Central Michigan University
New Hampshire
Football Outlasts New Hampshire
9/6/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 6, 2003
Final Stats?|? Quotes?|? Notes
MOUNT PLEASANT -- Central Michigan University rode the running of Jerry "Bam Bam" Seymour to a come-from-behind 40-33 non-league football victory over the University of New Hampshire here Saturday afternoon.
The 5-6, 190-pound true freshman from Miami, Fla., excited the crowd of 17,743 in Kelly/Shorts Stadium with an incredible display of running that netted 166 yards in 27 tries. The diminutive back also scored three times including a 13-yarder in the first period on his first home carry.
"I'm sure glad the Flintstones were with us today," said Chippewa mentor Mike DeBord. "We were worried about his lack of heighth when we recruited him but we kept on noticing that nobody ever gets a clean shot at him."
New Hampshire, a 70-20 winner in its opener against Central Connecticut, dropped to 1-1 on the season while CMU goes to 1-1 after opening with a 45-7 loss at Michigan.
It was far from easy for the Chippewas, though.
"It may have been an ugly win but I'll take 10 more of them," DeBord said. "It was a victory and I've learned to take and appreciate any win you get."
CMU jumped out to a 16-7 lead after one period but the Wildcats roared back to score 16 points in the second period and waltz into halftime with a 23-19 lead.
"I didn't say much at halftime to the defense other than we had to play hard and play smart," DeBord said. "The defensive coaches made a great adjustment. I like the way there was no panic in our team at the half. There was a commitment to win this football game.
"New Hampshire is a good football team, one that is especially difficult to defend. We did a great job in the second half."
After gaining 266 yards in total offense in the first half, New Hampshire was held to 95 yards in the second half -- 48 of them coming on a pass from Mike Granieri to David Bailey with 1:27 to play in the game that made it 40-33.
UNH made it more interesting by recovering the onside kick and moved to the CMU 24 before trying a desperation play where it completed a pass and then began tossing it around. CMU's Anthony Tyus Jr. ended up with the ball back at the Wildcat 40 as the time expired.
CMU will host Eastern Kentucky next Saturday, Sept. 13, at 1 p.m.
*CMU posted 16 points in the first period on a one-yard TD run by Terrence Jackson and Seymour's amazing 13-yarder that looked like he was down but managed to keep driving toward the end zone along with a safety when Ike Ajoku tackled Granieri in the end zone.
*Mike Gruzwalski's 27-yard field goal was CMU's lone scoring in the second period as Granieri scored a TD from the three and completed a two-yard TD pass to Sean Lynch.
*CMU QB Jeff Perry tossed the first TD pass of his career early in the third period, finding Tory Humphrey from 13 yards out to give the Chippewas a 26-23 lead. UNH tied it up with a field goal at the 1:46 mark of that period, 26-26.
*Seymour put the Chippewas ahead for good in the fourth period on scoring runs of one and two yards.
*Perry completed 19-of-28 passes for 172 yards; he was not intercepted.
*WR Willie Hill caught a career-high eight passes for 65 yards and also ran twice for 59 yards.
*DE Dan Bazuin had CMU's first QB sack of the season in the fourth period.
*CMU rushed for 352 yards, a feat it accomplished just once a year ago when it picked up 488 against Eastern Michigan.
*UNH finished with 361 yards in total offense compared to CMU's 524.
