Central Michigan University Athletics
Central Michigan University
6-4 , 4-2
Eastern Michigan
3-7 , 1-5
Chippewas Hold Off Eastern, 42-30
11/8/2017 12:00:00 AM | Football
Andy Sneddon, CMUChippewas.com
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. - Jonathan Ward ran for a career-high 159 yards and scored two touchdowns on Wednesday as Central Michigan downed Eastern Michigan, 42-30, in a Mid-American Conference football game at Kelly/Shorts Stadium.
The win lifted CMU to 6-4, making it bowl eligible for the 10th time in the last 12 seasons. The Chippewas are 4-2 in the MAC and plays at Kent State on Tuesday, Nov. 14 (7 p.m.). Eastern is 3-7, 1-5.
It was the second-consecutive big game for Ward, who also caught one pass for 27 yards to finish with 186 yards on 20 touches from scrimmage. Last week, he sparked CMU to a 35-28 win over Western Michigan with 213 all-purpose yards.
Chippewa quarterback Shane Morris finished 11 of 18 passing for 155 yards and three touchdowns.
Two of his scoring passes went to Corey Willis, who finished with six receptions for 71 yards. Willis has a team-high seven TD receptions this season. Six have come in the last three games.
Eastern Michigan scored on the first play of the game when Maxx Crosby sacked CMU quarterback Shane Morris, forcing a fumble. Crosby recovered the fumble and rumbled 14 yards for a score.
The Chippewas responded with four touchdowns sandwiched around an Eagle field goal.
Morris hit Tyler Conklin with a 4-yard scoring pass to tie the game 7-7 with under five minutes to play in the first quarter. Ward put the Chippewas in front, 14-7, with a career-long 79-yard scoring run just over a minute after Conklin's TD catch.
After an Eastern field goal, Morris connected with Willis twice, to put the Chippewas up 28-18 with just over four minutes to play in the first half.
Ward scored on a 3-yard run early in the third quarter to make it 35-17.
The Chippewas intercepted Eastern quarterback Brogan Roback five times, the last with under a minute to play and returned 33 yards for the game-clinching touchdown by Amari Coleman after the Eagles had drawn to 35-30.
Sophomore cornerback Sean Bunting had two of the picks, while Josh Cox and Alex Briones had one each.
Team Stats
EMU 7, CMU 0
EMU - CROSBY, Maxx 14 yd fumble recovery (FRICANO, Paulie kick)
EMU 7, CMU 7
CMU - CONKLIN, Tyler 4 yd pass from MORRIS, Shane (ARMSTRONG, M. kick) 5 plays, 62 yards, TOP 1:43
EMU 7, CMU 14
CMU - WARD, Jonathan 79 yd run (ARMSTRONG, M. kick), 1 plays, 79 yards, TOP 0:13
EMU 10, CMU 14
EMU - FRICANO, Paulie 38 yd field goal 14 plays, 53 yards, TOP 5:51
EMU 10, CMU 21
CMU - WILLIS, Corey 12 yd pass from MORRIS, Shane (ARMSTRONG, M. kick) 9 plays, 73 yards, TOP 3:35
EMU 10, CMU 28
CMU - WILLIS, Corey 4 yd pass from MORRIS, Shane (ARMSTRONG, M. kick) 7 plays, 47 yards, TOP 2:56
EMU 17, CMU 28
EMU - VANN, Shaq 22 yd run (FRICANO, Paulie kick), 8 plays, 75 yards, TOP 3:36
EMU 17, CMU 35
CMU - WARD, Jonathan 3 yd run (ARMSTRONG, M. kick), 1 plays, 3 yards, TOP 0:05
EMU 24, CMU 35
EMU - NIUPALAU, J. 29 yd pass from ROBACK, Brogan (FRICANO, Paulie kick) 3 plays, 55 yards, TOP 0:55
EMU 30, CMU 35
EMU - SEXTON, Mathew 18 yd pass from ROBACK, Brogan (ROBACK, Brogan passfailed) 4 plays, 49 yards, TOP 1:14
EMU 30, CMU 42
CMU - COLEMAN, Amari 33 yd interception (ARMSTRONG, M. kick)
