Central Michigan University
4-3 , 2-1
Toledo
3-4 , 1-2
Football Wins Overtime Thriller
10/16/2021 9:51:00 PM | Football
Meeder boots four field goals, Lewis runs for 134 yards to lead CMU past Toledo
It was CMU's second straight victory as it improved to 4-3, 2-1 MAC. The Rockets are 3-4, 1-2. The Chippewas entertain Northern Illinois on Saturday, Oct. 23 (noon). The Huskies lead the MAC West at 3-0. CMU is one of three teams one game behind.
Last week, the Chippewas overcame a seven-point fourth-quarter deficit in winning at Ohio, 30-27.
"I think there's some things we can build on," CMU coach Jim McElwain said. "Again, we're not playing great. I can't for the life of me put my finger on it. We've got to play better down the stretch and yet it'll be easier to get better when you get a win.
"We won the football game. That's what we expect to do. We've got to play better to go on a run. Now we've got to come back, and we play at home next week against a team that is playing fantastic and playing physical. We've got a lot of work ahead of us."
Lew Nichols III rushed for 134 yards, quarterback Daniel Richardson threw two touchdown passes, and Meeder kicked four field goals to lead CMU past the Rockets.
The Chippewas held a 20-3 lead well into the third quarter before Toledo clawed back and forged a 23-23 tie when quarterback Dequan Finn scored on an 18-yard run with 35 seconds remaining in regulation.
CMU went on offense first in the extra period and Meeder nailed the 38-yarder to put the Chippewas back on top.
Then it fell to CMU's defense to stop Finn and the Rockets. On third-and-12 from the CMU 27, Finn dropped to pass and was sacked by Thomas Incoom and Tico Brown. That left it to place kicker Thomas Cluckey, whose 51-yard field goal attempt was wide left.
CMU sacked Finn seven times.
"We live for these moments to finish the game," CMU defensive end Troy Hairston II said. "The defense loves it. It's just the mentality we have. A lot of times in football the spotlight is on the offense and then when we get to shut the game down and we get to finish—that's our time to shine."
Richardson tossed a 16-yard touchdown pass to Dallas Dixon and then connected with Nichols for a 6-yard score to put CMU ahead, 14-0, early in the second quarter.
Cluckey hit a 41-yard field goal with just over 10 minutes remaining in the half to get Toledo on the board and cut the Chippewas' lead to 14-3.
Meeder booted a 46-yard field goal on the final play of the half and then hit a 51-yarder minutes into the third quarter to put CMU up, 20-3.
Finn scored on a 3-yard run with 3:01 remaining in the third quarter to draw Toledo to 20-10, and Cluckey nailed a 23-yard field goal with 11:58 to play in regulation to make it 20-13. Meeder's third field goal of the game, a 44-yarder, came with 6:12 to play and put the Chippewas up 23-13.
But back came Toledo as Cluckey hit a 50-yarder with 4:34 left and then Finn capped a seven-play, 71-yard drive with his TD run to tie it.
Team Stats
UTo 0, CMU 7
CMU - Dixon,Dallas 16 yd pass from Richardson,Daniel (Meeder,Marshall kick) 14 plays, 80 yards, TOP 06:14
UTo 0, CMU 14
CMU - Nichols,Lew 6 yd pass from Richardson,Daniel (Meeder,Marshall kick) 5 plays, 21 yards, TOP 02:09
UTo 3, CMU 14
UTo - Cluckey,Thomas 41 yd field goal 5 plays, 40 yards, TOP 02:14
UTo 3, CMU 17
CMU - Meeder,Marshall 46 yd field goal 10 plays, 63 yards, TOP 01:12
UTo 3, CMU 20
CMU - Meeder,Marshall 51 yd field goal 5 plays, 47 yards, TOP 01:09
UTo 10, CMU 20
UTo - Finn,Dequan 3 yd run (Cluckey,Thomas kick), 11 plays, 87 yards, TOP 05:12
UTo 13, CMU 20
UTo - Cluckey,Thomas 23 yd field goal 9 plays, 42 yards, TOP 04:28
UTo 13, CMU 23
CMU - Meeder,Marshall 44 yd field goal 6 plays, 40 yards, TOP 02:30
UTo 16, CMU 23
UTo - Cluckey,Thomas 50 yd field goal 5 plays, 31 yards, TOP 01:33
UTo 23, CMU 23
UTo - Finn,Dequan 18 yd run (Cluckey,Thomas kick), 7 plays, 71 yards, TOP 02:23
UTo 23, CMU 26
CMU - Meeder,Marshall 38 yd field goal 4 plays, 5 yards, TOP 00:00
