Central Michigan University
Bowling Green
Chippewas Fall at Bowling Green, 23-3
10/4/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 4, 2003
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - Central Michigan University's football team showed marked improvement here Saturday afternoon but still came out on the short end of a Mid-American Conference football clash with Bowling Green State University, 23-3.
Coach Mike DeBord's Chippewas gave up 508 yards in total offense but still held the high-powered Falcons to their second-lowest score of the season behind a 24-17 loss at Ohio State.
"We showed a lot of improvement on the defensive side of the ball but our offense and special teams have to step up and play better," DeBord said. "When you hold a team like Bowling Green to 23 points you figure you either had a chance to win or won the game."
The Chippewas definitely had a chance to win but a couple of key penalties and two missed field goals made a huge difference.
CMU falls to 2-3 for the season and 0-2 in MAC play while BGSU is 4-1 and 1-0.
The game was played before a homecoming crowd of 20,649 on a cool, windy day in Doyt Perry Stadium.
The Falcons scored a touchdown on their first possession, rolling 69 yards inn 11 plays for a 7-0 lead with 11:55 to play in the initial period. They made is 10-0 on a 28-yard field goal by Shaun Suisham in the second session before Mike Gruzwalski booted a 33-yard field goal with 28 seconds to play in the half.
While CMU had chances to score, the second half was all BGSU. Suisham kicked field goals of 26 and 25 yards, and B.J. Pope scored from one yard out with 2:27 left in the game.
The Chippewas return home for a pair of difficult contests with No.17-ranked Northern Illinois on Oct. 4 at 1 p.m. and Toledo on Oct. 18.
GAME NOTES
*Senior halfback Terrence Jackson rushed 28 times for 123 yards.
*Senior QB Derrick Vickers was 14-of-27 for 122 yards and no interceptions in his first start of the season.
*Justin Harper had six receptions for 52 yards.
*CMU rushed for 158 yards and passed for 126 more for 284 yards in total offense.
*Brian Brandt booted five punts for an average of 41 yards under windy conditions.
*BG QB Josh Harris was 25-of-35 for 298 yards; he also rushed 18 times for 78 more yards.
