Friday, November 24
Mount Pleasant, Mich.
Noon
Central Michigan University
17
vs
32
Toledo
CMU senior defensive tackle Robby Stuart (71) wraps up Toledo quarterback Dequann Finn on Friday at Kelly/Shorts Stadium.
Photo by: Jack Reeber
Chippewas Fall in Finale to Toledo, 32-17
11/24/2023 6:51:00 PM | Football
Box Score Box ScoreFull Game Book (PDF)Post Game Notes (PDF)Highlight: Marion Lukes 44-yard pass from Jase BauerHighlight: Tristan Mattson 26-yard field goalHighlight: Fake Punt, Thomas Pannunzio 49-yard receptionHighlight: Decorian Temple 2-point conversion from Jase BauerHighlight: Tyson Davis 35-yard catch from Jase BauerHighlight: Jase Bauer 7-yard TD pass to Thomas PannunzioVideo: Jim McElwain Post-Game Press ConferenceVideo: Jase Bauer Post-Game Press ConferenceVideo: Robi Stuart Post-Game Press ConferencePhoto GalleryPhoto Gallery 2Photo Gallery 3
Marion Lukes accumulates 149 all-purpose yards, Chippewas finish season with 4-1 home record.
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – Central Michigan could hold the fort for only so long against one of the nation's best offenses.
Toledo scored on its final five possessions on Friday in handing the Chippewas a 32-17 loss in CMU's season finale on Kramer/Deromedi Field at Kelly/Shorts Stadium.
The Chippewas finished 5-7, 3-5 Mid-American Conference. It was the 11th consecutive win for the MAC West-champion Rockets, 11-1, 8-0, who are headed to next week's MAC Championship Game at Ford Field in Detroit against Miami (Ohio).
The loss spoiled Senior Day for a dozen Chippewas who suited up for the final time in maroon and gold.
"Our guys, I asked them to leave it out on the field and they did," fifth-year CMU coach Jim McElwain said. "Disappointing not going out on a win, and yet as I told our guys, 'Hold your heads high.'
"I told those seniors not only how much I loved them, but how much Central Michigan University and the Chippewas love them, and this university, this community will always be there for them. That's what makes this place so special."
Toledo, with the top-ranked offense in the MAC (and ninth nationally) scored twice in the final 1:22 of the first half to put the Chippewas on their heels.
The Chippewas drove from their own 25-yard line inside Toledo's 10 on their first possession of the third quarter. The Rockets recovered a CMU fumble and then drove 93 yards in eight plays for a TD to extend their lead to 17-0.
"(Toledo) kind of put a nail in it with that drive," McElwain said.
And from there, the Rockets simply wore down the Chippewa defense as the league's rushing leader, Peny Boone, rolled to 186 yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries and the Rockets finished with a six-plus minute edge in possession time.
Chippewa Offense
CMU finished with 335 total yards, just 23 fewer than the Rockets.
But much of the Chippewas' total came in the second half when they were playing catchup and 49 of their yards came on a punt fake when punter Jake Walrath tossed to Thomas Pannunzio, who raced to the Toledo 7-yard line.
That set up a 7-yard Jase Bauer touchdown run and ensuing two-point conversion that drew CMU to 24-11.
But Toledo answered immediately with another long and time-consuming scoring drive that made it 32-11.
Chippewa quarterback Jase Bauer completed 15 of his 26 pass attempts for 182 yards and a touchdown. His passing numbers were in line with his season averages and he finished with minus-1 yard rushing after being sacked four times.
A redshirt sophomore, Bauer started the Chippewas' final eight games and finished the season completing 57 percent of his passes for 1,881 yards and 12 touchdowns against eight interceptions.
"I just have to tackle the offseason the same way I did the past two off-seasons," Bauer said. "Just try to get better for my team; I still think that I'm leaving a lot of stuff out there. I feel like I'm letting us down a little bit. I've got to be better (to) be able to push the offense, command the offense so we can move up and down the field."
The Defense
Linebacker Dakota Cochran led the Chippewa defense with eight tackles including seven solos, while cornerback Da'Raun McKinney added seven stops.
The Seniors
Among the Chippewas who played their final game on Saturday was defensive lineman Robi Stuart, who spent seven years in the program. Two of those years did not count against his eligibility because of an injury and COVID-19.
An emotional Stuart spoke at the postgame press conference.
"It honestly just prepared me for everything," he said, when asked what the game of football has meant to him. "Thousands of dollars in education, a work ethic like nobody's business. When I was a kid, it gave me confidence.
"I mean football makes everything else easy."
Stuart, a Saginaw native, has applied to medical school in hopes of becoming a neurologist.
The memories, he said, are numerous.
"It was awesome playing at Ford Field when we played in the MAC championship (2019)," he said. "Kind of a dream come true for a Michigan kid, being able to go and play on that field. … Going straight from practice, and then running off the field, having class in five minutes, tearing everything off, trying to shower, and then running across campus to the science building. I think the day to day like that is just what sticks out the most for me."
Stuart, like the 11 other seniors, was introduced during a pregame ceremony. He walked out on the field accompanied by his mother, Dana.
That, he said, was particularly emotional.
"I don't think anything can prepare you for (the end), and it will hit you like a train no matter what," he said. "My mom was emotional of course. I love her, being able to do that with her was super special. She's kind of been my rock through everything, it's been just me and her for a really long time.
"And just getting to go out there and play with all my teammates again. It's really special."
Toledo scored on its final five possessions on Friday in handing the Chippewas a 32-17 loss in CMU's season finale on Kramer/Deromedi Field at Kelly/Shorts Stadium.
The Chippewas finished 5-7, 3-5 Mid-American Conference. It was the 11th consecutive win for the MAC West-champion Rockets, 11-1, 8-0, who are headed to next week's MAC Championship Game at Ford Field in Detroit against Miami (Ohio).
The loss spoiled Senior Day for a dozen Chippewas who suited up for the final time in maroon and gold.
"Our guys, I asked them to leave it out on the field and they did," fifth-year CMU coach Jim McElwain said. "Disappointing not going out on a win, and yet as I told our guys, 'Hold your heads high.'
"I told those seniors not only how much I loved them, but how much Central Michigan University and the Chippewas love them, and this university, this community will always be there for them. That's what makes this place so special."
Toledo, with the top-ranked offense in the MAC (and ninth nationally) scored twice in the final 1:22 of the first half to put the Chippewas on their heels.
The Chippewas drove from their own 25-yard line inside Toledo's 10 on their first possession of the third quarter. The Rockets recovered a CMU fumble and then drove 93 yards in eight plays for a TD to extend their lead to 17-0.
"(Toledo) kind of put a nail in it with that drive," McElwain said.
And from there, the Rockets simply wore down the Chippewa defense as the league's rushing leader, Peny Boone, rolled to 186 yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries and the Rockets finished with a six-plus minute edge in possession time.
Chippewa Offense
CMU finished with 335 total yards, just 23 fewer than the Rockets.
But much of the Chippewas' total came in the second half when they were playing catchup and 49 of their yards came on a punt fake when punter Jake Walrath tossed to Thomas Pannunzio, who raced to the Toledo 7-yard line.
That set up a 7-yard Jase Bauer touchdown run and ensuing two-point conversion that drew CMU to 24-11.
But Toledo answered immediately with another long and time-consuming scoring drive that made it 32-11.
Chippewa quarterback Jase Bauer completed 15 of his 26 pass attempts for 182 yards and a touchdown. His passing numbers were in line with his season averages and he finished with minus-1 yard rushing after being sacked four times.
A redshirt sophomore, Bauer started the Chippewas' final eight games and finished the season completing 57 percent of his passes for 1,881 yards and 12 touchdowns against eight interceptions.
"I just have to tackle the offseason the same way I did the past two off-seasons," Bauer said. "Just try to get better for my team; I still think that I'm leaving a lot of stuff out there. I feel like I'm letting us down a little bit. I've got to be better (to) be able to push the offense, command the offense so we can move up and down the field."
The Defense
Linebacker Dakota Cochran led the Chippewa defense with eight tackles including seven solos, while cornerback Da'Raun McKinney added seven stops.
The Seniors
Among the Chippewas who played their final game on Saturday was defensive lineman Robi Stuart, who spent seven years in the program. Two of those years did not count against his eligibility because of an injury and COVID-19.
An emotional Stuart spoke at the postgame press conference.
"It honestly just prepared me for everything," he said, when asked what the game of football has meant to him. "Thousands of dollars in education, a work ethic like nobody's business. When I was a kid, it gave me confidence.
"I mean football makes everything else easy."
Stuart, a Saginaw native, has applied to medical school in hopes of becoming a neurologist.
The memories, he said, are numerous.
"It was awesome playing at Ford Field when we played in the MAC championship (2019)," he said. "Kind of a dream come true for a Michigan kid, being able to go and play on that field. … Going straight from practice, and then running off the field, having class in five minutes, tearing everything off, trying to shower, and then running across campus to the science building. I think the day to day like that is just what sticks out the most for me."
Stuart, like the 11 other seniors, was introduced during a pregame ceremony. He walked out on the field accompanied by his mother, Dana.
That, he said, was particularly emotional.
"I don't think anything can prepare you for (the end), and it will hit you like a train no matter what," he said. "My mom was emotional of course. I love her, being able to do that with her was super special. She's kind of been my rock through everything, it's been just me and her for a really long time.
"And just getting to go out there and play with all my teammates again. It's really special."