Chippewas Fall At Western Michigan

Saturday, September 28

Kalamazoo, Mich.

12 p.m.

Central Michigan University

2-3 , 1-1

Western Michigan

3-2 , 1-0

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Central Michigan

Western Michigan

Photo by: Benjamin Suddendorf

9/28/2019 4:56:00 PM | Football

Box Score Photo Gallery

CMU returns home next week to face Eastern Michigan

By: Andy Sneddon, CMUChippewas.com

KALAMAZOO, Mich. – It would have taken a Central Michigan team at its best to beat Western Michigan on Saturday.

The Chippewas were far from it, committing three turnovers and 95 yards in penalties in falling to the archrival Broncos, 31-15, in the annual Cannon Trophy game before 20,476 at Western's Waldo Stadium.

The bitterly disappointing loss dropped the Chippewas to 2-3, 1-1 Mid-American Conference. Western is 3-2, 1-0. CMU entertains Eastern Michigan in a MAC game on Saturday, Oct. 5 (3 p.m.).

"They took it to us and beat us in every phase of the game," first-year CMU coach Jim McElwain said. "Obviously I'm disappointed, disappointed because I let a lot of people down. I take the responsibility for us not being able to get a yard, for us jumping offsides, not getting in the right formation in the game.

"Those are all things that go directly through me and I let a lot of people down in this rivalry game, a lot of Chippewas out there. Very disappointed."

Western Michigan's offense lived up to its billing as the MAC's best and one of the best in the nation as the Broncos built a 24-0 lead early in the fourth.

While the Chippewas actually finished with statistical advantages in first downs and total yardage, they squandered a pair of early opportunities that, had they cashed in, would unquestionably have changed the complexion of the game.

Twice in the first half the Chippewas came up short on fourth down deep in Western territory, the first time at the Bronco 9-yard line and the second at their 15. Western led 17-0 at halftime.

"I've got belief in our team," McElwain said of the decision to eschew field-goal attempts in those situations. "We go in (to a game), we know we're going to go for it, especially against a team on the road when we feel we needed to get touchdowns. Especially with the way they moved it on us. Hindsight's pretty good: take the points. But ultimately we know going in that's what we're going to do; didn't execute, it's that simple.

"If you can't get a yard, you don't deserve to win a game."

Western quarterback Jon Wassink threw for 244 yards and a touchdown and running back Levante Bellamy ran for 105 yards and a score.

Jonathan Ward, who sat out the Chippewas' past two games with an injury, ran for 107 yards on 19 carries for his second 100-yard game of the season. Quarterback David Moore completed 33 of 48 pass attempts for 330 yards and a touchdown. He was intercepted twice.