Central Michigan University
6-5 , 5-2
Kent State
3-8 , 2-5
Chippewas Rebound, Top Kent State, 27-14
11/19/2015 12:00:00 AM | Football
Andy Sneddon, CMUChippewas.com
KENT, Ohio - It wasn't easy. It rarely is on the road.
Cooper Rush threw for 337 yards and the defense tightened the screws in the second half Wednesday as Central Michigan defeated Kent State, 27-14, in a Mid-American Conference game at windy Dix Stadium.
The win lifted CMU to 6-5 overall, 5-2 MAC, and made the Chippewas bowl eligible for the fourth consecutive season and the eighth time in the last 10 years.
"It always feels great to win and it's a lot of fun winning on the road," first-year CMU coach John Bonamego said.
It was a bounce-back win for the Chippewas after their 28-23 loss to Toledo last week. That loss ended CMU's hopes of a MAC championship.
"After Toledo last week, we put a lot into that," said wide receiver Jesse Kroll, who finished with a career-high 139 yards receiving. "And this week we were, `Alright we need to turn around and this is a really big game for us.'
"We want to become bowl eligible and we want to finish strong. We don't want to let Toledo beat us twice. We responded really well in practice. We got the win."
The Chippewas jumped to a 17-0 lead after one quarter before Kent State (3-8, 2-5) drew to 20-14 at halftime.
The Chippewas limited the Flashes to 51 yards and just one first down in the final two quarters.
"I don't think we were as physical as we usually are (in the first half)," said safety Kavon Frazier, who led the Chippewa defense with eight tackles. "At halftime the seniors were talking, some of the upperclassmen were talking, it was like `We've got to step this up.'
"Especially being the No. 1 defense in the MAC, it's unacceptable for us."
Rush completed 20-of-34 pass attempts for one touchdown in a game played in a steady breeze that clearly affected the passing and kicking games.
"The weather was a definite factor today," Bonamego said. "It was as windy a game as I've been involved with for some time and it really affected the kicking game and both sides' ability to throw the ball."
Brian Eavey kicked a 23-yard field goal, Jahray Hayes scored on a 2-yard run, and Rush tossed an 11-yard touchdown pass to Ben McCord to give the Chippewas a 17-0 first-quarter lead.
The Flashes sandwiched second-quarter touchdowns around an Eavey 35-yard field goal to draw within 20-14 at the half.
The Chippewas extended their lead to 27-14 when Hayes bulled in from the 1 late in the third quarter. The Chippewa defense quelled Kent State's lone second-half threat, forcing an incompletion on third-and-10 from the CMU 22 on the second play of the fourth quarter.
The Flashes' 39-yard field goal attempt was wide right, and the Chippewa offense did the rest, holding the ball for more than 13 minutes in the fourth quarter.
"I thought defensively in the second half we played outstanding to be able to get stops like that," Bonamego said. "I think offensively, the ability to move the ball in the fourth quarter and use up the clock was critical."
Team Stats
CMU 3, KENT 0
CMU - EAVEY, Brian 23 yd field goal 9 plays, 68 yards, TOP 5:14
CMU 10, KENT 0
CMU - HAYES, Jahray 2 yd run (EAVEY, Brian kick), 8 plays, 80 yards, TOP 4:04
CMU 17, KENT 0
CMU - McCORD, Ben 11 yd pass from RUSH, Cooper (EAVEY, Brian kick) 5 plays, 25 yards, TOP 2:04
CMU 17, KENT 7
KENT - DURHAM, Trayion 3 yd run (HYNES, Shane kick), 15 plays, 76 yards, TOP 5:02
CMU 20, KENT 7
CMU - EAVEY, Brian 35 yd field goal 7 plays, 62 yards, TOP 2:54
CMU 20, KENT 14
KENT - WOODS, Johnny 6 yd pass from REARDON, Colin (HYNES, Shane kick) 8 plays, 75 yards, TOP 2:14
CMU 27, KENT 14
CMU - HAYES, Jahray 1 yd run (EAVEY, Brian kick), 7 plays, 42 yards, TOP 3:44
