Central Michigan University Athletics
Central Michigan University
Indiana
CMU Falls at Indiana, 39-29.
9/21/2002 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 21, 2002
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Central Michigan University frittered away a 26-16 halftime lead and lost a 39-29 football game here Saturday to Indiana University.
The Chippewas, now 3-1 for the season, boosted their lead to 29-16 early in the third period and were on the verge of blowing the gamed wide open when the Hoosiers recovered a fumble on their own 12.
IU then marched 88 yards for a TD to make it 29-23. CMU got mixed up on the ensuing kickoff and took a safety when the return man stepped out of the end zone and back in, making it 29-25.
More importantly, though, the momentum had swung to the Hoosiers (2-2).
"The one thing we've done all season, we didn't do today," CMU head coach Mike DeBord said. "We didn't finish. We had a great opportunity to win but we lost it in all three phases of the game.
"It's our fault as coaches, and we'll straighten it out."
CMU will play at Boston College next Saturday. Kickoff is slated for noon.
Following are some highlights from the CMU-IU game:
*Indiana finished with 531 yards in total offense to CMU's 461.
*CMU didn't hold an edge in time-of-possession for the first time this season; IU held a 30:21-27:11 edge; CMU did run more plays, 84-74.
*HB Robbie Mixon rushed for more than 100 yards for the third time this season, carrying 24 times for 154 and one TD. *QB Derrick Vickers completed 18-of-36 passes for 198 yards and scoring passes of one yard to Dave Kurzen and 16 yards to Rod Means - both in the first half; Vickers was hurt when hit near the out-of-bounds line in the second half and struggled after that.
*James King led the defense with an interception and 10 tackles.
*CMU's four scoring drives in the first half were from 76 yards, 66, 51 and 32 yards.
*The Chippewas missed two extra points in the first half, and a field goal in the second half that would have tied the game at 32-32.
*CMU led the entire game until 9:34 to play when the Hoosiers' Yamar Washington scored from the four to take a 32-29 lead.
*The Chippewas had one turnover to two for Indiana.
*CMU is now 2-10 against teams from the Big Ten.
