Central Michigan University
Eastern Michigan
Football Falls in Four Overtimes to Eastern Michigan, 61-58
11/6/2004 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 6, 2004
Detroit - Fifty-eight points were not enough for the Central Michigan University football team here Saturday night.
The Chippewas lost to Eastern Michigan University in what is sure to be remembered as a Mid-American Classic, 61-58, in four overtimes.
The loss dropped CMU to 3-6 for the season and 2-4 in MAC play while the Eagles are now 4-5 overall and 4-2 in loop action.
Not only did the two teams combine for 119 points but they also had 1,008 yards in total offense.
"It was a great football game," said CMU head coach Brian Kelly. "Whoever blinked first was going to lose. Eastern Michigan made one more play than we did and deserved to win the game.
"Losing is always difficult but I told my team that the big picture was what we take from this game. Will we bounce back and get ready for our final two games?"
The game was tied at the end of regulation at 40-40 on a 34-yard field goal by EMU's Andrew Wellock.
The two teams traded points in the first three overtimes before Wellock drilled a 24-yard field goal in the fourth OT. CMU's possession ended when Kent Smith fumbled the ball and Eastern recovered.
It was one of the few things the 6-5 junior QB did wrong the entire night.
He completed 24-of-35 passes for 319 yards for five touchdowns to tie Bill Kelly's school record set in 1929.
Three of his TD passes went to Justin Harper to tie a school record held by three others.
Eastern's Matt Bohnet completed 31-of-54 passes for 367 yards and four touchdowns. Eric Deslauriers caught 14 for 207 yards and three scores.
The Chippewas jumped out to a 7-0 lead with 13:06 to go in the first period when junior quarterback Kent Smith hit sophomore wide receiver Damien Linson on a 10-yard crossing route. The drive started out on the EMU 44 thanks to a 51-yard kickoff return by Asante White.
CMU came back on its ensuing possession to make it 14-0 on a one-yard keeper by Smith that capped a 12-play, 82-yard drive.
The lead was short-lived, however.
EMU's Anthony Sherrill scored on runs of one and 11 yards to tie the game at 14-14 with 12:50 remaining in the half.
The Chippewas came right back to take the lead at the 11:19 mark when Smith found Linson in the end zone from 27 yards out.
Once again, the Eagles came roaring back to tie the game this time on a 17-yard pass from Matt Bohnet to Eric Deslauriers with 10:14 to play in the half.
The Eagles took their first lead of the game with 32 seconds remaining on a seven-yard from Bohnet to Deslauriers. However, the point-after was blocked by James King - the 12th of his career - and returned for two points by freshman Ronnie Jackson to cut the EMU lead to 27-23.
Believe it or not, that wasn't the final scoring.
Aided by a 15-yard EMU penalty, CMU moved to a first down at the nine-yard line. Mike Gruzwalski then drilled a 26-yard field to cut the Eagle margin to 27-26 at intermission.
EMU upped its lead to 30-26 with 8:58 to play in the third period on a 26-yard field goal by Andrew Wellock.
The Eagles intercepted a CMU pass to set up their next score, returning it to the Chippewa 39. On the first play, Bohnet found Deslauriers for their third touchdown.
This time, it was CMU's turn to bounce back, scoring from 25 yards out on a run by Smith to cut the Eastern advantage to 37-33 with 3:22 to play in the period.
The Chippewas regained the lead with 7:42 to play in the game when Smith gunned a pass to Justin Harper in the end zone from 20 yards out to make it 40-37.
EMU marched right down the field on its next possession to tie the game at 40-40 on a 34-yard field goal by Wellock with 5:42 remaining.
Harper caught two of his TD passes in overtime - a 14-yarder in the first extra session and a four-yarder in the third. Mike Gruzwalski's field goal from 36 yards was CMU's scoring in the third overtime.
Next up for the Chippewas is a MAC road tilt at Buffalo (Nov. 13) before coming home to play Ball State on Nov. 20.
