Central Michigan University
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Western Michigan
Chippewas Fall to Western Michigan, 44-21
11/15/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
KALAMAZOO - A couple of key second-half turnovers ruined any comeback chances Central Michigan University had here Saturday afternoon in losing a 44-21 Mid-American Conference football clash to Western Michigan University.
The loss dropped the Chippewa record to 3-8 for the season, 1-7 in MAC play. WMU, meanwhile, improved to 5-6 and 4-3.
CMU closes the 2003 campaign at Navy next Saturday, Nov. 22, at 2 p.m.
The Broncos broke away from a 7-7 tie early in the first period by scoring 17 straight points before intermission to take a 24-7 lead.
The Chippewas came out with a quick TD in the second half to make it 24-14 with 10:56 to play in the third period on a two-yard run by Terrence Jackson.
That's as close as it got, though, as one Chippewa fumble led to a 20-yard WMU scoring drive to make it 37-14 and a second at the Bronco goal line negated a CMU score that could have made it 37-28.
"Turnovers are often the key in games like this and we had two big ones," said CMU head coach Mike DeBord. "When you're trying to come-from-behind, you just can't afford mistakes like that." When the game was over, DeBord sought out WMU defensive end Jason Babin who had five tackles for losses of 27 yards, four of them quarterback sacks for minus 25 yards.
"He's a difference-maker," DeBord said. "I told him he was a great football player and that I respected his passion for the game and the way he played it."
The Chippewas got another outstanding performance from 5-6, 190-pound freshman halfback Jerry Seymour. He broke the 100-yard barrier for the sixth time this season, carrying 27 times for 162 yards.
Jackson gained just 11 yards in 10 carries for CMU but did score two TDs.
Chippewa quarterback Derrick Vickers completed 16-of-31 passes for 190 yards and a 15-yard scoring pass to Steve Messam that knotted the game at 7-7 in the first period.
Scott Gibson led CMU receivers with four for 34 yards.
Western Michigan QB Jon Drach had a brilliant day. The senior completed 20-of-32 passes for 348 yards and five touchdowns. Greg Jennings grabbed eight passes for 204 yards and three TDs while Kendrick Mosley caught two more Bronco scores.
*The MAC's top tackler James King made a game-high 12 stops, one a QB sack for minus seven yards.*Standout redshirt freshman Dan Bazuin, the nation's top tackling freshman for losses, had two more for minus 10 yards; he now has 14 for the season.*Senior punter Brian Brandt had 10 punts for a 48-yard average; he had two downed inside the 20.*In addition to rushing for 162 yards, Jerry Seymour also returned six kickoffs for 118 yards.*The game was played in temperatures in the high 30s with a light rain.
