Central Michigan University Athletics
Central Michigan Football - Great Games
3/9/2000 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 4, 1972--CMU 28, Illinois State 21
After 14 months of anticipation, the Chippewas and 17,000 Homecoming fans dedicated the $2 million Perry Shorts Stadium with a close win over the Redbirds behind Gary Bevington's three TD passes.
Nov. 30, 1974--CMU 20, Boise State 6
Hosting one of the NCAA's Division II quarterfinal games, CMU upset Boise State in the Chippewas' first postseason game. Sophomore Dick Dunham scored the game's first two TDs during an 81/2-minute span in the second half to boost the Chippewas.
Dec. 7, 1974--CMU 35, Louisiana Tech 14
Central made its initial trip to a bowl game a huge success by shocking defending national champion Louisiana Tech in the Pioneer Bowl at Wichita Falls, Texas. The Bulldogs' 23-game unbeaten string came to an end as CMU methodically built a 35-0 lead over the first three quarters. Running back Dick Dunham scored a pair of touchdowns.
Dec. 14, 1974--CMU 54, Delaware 14
Considered the biggest win in CMU gridiron history to date, the Chippewas claimed the school's first national championship with a resounding conquest of a highly-regarded Blue Hens team. Dick Dunham went 68 yards on the first play of the game and scored three TDs on the day. Mike Franckowiak connected on 11 of 13 passes for 186 yards as the Chippewas finished the season with 12 straight wins.
Sept. 6, 1975--CMU 34, Western Michigan 0
Before the first overflow crowd in Perry Shorts Stadium history, CMU blanked arch-rival Western for the first time in 22 years to make a successful Mid-American Conference and major college debut. Four different backs scored in the opening half en route to 360 yards rushing for the day. Western failed to complete a pass in four tries.
Oct. 29, 1977--CMU 35, Bowling Green 28
Central's first regular-season appearance on ABC-TV's regional Game of the Week was witnessed by a Homecoming crowd of 22,761. Behind 28-14 with 12 minutes to go, the Chippewas staged a stirring comeback behind the brilliance of senior QB Ron Rummel. After running for two TDs and passing for a two-point conversion in the opening half, Rummel added a 21-yard scoring aerial to Brian Blank and the tying PAT run with 3:35 to go. Topping it off, Rummel connected with Mike Ball on a 39-yard scoring play to win it with just 23 seconds left.
Sept. 9, 1978--CMU 41, Kent 0
Herb Deromedi's debut as the Chippewas' head coach served as a fitting prelude to the future success he would enjoy. The 11-year CMU defensive assistant coach showed he could work both sides of the ball as Central's offense put 24 points on the board in the first quarter. Fullback Will Young ran for three touchdowns and future pro quarterback Gary Hogeboom threw a TD pass to help Deromedi to his first win.
Nov. 10, 1979--CMU 37, Eastern Michigan 14
Coupled with Northern Illinois' upset win over Toledo, the victory clinched CMU's first MAC football title. The visiting Hurons twice took one-touchdown leads before three CMU touchdowns in the second quarter sealed it for CMU.
Nov. 15, 1980--CMU 22, Western Michigan 10
An all-time MAC record crowd of 32,159 saw the Chippewas rally from a 10-0 deficit to become the first league member in five years to repeat as the MAC football champion. Senior QB Kevin Northup took CMU 80 yards in a time-consuming 12-play drive for his second scoring run (15 and six) of the game to clinch the verdict in the fourth quarter.
Oct. 20, 1990--CMU 13, Toledo 12
A Kelly/Shorts Stadium Homecoming throng of 20,781 was kept in suspense until the final gun as the Chippewas took sole possession of first place in the MAC with the win. Central's stingy defense was led by linebacker Rich Curtiss' 21 tackles, and a big-play offense directed by quarterback Jeff Bender provided the scoring. A 53-yard scoring strike to Ken Ealy gave CMU a 7-6 halftime lead, and a 38-yard aerial to Bob Kench in the third quarter erased a 12-7 Toledo lead. Defenses dominated the rest of the way, but CMU's win wasn't secure until UT kicker Rusty Hanna's 51-yard field goal attempt fell short and wide as time expired.
Nov. 10, 1990--CMU 52, Ohio 7
The Chippewas rolled to a 38-0 halftime lead in clinching their first MAC title in 10 seasons. Tailback Darnell Rush and fullback Joe Connolly each scored two of Central's seven touchdowns in the domination of the Bobcats. The Chippewas gained 584 yards in total offense while limiting Ohio to 125. Central finished tied with Toledo at 7-1 in the MAC, but earned the California Raisin Bowl berth by virtue of its 13-12 win over the Rockets earlier in the season.
Dec. 8, 1990--San Jose State 48, CMU 24
In its first-ever NCAA Division I bowl game, Central met up with Big West power San Jose State in Fresno, Calif. Quarterback Jeff Bender teamed up with wide receiver Ken Ealy for three touchdown passes in the contest, but the Spartans offense proved too explosive. SJSU gained 642 yards behind the 404-yard passing performance of Ralph Martini.
Sept. 14, 1991--CMU 20, Michigan State 3
In the greatest gridiron triumph in CMU history, the Chippewas stunned the 18th-ranked Spartans, controlling all facets of the game. The Chippewas outgained MSU, 346-281, led by tailback Billy Smith's 162 yards and a fierce rush that sacked MSU quarterbacks four times. Smith's high school classmate at Detroit Henry Ford, Lamar Sally, registered three of those sacks as both players reaped MAC "Player of the Week" honors.
Central's defense set the tone on the first series when Doug Adler stuffed Tico Duckett on fourth-and-goal at the CMU one-yard line. Smith opened the scoring with a 15-yard TD run just before halftime, and the Chippewas made it 14-0 on a 57-yard pass from Jeff Bender to Ken Ealy in the third period. From there, the defense took over.
Sept. 12, 1992--CMU 24, Michigan State 20
A great moment in CMU football history occurred when the Chippewas accomplished what few people thought they could do--repeat 1991's startling victory over Michigan State. But CMU did just that. Outstanding performances on both sides of the ball helped the Chippewas stun Michigan State 24-20 for CMU's second consecutive win over the Big Ten school.
Safety Darrall Stinson paced the CMU defense with 14 tackles, including a jarring hit that forced a MSU fumble at the Central goal line in the second quarter. Quarterback Joe Youngblood connected with split end Bryan Tice for touchdown passes of six and 15 yards to give CMU a 14-7 halftime lead. Youngblood would earn Mid-American Conference "Player of the Week" honors for his performance which included 163 yards passing and two TDs on 17-of-22 attempts and a pass reception good for 29 yards. Youngblood also led CMU on a crucial 69-yard drive in the second half which took 6:33 off the clock and ended with a seven-yard TD scamper by Brian Pruitt to put the game out of reach. Junior tailback Leo Griffin gained 90 of CMU's 141 rushing yards.
Nov. 12, 1994--CMU 36, Bowling Green 33
For the last game of the season, the Chippewas traveled to Bowling Green to play in a winner-take-all game for the MAC championship and a trip to the Las Vegas Bowl. Two unusual plays helped CMU earn the victory.
The first came in the second quarter when a pass from Erik Timpf bounced off the intended receiver and into Brian Pruitt's hands for his second touchdown of the day. Then in the fourth quarter, one of the greatest plays in CMU history happened. Bowling Green had a 25-21 lead and momentum in the game as it forced CMU to a fourth-and-three situation. On his own call, CMU punter Craig Fischer faked the punt and ran 73 yards for a touchdown, regaining the lead for CMU. The Chippewas scored again on a Brian Pruitt one-yard run and held off a Falcon charge at the end of the game for the victory. The victory gave Coach Dick Flynn a conference championship in his first season as head coach.
Dec. 15, 1994--UNLV 52, CMU 24
In their second meeting of the season, the Chippewas lost to the Rebels of UNLV in Las Vegas Bowl III by a 52-24 margin before a crowd of 17,562 in the Sam Boyd Silver Bowl. CMU had won the previous meeting at home by a 35-23 margin behind 274 yards rushing by All-American Brian Pruitt.
The Chippewas were without Pruitt, though, in their second Division I bowl appearance and found the Rebels to be a greatly-improved football team. UNLV raced to a 31-10 halftime lead and finished with 589 yards to 376 for CMU.
Pruitt sustained a bruised knee in practice and never saw action. CMU scored on a 20-yard field goal by Brad Blasy and a 53-yard pass from Erik Timpf to Terrance McMillan in the first period. In the final quarter, the Chippewas scored on a 24-yard pass from Chad Darnell to McMillan and on a four-yard run by Damon Tolbert.