Chippewas Fall at Toledo

Tuesday, November 12

Toledo, Ohio/Glass Bowl

7:00 PM

Central Michigan University

3-7 , 1-5

Toledo

7-3 , 4-2

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Central Mich.

Toledo

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

11/12/2024 11:52:00 PM | Football

Box Score Full Game Book (PDF)Box Score CMU Post-Game Notes (PDF)Post-Game Press Conference: Jim McElwain Photo Gallery

CMU entertains rival Western Michigan next week on national television Tuesday in Mount Pleasant; contest marks final home game and Senior Day.

By: Andy Sneddon

TOLEDO, Ohio – A promising game-opening drive that ended in a field goal and a 3-0 lead.

And then, the cart wobbled and five turnovers later, it was a 37-10 loss for Central Michigan on Tuesday to Toledo at the Glass Bowl.

It was CMU's fifth consecutive loss – ninth straight on the road -- and it officially eliminated the Chippewas from bowl eligibility. CMU, 3-7, 1-5 Mid-American Conference, entertains Western Michigan on Tuesday, Nov. 19 at Kelly/Shorts Stadium and then closes the season at Northern Illinois on Saturday, Nov. 30.

The Western game is the Chippewas' home finale and it is the battle for the Victory Cannon which is about all CMU has left to play for in a season that hit a tailspin with the loss to injury of its top two quarterbacks.

"I'm proud of these guys," CMU coach Jim McElwain said. "We obviously aren't where we want to be. That's a group that really cares. It's frustrating. You turn the ball over like we did, you're not going to give yourself a chance to win.

"I told them we've got to come back for our last home game. Playing for a lot, playing for the cannon, playing for the seniors and a lot of guys who've played a lot of football for us. We'll put a good week's work together and go get ready to play next week."

CMU freshman Jayden Glasser went all the way at quarterback in his first collegiate start. He threw for 150 yards on 16-for-27 passing. Not bad numbers, but he was intercepted twice, lost two fumbles, and was sacked five times.

"Played like a rookie," McElwain said of Glasser. "Ball security's the No. 1 thing for a quarterback. He's going to learn from it and that's what it's all about."

Marion Lukes ran for 80 yards and a touchdown and the Chippewas finished with 236 yards while Toledo (7-3, 4-2) totaled 299.

Not a major discrepancy and one that would suggest a closer outcome. But the Chippewa turnovers frequently left the Rockets with a short field, and they capitalized.

The Chippewas trailed just 10-3 when Toledo quarterback Tucker Gleason scored on a 30-yard run with just under five minutes left in the first half to extend Toledo's lead to 17-3.

The Rockets' Nasir Bowers stepped in front of a Glasser pass and returned the interception 45 yards for a touchdown with 30 seconds to play in the half to make it 24-3.

Glasser fumbled while being sacked on CMU's next possession and Toledo capitalized with a field goal as time expired at the half to make it 27-3.

The Chippewas went in just 30 short seconds from a two-touchdown deficit and a fighting chance in the second half to bailing water and looking for a life raft.

CMU fumbled on its first drive of the third quarter and Toledo went 60 yards in seven plays with Gleason tossing a 27-yard touchdown pass to Zy'marion Lang to make it 34-3 with 7:17 to play in the third.