Central Michigan University
1-3
Michigan State
4-0
Valiant Effort: Chippewas Bow to No. 2 MSU
9/26/2015 12:00:00 AM | Football
Final Stats | Notes | USATSI Photo Gallery 
Andy Sneddon, CMUChippewas.com
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Another good effort against a team from a Power 5 conference. The No. 2 team in the country, in fact.
Bottom line, though, is it was a loss for the Central Michigan football team in its visit to Spartan Stadium Saturday.
CMU committed several costly penalties and couldn't capitalize early, and Michigan State pulled away with two fourth-quarter touchdowns in handing the Chippewas a 30-10 loss before 75,218 fans.
It was CMU's third good showing this season against a Power 5 team - the Chippewas fell 24-13 to Oklahoma State in their opener and 30-27 in overtime last week at Syracuse - but that was of little solace to first-year Chippewa coach John Bonamego.
"Very disappointed in the outcome," Bonamego said. "Thought we battled back in the second half. Just made too many mistakes down the stretch."
The Chippewas (1-3) open Mid-American Conference play at home next week against Northern Illinois (2-2).
Statistically, Saturday's game was a near dead heat. The difference? When CMU had its chances, it frequently shot itself in the foot with untimely penalties.
And against the No. 2-ranked team in the country, the Chippewas were going to get only so many opportunities.
"Certainly when you're playing your best and you're hanging in there with the big boys, there's a lot of confidence that comes along with that," Bonamego said.
"Michigan State's an excellent football team. They deserve to be ranked where they're at. I think it's always great to be able to measure yourself against the very best.
"That was the most fun about this particular game. Exciting to play in this venue, exciting to play a program out of the Big Ten like Michigan State, that's ranked second in the country. It's exciting. It's what college football is all about. Our kids were juiced up, our staff was juiced up.
"I think we've got a good young team. I think we're getting better all the time. We've got to correct some mistakes and I think we're going to be a very tough team when we get into league play starting next week."
The Chippewas were penalized nine times for 70 yards and had two first-half field goals blocked.
Still, CMU was within one score, 17-10, and had just picked up a first down at its own 38 early in the fourth quarter when a holding penalty pushed it back to the 28. Another penalty, this one a delay of game on third down, moved CMU back to its own 23 and a sack - one of four on Chippewa quarterback Cooper Rush on the day - left CMU facing fourth-and-36 at its own 12.
After a punt, MSU marched 61 yards in six plays with Gerald Holmes scored from the 3 to up the Spartan lead to 24-10.
On CMU's next play from scrimmage, Cooper Rush hit Jesse Kroll for a 23-yard gain, but Kroll fumbled while fighting for extra yardage. The Spartans recovered and, nine plays later, were in the end zone again, this time on a Holmes 6-yard run, and CMU's hope of the monumental upset was gone.
"We were right there in the fourth quarter, down seven," said Rush, who was 26-of-39 passing for 285 yards and a touchdown. "We're sitting there in the fourth quarter, and we're all just looking at each like, man, it's right there for us. Not much else you can ask for than only down seven in the fourth against the No. 2 team in the country.
"Our defense did a great job keeping us in that game with us not scoring. We were moving the ball for the most part, but kept shooting ourselves in the foot with long third downs."
Anthony Rice finished with eight catches for 78 yards - both numbers are career-bests for the junior wide receiver - and a touchdown for the Chippewas.
Kroll added six catches for 86 yards, while Corey Willis matched his career-best with five receptions for 57 yards.
CMU struggled in the run game, finished with 55 net yards on the ground. Devon Spalding led the Chippewas with 77 yards, 42 of which came on one carry in the second half.
Team Stats
CMU 0, MSU 7
MSU - London, Madre 6 yd run (Geiger, Michael kick), 6 plays, 72 yards, TOP 2:50
CMU 0, MSU 10
MSU - Geiger, Michael 47 yd field goal 10 plays, 44 yards, TOP 4:09
CMU 0, MSU 17
MSU - Price, Josiah 5 yd pass from Cook, Connor (Geiger, Michael kick) 7 plays, 52 yards, TOP 3:49
CMU 7, MSU 17
CMU - RICE, Anthony 1 yd pass from RUSH, Cooper (EAVEY, Brian kick) 13 plays, 80 yards, TOP 5:04
CMU 10, MSU 17
CMU - EAVEY, Brian 42 yd field goal 9 plays, 63 yards, TOP 4:48
CMU 10, MSU 24
MSU - Holmes, Gerald 3 yd run (Geiger, Michael kick), 6 plays, 61 yards, TOP 3:06
CMU 10, MSU 30
MSU - Holmes, Gerald 6 yd run (Geiger, Michael kickblocked), 8 plays, 58 yards, TOP 4:58
