Central Michigan University Athletics
Central Michigan University
3-2 , 0-1
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Western Michigan
5-0 , 1-0
Broncos Run Past CMU
10/2/2016 12:00:00 AM | Football
Andy Sneddon, CMUChippewas.com
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. - One of the most-hyped games in the long-running and bitter Central Michigan-Western Michigan rivalry turned into one of the most lopsided.
Central Michigan quarterback Cooper Rush was sacked eight times Saturday night as the Broncos ran past CMU, 49-10, before the second-largest crowd in Kelly/Shorts Stadium history.
That crowd, announced at 30,411, had little to cheer about after the Chippewas opened the game with an 80-yard drive that produced a field goal and a 3-0 lead.
It was all Western after that as the Broncos retained the Victory Cannon with their third consecutive win against the Chippewas.
"I'd rather go through eight weeks of chemo and radiation again than to lose to that team the way we lost tonight," said second-year coach John Bonamego, who indeed underwent just such treatment prior to the 2015 season. "That's the truth of how I feel."
Jarvion Franklin ran for 132 yards and two touchdowns as the Broncos improved to 5-0, 1-0 Mid-American Conference. The Chippewas lost their second straight to slip to 3-2, 0-1.
Western's defense forced two turnovers - one of which was an interception returned 85 yards for a touchdown - and outgained the Chippewas, 424-227.
The Broncos limited Rush to 178 yards passing. He entered the game averaging just a shade below 340 per game.
"Obviously, we didn't do a good enough job in pass protection," Bonamego said. "We were inconsistent in tackling and we had critical penalties; I think we had three or four personal fouls ... those hurt us. There's plenty of blame to go around and as a head coach it starts, and ends with me.
"It's my responsibility to have this team ready to play. I think emotionally we were there, I think we came out well, I just think down the stretch we didn't execute well enough to win a game against a very good football team."
Brian Eavey kicked a 45-yard field goal midway through the first quarter to put the Chippewas in front, 3-0. CMU's lone touchdown came on a 37-yard pass play from Rush to Mark Chapman with just over four minutes to play in the third quarter.
In between CMU's two scores, the Broncos scored seven touchdowns, two by Franklin, two on passes from quarterback Zach Terrell, and one on an interception return by Darius Phillips.
Phillips' return snuffed out the Chippewas' last hope of of staying in the game. It came on first down with CMU at the Western 23-yard line, trailing 28-3 with just over five minutes to play in the third quarter.
"We have to wear this one," Bonamego said. "We'll look at every single man on every single play and decide what we need to do to get better and we will.
"We still have a lot of season in front of us. This is a pretty resilient group although right now they're a lot like I am. It's hard."
Team Stats
WMU 0, CMU 3
CMU - EAVEY, Brian 45 yd field goal 11 plays, 53 yards, TOP 5:44
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WMU 7, CMU 3
WMU - HENRY, Michael 6 yd pass from TERRELL, Zach (HAMPTON, Butch kick) 13 plays, 74 yards, TOP 5:22
WMU 14, CMU 3
WMU - FRANKLIN, J 34 yd run (HAMPTON, Butch kick), 2 plays, 43 yards, TOP 0:30
WMU 21, CMU 3
WMU - FRANKLIN, J 1 yd run (HAMPTON, Butch kick), 14 plays, 66 yards, TOP 5:40
WMU 28, CMU 3
WMU - DAVIS, Corey 45 yd pass from TERRELL, Zach (HAMPTON, Butch kick) 1 plays, 45 yards, TOP 0:08
WMU 35, CMU 3
WMU - PHILLIPS, D 85 yd interception (HAMPTON, Butch kick)
WMU 35, CMU 10
CMU - CHAPMAN, Mark 37 yd pass from RUSH, Cooper (EAVEY, Brian kick) 9 plays, 80 yards, TOP 4:56
WMU 42, CMU 10
WMU - DAVIS, Corey 4 yd pass from TERRELL, Zach (HAMPTON, Butch kick) 10 plays, 81 yards, TOP 5:35
WMU 49, CMU 10
WMU - JOHNSON, Fabian 3 yd run (HAMPTON, Butch kick), 12 plays, 95 yards, TOP 7:07
