Slow Start Dooms CMU In Home-Opening Loss

Saturday, September 10

Mount Pleasant, Mich.

1 p.m. ET

Central Michigan University

0-2 , 0-0

South Alabama

2-0 , 0-0

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

South Alabama

Central Michigan

Photo by: Jack Reeber '23,M'25 - @jackreeber.raw

9/10/2022 6:37:00 PM | Football

Box Score Photo Gallery

By: Andy Sneddon, CMUChippewas.com

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – South Alabama scored on five of its first seven possessions and Central Michigan never recovered on Saturday as the Chippewas dropped a 38-24 nonleaguer to the Jaguars on Kramer/Deromedi Field at Kelly/Shorts Stadium.

The Chippewas, who trailed 38-10 early in the fourth quarter, slipped to 0-2. They entertain Bucknell in a nonconference game on Saturday, Sept. 17 (1 p.m.).

"We got whipped and whipped good in all three phases of the game and I take total responsibility for it," CMU coach Jim McElwain said. "We weren't ready to play. Liked our plan, didn't execute the plan in all three phases. They just beat us. I didn't have our guys prepared and that's on me."

South Alabama quarterback Carter Bradley threw for 354 yards and three touchdowns, and the Jaguars finished with 502 yards in total offense.

Bradley threw two TD passes in the first quarter and another just minutes into the second in staking the Jaguars to a 28-7 lead. It was 31-10 at halftime.

Down 38-10, CMU got a 12-yard TD run from Marion Lukes and a 21-yard Daniel Richardson-to-Joel Wilson TD pass in the fourth quarter to cut it to 38-24 with under five minutes to play. The Chippewas attempted onside kicks after both scores but neither was successful.

"You kind of get hit in the mouth like that -- it just sucks we didn't play the entire game like we did the fourth quarter, with that intensity," said Wilson, who made a career-high seven catches for 73 yards. "We should have had our foot on the gas the entire game. Something we'll look back on (with) regret, but can't change it so our mindset is just moving forward, go get a win next week. It's essential for us."

Richardson completed 23 of his 47 pass attempts for 257 yards, but was sacked three times. The Chippewas were held to 81 yards on the ground, struggling to gain a footing in that phase of the game for the second straight week.

"I am concerned because we've got a great running back and as you've seen, we've got a couple other (good) ones too," McElwain said. "They were loading the box and quite honestly, we had the opportunity to hit passes and missed some wide-open guys. There again, it's something I've got to get corrected."

South Alabama collected 148 yards rushing and finished with a near 2-to-1 edge in possession time.

"We've been pretty good at stopping the run in the past here and it's no secret it's about gap integrity and staying where you're supposed to be," McElwain said. "We'll keep working. We've got 10 games left; disappointing where we're at right now. We're going to come back and get better."

It marked the second straight week that CMU found itself in a deep early deficit. Last week at Oklahoma State, CMU trailed 37-7 and then 51-15 before coming alive to make a game of it, much like they did against South Alabama.

"I think we need to focus more on coming out and having a better start," said Wilson, who is in his fifth year in the program and served as a team captain for Saturday's game. "That was a trend last year early in the season as well. It's early in the season. I think us as leaders really need to stress preparation; every practice we (need) to start out fast and just increase that going into this next game.

"You get down by 21 at halftime, everybody's shellshocked. We can't act like that; we have to be full steam ahead."

The Defense
Linebackers Kyle Moretti and Justin Whiteside, both sophomores, led the Chippewas with 10 tackles each. Both are career highs.

Safety Trey Jones made an interception, the first of his career.

CMU recorded seven tackles-for-loss including two sacks. Thomas Incoom had one and Joshua Washington and John Wesley Whiteside combined for the other.

Run Game
Marion Lukes led the Chippewa rushers with 36 yards, while Myles Bailey had 24 yards and Lew Nichols III finished with 20 on 15 carries. Lukes and Nichols scored one TD each.

Nichols led the nation in rushing a year ago and the Jaguars, much like Oklahoma State last week, loaded the box in an effort to silence him.

"I wouldn't say it's necessarily anything different that we're seeing," said Wilson, the Chippewas' tight end. "We watch film, we're prepared for the looks that we get. I think it's just a matter of executing every play, (being) sound assignment wise."

Kicking Game
Chippewa punter Luke Elzinga averaged 50.8 yards on five punts with a long of 65. Three of his punts were downed inside the South Alabama 20-yard line and just one went for a touchback.

CMU placekicker Marshall Meeder hit a 48-yard field goal in the second quarter and missed wide right from 36 yards in the third.

Spreading It Around
Seven Chippewas caught at least one pass. Carlos Carriere and Nichols had four catches each for 69 yards and 38, respectively, while Bailey had three receptions.

Next
The Chippewas are set to face Bucknell, a Football Championship Subdivision team, next weekend. The Bison, who play in the Patriot League, are 0-2 after a 24-14 loss to VMI on Saturday. They opened with a 14-13 overtime loss to Towson.