Chippewas Fall at Home to Bowling Green, 23-13

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – A better effort, an offensive spark.

But in the end, not enough.

Bowling Green used a balanced offensive attack for a near 11-minute possession-time advantage on Tuesday in handing Central Michigan a 23-13 loss in a Mid-American Conference football game at rainy and blustery Kelly/Shorts Stadium.

It was the Chippewas' fourth consecutive loss as they slipped to 3-6, 1-4 MAC. They need to win their final three games to reach bowl eligibility. They go to Toledo next week, then entertain rival Western Michigan in their home finale the following, and then close the regular season at Northern Illinois.

"Obviously, we're not in a spot we want to be," CMU linebacker Jordan Kwiatkowski said. "Four-game losing streak, let's say it how it is, it's not fun, it's not good.

"We've still got games to play; three weeks left, still bowl eligible if we win out. It's football, you've really got to keep attacking it day by day, week by week."

The Chippewas outgained Bowling on the ground, 187-181, but CMU was held to 63 yards passing and had just six yards though the air until under six minutes remained in the fourth quarter and were in a 23-7 hole.

"These kids, I just love them and feel their pain," CMU coach Jim McElwain said. "It's hard to go in that locker room. I know what they put into it, how much they care. Played good enough on defense, held them to field goals and (we) couldn't get the ball in the end zone. At the end of the day when you've got six yards passing, that makes it tough."

CMU's defense held Bowling Green to three first-half field goals and the Chippewas trailed, 9-7, at halftime after CMU got a 1-yard touchdown run from Tyler Jefferson with 31 seconds remaining in the half.

Bowling Green extended its lead to 16-7 with a touchdown pass early in the third quarter. The Falcons worked a short field after Jefferson was hit and fumbled on the Chippewas' first play from scrimmage in the third quarter. The Falcons took over at CMU's 39-yard line.

"That was huge and plus we had a guy open, that's the disappointing part," McElwain said of the fumble, which stood after a video review.

The Chippewas had a chance to make it a one-score game as the third quarter drew to a close. They drove to Bowling Green's 30-yard line and failed to convert on fourth-and-4.

CMU had a strong southernly wind at its back in the third quarter and, had McElwain opted to try for a field goal, could have cut their deficit to 16-10. Instead, the score remained 16-7.

"We actually went back and forth on it," McElwain said of the decision to eschew the field goal try. "We felt momentum wise we had an opportunity down in there. Analytics was a pick 'em. At the same time, I really felt that, while we were down there, we really needed to go get a touchdown and in the back of your mind hold the score and give yourself a chance to win it with a field goal at the end.

"That's what went through our minds; I made the call and we just came up short on that fourth down."

Bowling Green extended its lead to 23-7 with a touchdown with under six minutes remaining.

Freshman quarterback Jadyn Glasser made his CMU debut in the game and led CMU on an 11-play, 75-yard scoring drive. He completed five of his six pass attempts for 57 yards on the drive and he scored on a 1-yard run with 1:50 remaining. CMU's two-point conversion try failed, leaving the score 23-13.

Bowling Green covered the onside kick and ran out the clock.

"He did OK, and that's a good thing," McElwain said of Glasser. "He threw on time, threw on rhythm, which was good to see. (Jefferson), he kind of got snakebit a couple times and we just kind of felt we needed to jumpstart it a little bit and that's where we made the change.

"Both guys will be taking reps this week."

Run Game
Marion Lukes led the Chippewas with 72 yards rushing on 20 attempts.

It marked the fifth time the senior has rushed for at least 70 yards this season – he is averaging 4.9 yard per carry – and the sixth consecutive game he has carried it at least 13 times.

"There's a reason he's one of the team captains throughout the season," McElwain said. "The guy's got such passion for the game and he really cares about the program, he cares about the people around him. He's a guy who means a lot to me. I know what he's gone through in life and to see what he's doing makes me real proud."

Jefferson rushed for 65 yards, including a career-long 44-yarder that led to his 1-yard touchdown run in the second quarter.

The Chippewas' 187 yards rushing was the most the Falcons have surrendered to a MAC opponent this season.

The Defense
The Chippewa defense performed admirably, particularly in the first half in holding Bowling Green to three field goals and keeping it a one-score game at halftime.

The Falcons' two touchdown scoring drives covered 39 and 33 yards, respectively.

"They're bending, not breaking, and keeping the ball in front of them," McElwain said of his defense. "They did enough. They held them to field goals and that's what you want and offensively (we've) got to put the ball in the end zone."

Safety Da'Raun McKinney led CMU's defense with 14 tackles – 11 of them solo stops -- and three pass breakups. Both McKinney's tackle total and his pass breakups are career highs.

"I feel like my mindset is the same every game," McKinney said. "I'm just trying to come in and be the best me, dominate; just try to have a better game than I had last week. That's the goal and whatever comes with that, comes with it."

Kwiatkowski was credited with 11 tackles.

Passing Game
Jefferson completed one of his seven pass attempts for six yards. The Chippewa passing game totaled 63 yards.

The CMU receiving corps has been decimated by injuries. Chris Parker led the Chippewas with three catches for 25 yards.

CMU has not thrown a touchdown pass in 10 quarters.

"We've got to do a much better job that allows the receivers that we have left to get open and get them the ball," McElwain said. "That's kind of what it's all about."

Next
The Chippewas go to Toledo on Tuesday, Nov. 12. The Rockets are 6-3, 3-2.

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Team Stats

Jadyn Glasser

Tyler Jefferson

Players Mentioned

Jadyn Glasser

Tyler Jefferson

Jordan Kwiatkowski

Marion Lukes

Da'Raun McKinney

Chris Parker