 13 yards to finish with 88 all-purpose yards.
Normally the Chippewas' kickoff return specialist, Lukes gave way on that assignment at Ohio to Sam Hicks, who performed admirably with five returns for 99 yards.
Myles Bailey, limited to one carry (for 11 yards) last week against Western Michigan, carried four times for 54 yards with a long gain of 48, a season high.
Bert Emanuel Jr., CMU's starting quarterback at the beginning of the season, carried five times for 35 yards. He made his return a week ago at Western Michigan, carrying three times for 20 yards after missing four games with an injury.
The Bobcats used that defense as an offensive weapon in handing the Chippewas a 34-20 Mid-American Conference loss before 14,736 at Peden Stadium.
Ohio returned an interception for a touchdown midway through the first quarter en route to a 17-0 lead and the Chippewas never fully recovered in falling to 5-6, 3-4 MAC.
CMU closes the regular season on Friday, Nov. 24 (noon) against Toledo at Kelly/Shorts Stadium. The Chippewas need a win over the Rockets to become bowl eligible. Toledo, 10-1, 7-0 has wrapped up the MAC West title and punched its ticket to the league title game.
"Somehow I failed them," said a despondent CMU coach Jim McElwain, referring to his players. "We haven't gotten wins we needed to get. I'm pointing at me. I failed them. I haven't gotten us to win."
The Chippewas moved the ball effectively in the first half, rushing for 137 yards in the first two quarters against a defense that entered the game allowing an average of 95.3 yards per contest on the ground, the best in the MAC.
But the Chippewas could never mount enough sustained offense to pull even. They twice pulled within 10 points, the first at 17-7 late in the second quarter and the second at 24-14 early in the third.
"If we get a couple stops there … you know, at the end of the day, they beat us," McElwain said. "Got to get on the bus and figure out how we're going to get a win at home."
CMU quarterback Jase Bauer threw for 157 yards on 10-of-21 passing and two touchdowns against one interception. His TD passes went for 50 yards to Tyson Davis and for 62 yards to Chris Parker.
CMU's Marion Lukes ran for 75 yards and a touchdown on 15 attempts.
The Chippewas finished with 162 on the ground, the second highest total the Bobcats have allowed this season. But only 25 yards of that total came in the final two quarters when CMU was forced to go more to the air in its comeback attempt.
The Defense
Cornerback Da'Raun McKinney led the Chippewa defense with nine tackles, while Caleb Spann added seven.
Linebacker Kyle Moretti returned to the field for the Chippewas after missing the last three games. The ball-hawking junior, who was the Chippewas' leading tackler when he was injured against Akron, was in on five tackles and was credited with a pass breakup despite limited playing time.
Offensive Numbers
Lukes, who left last week's game at Western Michigan with an injury in the fourth quarter, also made a team-high three receptions for 13 yards to finish with 88 all-purpose yards.
Normally the Chippewas' kickoff return specialist, Lukes gave way on that assignment at Ohio to Sam Hicks, who performed admirably with five returns for 99 yards.
Myles Bailey, limited to one carry (for 11 yards) last week against Western Michigan, carried four times for 54 yards with a long gain of 48, a season high.
Bert Emanuel Jr., CMU's starting quarterback at the beginning of the season, carried five times for 35 yards. He made his return a week ago at Western Michigan, carrying three times for 20 yards after missing four games with an injury.