Central Michigan University Athletics
Saturday, November 10
Mount Pleasant, Mich.
3 P.M.
Central Michigan University
1-10 , 0-7
13
vs
24
Bowling Green
2-8 , 1-5
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
Bowling Green
0
0
17
7
24
Central Michigan
7
6
0
0
13
CMU running back Johnathan Ward dives for the end zone on Saturday in the Chippewas' 24-13 loss to Bowling Green at Kelly/Shorts Stadium.
Photo by: Allissa Rusco
Chippewas Fall On Senior Day
11/10/2018 8:00:00 PM | Football
Tide turns against CMU on special teams plays
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – A tale of two halves.
Bowling Green used a pair of big plays on special teams in overcoming a 13-0 halftime deficit on Saturday in handing Central Michigan a 24-13 Mid-American Conference football loss before 8,041 on the Chippewas' Senior Day at chilly Kelly/Shorts Stadium.
The Chippewas fell to 1-10, 0-7 MAC and closes the season on Friday, Nov. 23 at Toledo. The Falcons (2-8, 1-5) snapped a six-game losing streak.
"Obviously bitterly disappointed with the loss," CMU coach John Bonamego said. "I apologize to our seniors. After a very good first half we let them off the hook. Kids fought hard and they deserve better, everyone deserves better. Very, very disappointed."
The Chippewas surrendered 269 yards in the second half after limiting the Falcons to just 51 in the first two quarters. Twelve of Bowling Green's 17 first downs came after halftime, and the Falcons enjoyed a 3-to-1 edge in possession time in that span.
Bowling Green faked a punt on its first possession of the third quarter, gaining 24 yards on the play and leading to 29-yard touchdown run by Andrew Clair which cut CMU's lead to 13-7.
On the kickoff, Bowling Green hit a short, high pooch kick that the Falcons covered at the CMU 37-yard line. Five plays later, the Falcons were in the end zone again and, less than five minutes into the second half, had a 14-13 lead.
"They scored two touchdowns before we got the ball back the second half," said Bonamego, who, before coming to CMU before the 2015 season, spent 16 seasons as an NFL assistant, primarily on special teams. "Then it was a matter of them working the ground game. The special teams plays they made were huge. Those cut really deep for me personally, to see those happen. We didn't do a good enough job of understanding situations.
"The third quarter was over before I knew what happened -- it happened that fast."
Bowling Green's next drive ended with a field goal, extending the advantage to 17-13. Midway through the fourth quarter, Bowling Green's Kyle Junior recovered a Chippewa fumble at the CMU 1-yard line and rolled into the end zone to extend the Falcon lead to the final margin.
Redshirt freshman Austin Hergott completed 11 of his 21 pass attempts for 94 yards and a touchdown his first career start at quarterback for the Chippewas.
CMU got its points on an 8-yard Jonathan Ward run midway through the first quarter, and a 30-yard Hergott-to-Julian Hicks pass with 34 seconds left in the half.
"I think some good and some bad," Bonamego said in assessing Hergott. "The touchdown pass that he threw to Julian Hicks is as good a ball as we've thrown all year long."
The Chippewas finished with 166 yards in total offense, but just 29 of those yards came in the second half.
Bowling Green used a pair of big plays on special teams in overcoming a 13-0 halftime deficit on Saturday in handing Central Michigan a 24-13 Mid-American Conference football loss before 8,041 on the Chippewas' Senior Day at chilly Kelly/Shorts Stadium.
The Chippewas fell to 1-10, 0-7 MAC and closes the season on Friday, Nov. 23 at Toledo. The Falcons (2-8, 1-5) snapped a six-game losing streak.
"Obviously bitterly disappointed with the loss," CMU coach John Bonamego said. "I apologize to our seniors. After a very good first half we let them off the hook. Kids fought hard and they deserve better, everyone deserves better. Very, very disappointed."
The Chippewas surrendered 269 yards in the second half after limiting the Falcons to just 51 in the first two quarters. Twelve of Bowling Green's 17 first downs came after halftime, and the Falcons enjoyed a 3-to-1 edge in possession time in that span.
Bowling Green faked a punt on its first possession of the third quarter, gaining 24 yards on the play and leading to 29-yard touchdown run by Andrew Clair which cut CMU's lead to 13-7.
On the kickoff, Bowling Green hit a short, high pooch kick that the Falcons covered at the CMU 37-yard line. Five plays later, the Falcons were in the end zone again and, less than five minutes into the second half, had a 14-13 lead.
"They scored two touchdowns before we got the ball back the second half," said Bonamego, who, before coming to CMU before the 2015 season, spent 16 seasons as an NFL assistant, primarily on special teams. "Then it was a matter of them working the ground game. The special teams plays they made were huge. Those cut really deep for me personally, to see those happen. We didn't do a good enough job of understanding situations.
"The third quarter was over before I knew what happened -- it happened that fast."
Bowling Green's next drive ended with a field goal, extending the advantage to 17-13. Midway through the fourth quarter, Bowling Green's Kyle Junior recovered a Chippewa fumble at the CMU 1-yard line and rolled into the end zone to extend the Falcon lead to the final margin.
Redshirt freshman Austin Hergott completed 11 of his 21 pass attempts for 94 yards and a touchdown his first career start at quarterback for the Chippewas.
CMU got its points on an 8-yard Jonathan Ward run midway through the first quarter, and a 30-yard Hergott-to-Julian Hicks pass with 34 seconds left in the half.
"I think some good and some bad," Bonamego said in assessing Hergott. "The touchdown pass that he threw to Julian Hicks is as good a ball as we've thrown all year long."
The Chippewas finished with 166 yards in total offense, but just 29 of those yards came in the second half.
Team Stats
BGSU
CMU
Total Yards
320
161
Pass Yards
142
94
Rushing Yards
178
67
Penalty Yards
31
13
1st Downs
17
11
3rd Downs
8
4
4th Downs
2
1
TOP
38:16
21:44
1st Quarter
BGSU 0, CMU 7
CMU - WARD, Jonathan 8 yd run (TICE, Ryan kick), 5 plays, 49 yards, TOP 2:06
2nd Quarter
BGSU 0, CMU 13
CMU - HICKS, Julian 30 yd pass from HERGOTT, Austin (TICE, Ryan kickfailed) 13 plays, 75 yards, TOP 4:02
3rd Quarter
BGSU 7, CMU 13
BGSU - CLAIR, Andrew 29 yd run (NEEDHAM, Nate kick), 6 plays, 75 yards, TOP 2:50
BGSU 14, CMU 13
BGSU - HENDRIX, Dorian 2 yd pass from DOEGE, Jarret (NEEDHAM, Nate kick) 6 plays, 37 yards, TOP 1:49
BGSU 17, CMU 13
BGSU - NEEDHAM, Nate 20 yd field goal 9 plays, 67 yards, TOP 3:46
4th Quarter
BGSU 24, CMU 13
BGSU - JUNIOR, Kyle 1 yd fumble recovery (NEEDHAM, Nate kick)
Game Leaders
CMP
11
TD
1
YDS
94
INT
1
Players Mentioned
Michael Heldman Post-Game Press Conference- vs. UMass
Monday, October 27
Joe Labas Press Post-Game Conference vs. UMass
Sunday, October 26
Matt Drinkall Post-Game Press Conference vs. UMass
Saturday, October 25
Brock Townsend Post-Game Press Conference vs. UMass
Saturday, October 25