Central Michigan University Athletics
CHIPPEWAS FALL TO REDHAWKS
2/7/2000 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 25, 1999
Mount Pleasant, Mich. - The Miami University RedHawks (3-1, 2-0 Mid-American Conference) snapped Central Michigan University's (1-3, 0-1 Mid-American) six-game home winning steak with a 24-16 victory over the Chippewas on Saturday afternoon in Kelly/Shorts Stadium.
CMU's Paul Savich kicked a 32-yard field goal with 2:56 remaining in the game to cut the Miami lead to an eight-point margin. The Chippewa defense held Miami on the next possesion and forced the RedHawks to punt it away, giving Central the ball at its own 35-yard line with 47 seconds remaining in the game.
The Chippewas were able to drive to the Miami 34-yard line after a pass interference penalty and consecutive receptions by receiver Jammarl O'Neal. The Chippewas took three shots at the end zone as time was running out, but QB Pete Shepherd could not connect with a CMU receiver.
The RedHawks win was its eighth straight MAC victory and 10th in their last 11 games. Miami tailback and All-American Candidate Travis Prentice rushed for two touchdowns on the day, giving him his 23rd career multiple-TD game, setting an NCAA record. The Chippewa defense held Prentice to only 76 yards, his lowest since he totalled 84 yards at Marshall on Oct. 3, 1998.
Central took control of the game early, driving 68 yards for a touchdown on the opening position. Fullback D.J. McClure carried it in from one yard out for the early 7-0 lead.
Prentice scored his first TD late in the first quarter on a two-yard run with 2:49 left on the clock.
Field goals were the only scoring done in the second quarter as MU's Andy Brumbergs hit a 34-yarder to give Miami the a 10-7 lead. Savich hit a 20-yarder and a 37-yarder to give CMU a 13-10 lead at the half.
The Chippewas made a key mistake in the third quarter while buried deep in their own territory. Shepherd threw a pass that was picked off by linebacker Dustin Cohen and returned seven yards for a TD. The RedHawks scored again with 23 second left in the third on a Prentice one-yard run.
Prentice carried the ball 36 times for 76 yards and the two scores. Miami QB Mike Bath competed seven of 20 pass attempts for 130 yards. Jason Branch and Sly Johnson each caught two passes for Miami, good for 42 and 40 yards, respectively.
Freshman Robbie Mixon rushed 23 times for Central for a total of 67 yards. McClure added eight carries for five yards and the lone CMU TD. Shepherd wsa 14-for-34 passing for 211 yards. He threw three interceptions. O'Neal caught six passes for 103 yards.
The Chippewas have now lost three straight and hit the road for arch rival Western Michigan next weekend. The 71st meeting between the schools takes place in Kalamazoo's Waldo Stadium at 6 p.m., on Oct. 2.
NOTES
**Miami is now 3-1 overall and 2-0 in the MAC. The RedHawks host MAC favorite Marshall next Saturday, Oct. 2. Central Michigan falls to 1-3, 0-1 in the MAC. The Chippewas are at intrastate rival Western Michigan next Saturday, Oct. 2.
**Miami's win snapped the Chippewas' six-game home winning streak. Central's last home loss was a 45-17 setback at the hands of Marshall and current NFL receiver Randy Moss on Nov. 1, 1997. Miami has now won eight straight MAC games and its 2-0 MAC start is its first since 1996. The RedHawks have won 10 of their last 11 games.
**CMU fullback D.J. McClure rushed for the first TD of his career, a one-yarder in the first quarter. McClure carried eight times for four yards. He entered the game with only one career carry.
**CMU freshman Jammarl O'Neal caught six passes for 103 yards. It was his second straight 100-yard game and the third one in his young career.
**Miami tailback Travis Prentice notched his 23rd career multiple-TD game (an NCAA record). He also moved into thrid place on the NCAA's all-time scoring list. He now has 402 career points, which positions him behind Texas' Ricky Williams (452) and Houston's Roman Anderson (423).
**Prentice tied Anthony Thompson (Indiana) on the NCAA's all-time rushing TD list. He now has 64, which is tied for second. Prentice has 67 career totals TDs. Prentice moved into 25th place on the NCAA's all-time rushing list. With his 4,445 yards, he passed Iowa State's Troy Davis (4,382), North Carolina's Amos Lawrence (4,391) and Texas' Earl Campbell (4,443).
**Prentice's 76 yards were the fewest in a game since he totaled 84 at Marshall on Oct. 3, 1998.
**Miami linebacker Dustin Cohen scored the fifth touchdown of his career on a seven-yard interception return. He now has four INTs returned for TDs and one fumble recovery returned for a TD. Cohen also blocked a punt against the Chippewas.
**Central had two interceptions on the day. Junior safety Brian Leigeb snared the fifth of his career and freshman Darvin Lewis caught the second of his young career.
**The crowd of 27,041 was the ninth-largest in Kelly/Shorts Stadium history.
