Fantastic Finish: Chippewas Score Late, Then Hold Off Eastern to win MAC Opener

Saturday, September 30

Mount Pleasant, Mich.

1:30 p.m.

Central Michigan University

3-2 , 1-0

Eastern Michigan

2-3 , 0-1

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Eastern Michigan

Central Michigan

Central Michigan players whoop it up after Saturday's dramatic 26-23 victory over Eastern Michigan on Kramer/Deromedi Field at Kelly/Shorts Stadium.

Photo by: Jasper Warner '25 - @jasperwarnermedia

Fantastic Finish: Chippewas Score Late, Then Hold Off Eastern to win MAC Opener

9/30/2023 7:10:00 PM | Football

Box Score Box Score Full Game Book (PDF)Post Game Notes (PDF)Video: Donte Kent Tackle for Loss Video: Marion Lukes 24-yard touchdown run Video: Quindario Lee 10-yard sack Video: Thomas Pannunzio End Around Video: Jayden Evans PAT block, Dakota Cochran 2-point return Video: Jase Bauer 19-yard TD pass to Chris Parker Video: Marcus Badgett Pass Breakup Video: Maurice White Tackle For Loss Video: Jase Bauer 4-yard touchdown run Photo Gallery Photo Gallery 2 Photo Gallery 3

Game draws 28,000 plus as CMU captures MAC opener; crowd of 28,323 is 10th largest in Kelly/Shorts Stadium history, most attended home game since October 1, 2016 vs. Western Michigan.

By: Andy Sneddon

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – Big crowd, gorgeous early autumn afternoon, and an absolute dandy that came down to the final minute.

Jase Bauer threw for 218 yards and a touchdown on Saturday as Central Michigan held on to defeat Eastern Michigan, 26-23, in the Mid-American Conference opener on Kramer/Deromedi Field at Kelly/Shorts Stadium.

It was CMU's second straight win as improved to 3-2 with all three wins coming in thrilling fashion.

And while the Chippewas' first two wins this season came with late scores, this time it was the defense that bent but refused to break, holding the Eagles (2-3) to a potential game-tying field goal try that missed wide right with 51 seconds remaining.

"The big thing is we're figuring out a way to win," said CMU coach Jim McElwain, who has seen his team beat New Hampshire with a field goal as time expired and then down South Alabama on a touchdown with 13 seconds remaining. "Doesn't matter who you play, doesn't matter who the opponent is.

"The important thing is our guys fought to the end and figured out a way to get it done and that's the sign of a locker room and a team that believes in each other."

The game was played before 28,323 fans, the 10^th-largest crowd in stadium history and CMU's biggest home crowd since Oct. 1, 2016, when 30,411 turned out to watch the Chippewas take on Western Michigan.

Bauer, a redshirt sophomore, completed 19 of 26 passes. He led a fourth-quarter drive that ended with a Marion Lukes 24-yard touchdown run with 7:55 remaining, putting the Chippewas in front, 26-23.

Eastern Michigan then took 14 plays to drive from its own 22-yard line to the Chippewa 28. On fourth down, Jesus Gomez's 46-yard field goal attempt with 51 seconds left had plenty of distance but sailed wide right.

Gomez had earlier in the game connected on a 55-yarder – a yard shy of the stadium record – but then had an extra point blocked early in the third quarter. Jayden Evans, a 6-foot-6 redshirt sophomore walk-on, got a hand on the kick and Dakota Cochran scooped up the loose ball and raced untouched 89 yards for the end zone. The two points for CMU knotted the game at 16-16.

"He's a good kicker and I think we got in his mind a little bit with that block," McElwain said. "We put a kid (Evans) in; that's what he does. He's a taller guy. He walked onto the football program and we're trying to find a place for him, and he gives us fits during field goal block (in practice). I'm just really happy for him. Those are the little things that make a difference."

Tristan Mattson put the Chippewas in front, 19-16, with a 27-yard field goal midway through the third quarter. Eastern regained the lead, 23-19, when Samson Evans bulled in from 2 yards out with just over 2 minutes left in the third quarter.

CMU took over at its own 42 with 10:41 remaining and leaned on the fresh legs of Lukes, who to that point in the game had carried it just once. He carried it four times for 47 yards on the six-play drive.

Myles Bailey led the Chippewas with 92 yards rushing on 14 carries CMU collected 193 yards on the ground.

"Those guys, it's the M&M crew, and whoever's in there is going to do a great job and (Lukes) got his number called and sure enough, he finished," McElwain said.

Bauer's touchdown pass went for 19 yards to Chris Parker with under a minute to play in the first half, putting the Chippewas up 14-10 at halftime. It was a critical turn because it came just after Gomez had given Eastern a 10-7 lead with his 55-yard field goal, and it put CMU in front with Eastern set to receive the second-half kickoff.

"It's our guys understanding situations," McElwain said. "We work it all the time and it's an expectation and obviously that was huge, and they were going to get it coming out of half."