Central Michigan University
1-1 , 0-0
New Hampshire
1-1 , 0-0
Field Goal as Time Expires Gives Chippewas a Thrilling Win
9/9/2023 7:40:00 PM | Football
Tristan Mattson converts game-winner on first career field goal attempt; Bert Emanuel, Jr. plays role in four touchdowns, accumulates 294 total yards (101 rushing, 193 passing); Chris Parker registers career-high 124 receiving yards; Myles Bailey rushes for 108 yards in victory.
Mattson's 47-yarder as time expired gave Central Michigan a thrilling 45-42 nonconference victory over stubborn and explosive New Hampshire on Saturday before 17,302 on Kramer/Deromedi Field at Kelly/Shorts Stadium.
It gave the Chippewas (1-1) their first win of the season and it gave the cool Mattson an indelible memory.
"First college career kick," said the junior who transferred to CMU from Arkansas State. "Great way to start."
And it was a great way to end an offensive show against a team that is ranked 11thin Football Championship Subdivision and never backed down in taking on its only regular-season Football Bowl Subdivision opponent.
"It's great to get a win," CMU coach Jim McElwain said. "Doesn't matter what it is, no matter who you're playing, it's great to get a win. Hat's off to that team that we played.
"At the end of the day, figuring out a way to win … that's going to help us as the season goes on. I'm happy for our locker room. I'm happy that we got a win."
The Chippewas, who play next week at Notre Dame, never trailed, but could never get comfortable and pull away. The two teams combined for nearly 1,000 yards in total offense.
CMU led, 42-28, with under six minutes to play when UNH got a 2-yard touchdown run from Dylan Laube and then a 71-yard catch-and-run from Laube with just over three minutes left to tie it.
Laube, a 5-foot-10, 208-pound consensus FCS All-American last season, lived up to the hype as he finished with 371 all-purpose yards and scored three times.
"They didn't do anything that we didn't expect, they got the ball to (Laube) and he made us look foolish," McElwain said. "There's this game, Where's Waldo? Find out where Waldo is and make sure you've got him covered and we didn't.
"We knew it going in too and at times they knew exactly what (defense) we were in and they took advantage of it. They got him the ball. I'll tell you where Waldo is, he was in the end zone a whole bunch."
CMU quarterback Bert Emanuel Jr. showed growth and maturity in throwing for 193 yards and two touchdowns and running for 101 yards and two scores.
"I feel like this was a big growing game for me," said Emanuel, a redshirt freshman who played in four games a year ago. "Last year it was a lot more runs; this year I'm doing a lot of different things. I'm throwing, I'm running, a lot of different things.
"I've got a bigger role this year, I've to be a leader of a team. It's been a really good thing for me."
Emanuel led the Chippewas on their game-winning drive, which started at their own 28-yard line with 3:07 to play.
With plenty of time, the Chippewas went the conservative route and plodded their way to the Wildcat 29 – Emanuel converted a critical fourth-and-1 at the UNH 38 to keep the drive alive – to set up Mattson's final kick.
UNH called timeout with 4 seconds remaining to ice Mattson. Ben Pratt's snap was perfect as was Jake Walrath's hold.
"I went to the sideline and kind of said a prayer to God," Emanuel said. "I've got trust in (Mattson). We went bowling a couple weeks ago and we were on the same lane. I put his name in as 'The Boot.' He's made it a bunch of times in practice and I knew he was going to do his job. He went out there and executed. That's all it is."
Said Mattson: "Same kick, done it before, do it a million more times. I think the big thing is just going out there and doing your job and just performing the way that we have done in practice.
"There's nothing you can really do (to prepare) for pressure kicks. It's just repetition, over and over."
Team Stats
UNH 0, CMU 7
CMU - Emanuel, Jr.,Bert 66 yd run (Mattson,Tristan kick), 4 plays, 75 yards, TOP 01:58
UNH 7, CMU 7
UNH - Tomlinson,Logan 8 yd pass from Brosmer,Max (Mazzie,Nick kick) 13 plays, 75 yards, TOP 06:05
UNH 7, CMU 14
CMU - Emanuel, Jr.,Bert 5 yd run (Mattson,Tristan kick), 5 plays, 73 yards, TOP 02:31
UNH 14, CMU 14
UNH - Laube,Dylan 80 yd pass from Brosmer,Max (Mazzie,Nick kick) 1 plays, 80 yards, TOP 00:11
UNH 14, CMU 21
CMU - Lukes,Marion 86 yd kickoff return (Mattson,Tristan kick)
UNH 14, CMU 28
CMU - Davis,Tyson 31 yd pass from Emanuel, Jr.,Bert (Mattson,Tristan kick) 7 plays, 71 yards, TOP 03:29
UNH 21, CMU 28
UNH - Burke,Caleb 21 yd pass from Brosmer,Max (Mazzie,Nick kick) 4 plays, 33 yards, TOP 00:21
UNH 21, CMU 35
CMU - Bailey,Myles 1 yd run (Mattson,Tristan kick), 10 plays, 67 yards, TOP 03:44
UNH 28, CMU 35
UNH - Thomason,Myles 12 yd run (Mazzie,Nick kick), 6 plays, 75 yards, TOP 03:22
UNH 28, CMU 42
CMU - Prewitt III,Jesse 32 yd pass from Emanuel, Jr.,Bert (Mattson,Tristan kick) 3 plays, 32 yards, TOP 00:48
UNH 35, CMU 42
UNH - Laube,Dylan 2 yd run (Mazzie,Nick kick), 9 plays, 75 yards, TOP 03:10
UNH 42, CMU 42
UNH - Laube,Dylan 71 yd pass from Brosmer,Max (Mazzie,Nick kick) 1 plays, 71 yards, TOP 00:12
UNH 42, CMU 45
CMU - Mattson,Tristan 47 yd field goal 13 plays, 43 yards, TOP 03:07
