Central Michigan University Athletics
Central Michigan University
Kent State
Central Michigan Falls to Kent State 27-24
10/29/2016 12:00:00 AM | Football
Andy Sneddon, CMUChippewas.com
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. - Shane Hynes kicked a 35-yard field goal as time expired on Saturday as Kent State handed Central Michigan a 27-24 Mid-American Conference loss at Kelly/Shorts Stadium.
The loss was the second straight for CMU (5-4 overall, 2-3 MAC), which failed in its bid for a sixth victory which would have made it bowl eligible. The Chippewas play at Miami (Ohio) next Friday.
The Chippewas committed a season-high four turnovers and Kent State blocked two CMU field goal attempts.
"Obviously a very disappointing loss," CMU coach John Bonamego said. "I did not think we played very well on either side of the ball and certainly not well enough to win. Penalties, turnovers, and big plays, such as missed tackles, killed us. As well as not being able to protect on field goal protection."
CMU appeared in control of the game after Tony Annese returned an interception 28 yards for a touchdown midway through the third quarter, giving the Chippewas a 24-10 lead.
But Kent State responded with a 1-yard Justin Rankin touchdown run and a 68-yard TD scamper by quarterback Nick Holley to tie it early in the fourth.
The Chippewas faced a fourth-and-1 at their own 47 with under 2 minutes to play. CMU coach John Bonamego elected to punt, and the Golden Flashes (3-6, 2-3) took over on their own 14 with 1 minute, 55 seconds remaining.
They drove to the CMU 18. Hynes' kick split the uprights.
To punt it "was probably a lesser of two evils," Bonamego said. "It was my expectation that we would either get the ball back one more time at midfield with two timeouts left and a chance to move down and score, or the clock would expire. I was not expecting them to drive down and kick a game winning field goal."
CMU quarterback Cooper Rush completed 20 of 43 pass attempts for 244 yards and two touchdowns, but was intercepted three times, tying his career-high. Rush's TD passes went to Corey Willis (3 yards) and Mark Chapman (40).
Holley finished with 144 yards on 24 rushing attempts.
