Central Michigan University Athletics
Central Michigan University
7-4 , 5-2
Kent State
2-9 , 1-6
Chippewas Overcome 17-0 Deficit To Win Regular-Season Finale
11/24/2017 12:00:00 AM | Football
Andy Sneddon, CMUChippewas.com
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. - Shane Morris hit Corey Willis with a 29-yard touchdown pass with 1:31 remaining on Friday as Central Michigan topped Northern Illinois, 31-24, in the Chippewas' regular-season finale at Kelly/Shorts Stadium.
It was the fifth consecutive win for CMU, which is 8-4 overall, 6-2 Mid-American Conference. The Chippewas, who tied the Huskies for second place in the MAC West, will await a bowl invitation that will be announced on Dec. 3. The eight wins is CMU's most since 2009.
Morris threw for 247 yards and three touchdowns as Central Michigan overcame a 17-0 halftime deficit to extend its win streak over NIU to four games.
Morris' TD passes went to Willis, Mark Chapman and Jonathan Ward, and Ward ran 54 yards for a score early in the fourth quarter to put CMU up 24-17.
NIU (8-4, 6-2) tied the game at 24 with just over three minutes remaining on a Tre Harbison 12-yard run. Ward finished with 159 yards rushing on 21 carries.
CMU responded with a five-play, 75-yard game-winning drive, capped by Morris' fourth-down-and-4 toss to Willis. It was the 23rd career TD reception for Willis, a senior who moved passed Antonio Brown and into third place on CMU's career TD reception list.
Team Stats
CMU 0, KENT 3
KENT - HYNES, Shane 23 yd field goal 13 plays, 74 yards, TOP 6:34
CMU 7, KENT 3
CMU - DAVIS, Jarrod 98 yd kickoff return (ARMSTRONG, M. kick)
CMU 14, KENT 3
CMU - WARD, Jonathan 12 yd run (ARMSTRONG, M. kick), 5 plays, 80 yards, TOP 1:36
CMU 21, KENT 3
CMU - CHAPMAN, Mark 32 yd pass from MORRIS, Shane (ARMSTRONG, M. kick) 8 plays, 89 yards, TOP 2:43
CMU 21, KENT 10
KENT - CARRIGAN, Mike 13 yd pass from BOLLAS, George (HYNES, Shane kick) 6 plays, 80 yards, TOP 3:32
CMU 28, KENT 10
CMU - POLJAN, Tony 3 yd run (ARMSTRONG, M. kick), 3 plays, 51 yards, TOP 1:00
CMU 28, KENT 17
KENT - HARRELL, Trey 66 yd pass from BOLLAS, George (HYNES, Shane kick) 3 plays, 67 yards, TOP 0:36
CMU 28, KENT 23
KENT - CARRIGAN, Mike 57 yd run (BOLLAS, George rushfailed), 6 plays, 96 yards, TOP 2:52
CMU 35, KENT 23
CMU - WILLIS, Corey 53 yd pass from MORRIS, Shane (ARMSTRONG, M. kick) 4 plays, 91 yards, TOP 2:07
CMU 42, KENT 23
CMU - ROSS, Romello 2 yd run (ARMSTRONG, M. kick), 1 plays, 2 yards, TOP 0:05
