Central Michigan University
7-4 , 5-2
Ball State
4-6 , 3-3
Chippewas Rally, Stun Ball State
11/16/2019 9:23:00 PM | Football
CMU overcomes three 17-point deficits in signature win
Tommy Lazzaro scored from 2 yards out with 1:01 to play and then the Central Michigan defense slammed the door on Saturday to complete an improbable and unforgettable comeback as the Chippewas stunned Ball State, 45-44, in a Mid-American Conference game at the Cardinals' Scheumann Stadium.
It was CMU's fifth victory in its last six starts as it improved to 7-4, 5-2 MAC after winning just one game in 2018.
The Chippewas overcame a 17-point deficit late in the third quarter. They turned the ball over on three consecutive second-quarter possessions in falling into a 20-3 deficit. It was the first of three times they would trail by 17 on the day.
"Signature wins sometimes happen when adversity hits," said CMU coach Jim McElwain, whose team was picked to finish last in the MAC West. "We had a lot of it today. For a team that was picked dead last, as this group was, to be where they're at right now, credit goes to those players."
The Chippewas got 356 passing yards from quarterback Quinten Dormady and 105 rushing yards and four touchdowns from Jonathan Ward in keeping their MAC West Division title hopes alive.
CMU trailed 41-24 when Ward scored on a 1-yard run with just over a minute to play in the third quarter, cutting the deficit to 41-31. The Chippewas drew to 41-38 when Lazzaro scored on a 5-yard run with 13:10 to play.
After a Ball State field goal made it 44-38, the Chippewas drove 72 yards in 10 plays, capped by Lazzaro's 1-yard TD plunge. Ryan Tice's extra point was the difference.
"The message I had the last drive was, 'Let's go be great,'" said Dormady, who completed four passes on the game-winning drive, including an 18-yarder to Ward to convert on third-and-7 from the CMU 31-yard line. "It came down to that. Big games are going to come down to the last drive; you've got to go out and execute and we did that.
"To come back from three turnovers in the first half and then win it on the last drive, and the defense goes out and gets a big stop. That's huge."
CMU linebacker Troy Brown intercepted Ball State's final fourth-down desperation pass with 31 seconds remaining to ice it.
Team Stats
CMU 3, BALL 0
CMU - TICE, Ryan 37 yd field goal 10 plays, 47 yards, TOP 4:32
CMU 3, BALL 3
BALL - RIMMLER, Ryan 42 yd field goal 8 plays, 50 yards, TOP 3:26
CMU 3, BALL 10
BALL - PINTER, Danny 5 yd run (RIMMLER, Ryan kick), 6 plays, 32 yards, TOP 2:26
CMU 3, BALL 17
BALL - HUNTLEY, Caleb 2 yd run (RIMMLER, Ryan kick), 5 plays, 26 yards, TOP 2:07
CMU 3, BALL 20
BALL - RIMMLER, Ryan 25 yd field goal 8 plays, 52 yards, TOP 4:00
CMU 11, BALL 20
CMU - WARD, Jonathan 1 yd run (PIMPLETON, K. pass), 7 plays, 75 yards, TOP 0:51
CMU 11, BALL 27
BALL - HALL, Justin 11 yd pass from PLITT, Drew (RIMMLER, Ryan kick) 4 plays, 63 yards, TOP 0:43
CMU 17, BALL 27
CMU - WARD, Jonathan 6 yd run (WARD, Jonathan rushfailed), 12 plays, 80 yards, TOP 5:34
CMU 17, BALL 34
BALL - HALL, Justin 64 yd pass from PLITT, Drew (RIMMLER, Ryan kick) 3 plays, 65 yards, TOP 1:33
CMU 24, BALL 34
CMU - WARD, Jonathan 9 yd run (TICE, Ryan kick), 7 plays, 35 yards, TOP 2:15
CMU 24, BALL 41
BALL - MILLER, Riley 14 yd pass from PLITT, Drew (RIMMLER, Ryan kick) 8 plays, 72 yards, TOP 2:45
CMU 31, BALL 41
CMU - WARD, Jonathan 1 yd run (TICE, Ryan kick), 5 plays, 73 yards, TOP 1:22
CMU 38, BALL 41
CMU - LAZZARO, Tommy 5 yd run (TICE, Ryan kick), 5 plays, 56 yards, TOP 1:38
CMU 38, BALL 44
BALL - RIMMLER, Ryan 33 yd field goal 8 plays, 34 yards, TOP 3:28
CMU 45, BALL 44
CMU - LAZZARO, Tommy 2 yd run (TICE, Ryan kick), 10 plays, 72 yards, TOP 4:03
