Central Michigan University Athletics
Quarterback Joe Labas makes a throw in Thursday's 66-10 win over Central Connecticut State. Labas was an outstanding 18-for-24 passing for 342 yards and three touchdowns.
Photo by: Jack Reeber '23,M'25 - @jackreeber.raw
Football Notebook: On-the-Money Labas Shines in CMU Debut
8/30/2024 10:01:00 AM | Football
Full Game RecapJim McElwain Press ConferenceDonte Kent Press ConferenceJoe Labas Press ConferenceRadio Call of Game
Chippewa offensive showing one for the record books; CMU accumulates 491 yards of total offense, scores nine touchdowns, averages 9.4 yards per play, 18.0 yards per completion.
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – A ton of highlights, a boatload of firsts, and a bevy of encouraging signs.
It was all to the good for the Central Michigan football team on Thursday as it rolled to a 66-10 victory over Central Connecticut State in the season opener on Kramer/Deromedi Field at Kelly/Shorts Stadium.
While there was plenty to talk about, the play of quarterback Joe Labas topped the list.
"I really felt Joe was very accurate," CMU coach Jim McElwain said. "I'm not sure he should have had any incompletions in the first half. He put the ball right where it needed to be. … I thought he played very consistently and did a good job for his first start."
Labas transferred to CMU from Iowa in the offseason. He made one start as a Hawkeye, completing 14 of 24 passes for 139 yards and a touchdown in a 21-0 win over Kentucky in the 2022 Music City Bowl.
On Thursday, Labas went 18 for 24 for 342 yards and three touchdowns. He completed his first seven passes and was sharp throughout the night, hitting his receivers – 10 Chippewas caught at least one pass – in stride which enabled them to pick up plenty of yards after making the catch.
Of CMU's 378 passing yards, 162 came after the receiver had made the catch.
"Credit Joe, he's the one who executed," McElwain said. "The accuracy piece (is crucial) and where a guy doesn't have to be wide open, and they were runner's balls. That's big. When you throw a runner's ball you've got a chance."
Senior Solomon Davis, a transfer from Valparaiso making his first appearance in a Chippewa uniform, finished with four catches – two of them for touchdowns – for 109 yards.
Redshirt freshman Evan Boyd had three receptions for 78 yards and one score.
"A lot of work in the offseason, getting the chemistry down," Labas said. "We came in even when we didn't have to come in to throw the ball around. Definitely a really good connection with my receiver room and tight end as well."
Said McElwain: "Our offensive staff put a fantastic plan together. I really felt they did a good job of keeping them off balance. Now let's go look at it and let's get a little bit better next week."
Next
The Chippewas travel to Miami to play Florida International on Saturday, Sept. 7 (6 p.m.). The Panthers are scheduled to open the season on Saturday, Aug. 31, at Indiana.
CMU defeated FIU, 31-27, during the 2021 season. The Panthers finished 4-8 in each of the past two seasons.
Run Game
The Chippewas rushed for 113 yards against the Blue Devils. Myles Bailey finished with 68 yards and two touchdowns on nine carries. CMU played without Marion Lukes, their leading rusher in 2023.
Lukes and Bailey combined to provide a potent 1-2 punch a year ago and are expected to be just as dangerous in 2024.
"We've got to run the football better for us to be successful," McElwain said.
Variety adds the Spice
The Chippewas scored nine touchdowns in posting their highest point total since a 69-7 win over Northern Illinois in 1975, their first year as a Division 1A (now Football Bowl Subdivision) program.
In addition to Labas' three TD passes and Bailey's two rushing scores, they hit the end zone on a Stephan Bracey kickoff return, a Donte Kent punt return, and an Akeem Snell interception.
CMU was a fumble return for touchdown away from hitting for the cycle, so to speak.
Specific records as to when the last time – if ever – the Chippewas scored TDs on a kickoff, a punt, and an interception return in a game are unavailable. Suffice to say it is rare for CMU, or any football team, to accomplish such a feat.
Momentum Shift
Bracey's 87-yard kickoff return came just after Central Connecticut scored a touchdown on its first possession to tie the game, 7-7.
In a game with so much scoring and so many highlights for the Chippewas, Bracey's return stood out, not only for excitement, but for swinging momentum back to CMU's side.
It gave the Chippewas a 14-7 lead and started them on a 35-point scoring binge that left them with a 42-7 halftime lead.
"That definitely helped with the momentum," Labas said. "That definitely picked us up a little bit. But the mindset never changes. When we go out on the field offensively we plan on scoring every time."
Kent Shines
Kent's 68-yard punt return for a touchdown came midway through the third quarter and put the Chippewas ahead, 59-10.
The senior defensive back, a consensus preseason All-Mid-American Conference selection who is on the Jim Thorpe Award Watch List, had not returned a punt since his high school days in Harrisburg, Pa.
He returned four for 132 yards – a 33-yard average – on Thursday. He said that he had worked in with the punt return team in practice throughout his CMU career, as a backup, and when his number was called, he seized on the opportunity.
"As the game was going on I felt like I was getting stronger with each punt return and it was just building my confidence," he said. "The guys hooked me up with some nice blocks. They paved the way for me and then I just had to outrun a bigger guy. My team, they led me to the end zone."
It was Kent's first TD in his 42nd career game.
The Crowd
The game was played before a crowd of more than 18,000 on a beautiful summer night with the kickoff temperature at 78 degrees.
McElwain took note of the crowd, the student section and Marching Chippewas in the east-side stands in particular.
"The student section, unbelievable," he said. "We've got the best band; those guys, I'll tell you what, they're fantastic and they stay in the game the whole time. It was good to see that student section fill up especially with the (Labor Day) weekend coming."
It was all to the good for the Central Michigan football team on Thursday as it rolled to a 66-10 victory over Central Connecticut State in the season opener on Kramer/Deromedi Field at Kelly/Shorts Stadium.
While there was plenty to talk about, the play of quarterback Joe Labas topped the list.
"I really felt Joe was very accurate," CMU coach Jim McElwain said. "I'm not sure he should have had any incompletions in the first half. He put the ball right where it needed to be. … I thought he played very consistently and did a good job for his first start."
Labas transferred to CMU from Iowa in the offseason. He made one start as a Hawkeye, completing 14 of 24 passes for 139 yards and a touchdown in a 21-0 win over Kentucky in the 2022 Music City Bowl.
On Thursday, Labas went 18 for 24 for 342 yards and three touchdowns. He completed his first seven passes and was sharp throughout the night, hitting his receivers – 10 Chippewas caught at least one pass – in stride which enabled them to pick up plenty of yards after making the catch.
Of CMU's 378 passing yards, 162 came after the receiver had made the catch.
"Credit Joe, he's the one who executed," McElwain said. "The accuracy piece (is crucial) and where a guy doesn't have to be wide open, and they were runner's balls. That's big. When you throw a runner's ball you've got a chance."
Senior Solomon Davis, a transfer from Valparaiso making his first appearance in a Chippewa uniform, finished with four catches – two of them for touchdowns – for 109 yards.
Redshirt freshman Evan Boyd had three receptions for 78 yards and one score.
"A lot of work in the offseason, getting the chemistry down," Labas said. "We came in even when we didn't have to come in to throw the ball around. Definitely a really good connection with my receiver room and tight end as well."
Said McElwain: "Our offensive staff put a fantastic plan together. I really felt they did a good job of keeping them off balance. Now let's go look at it and let's get a little bit better next week."
Next
The Chippewas travel to Miami to play Florida International on Saturday, Sept. 7 (6 p.m.). The Panthers are scheduled to open the season on Saturday, Aug. 31, at Indiana.
CMU defeated FIU, 31-27, during the 2021 season. The Panthers finished 4-8 in each of the past two seasons.
Run Game
The Chippewas rushed for 113 yards against the Blue Devils. Myles Bailey finished with 68 yards and two touchdowns on nine carries. CMU played without Marion Lukes, their leading rusher in 2023.
Lukes and Bailey combined to provide a potent 1-2 punch a year ago and are expected to be just as dangerous in 2024.
"We've got to run the football better for us to be successful," McElwain said.
Variety adds the Spice
The Chippewas scored nine touchdowns in posting their highest point total since a 69-7 win over Northern Illinois in 1975, their first year as a Division 1A (now Football Bowl Subdivision) program.
In addition to Labas' three TD passes and Bailey's two rushing scores, they hit the end zone on a Stephan Bracey kickoff return, a Donte Kent punt return, and an Akeem Snell interception.
CMU was a fumble return for touchdown away from hitting for the cycle, so to speak.
Specific records as to when the last time – if ever – the Chippewas scored TDs on a kickoff, a punt, and an interception return in a game are unavailable. Suffice to say it is rare for CMU, or any football team, to accomplish such a feat.
Momentum Shift
Bracey's 87-yard kickoff return came just after Central Connecticut scored a touchdown on its first possession to tie the game, 7-7.
In a game with so much scoring and so many highlights for the Chippewas, Bracey's return stood out, not only for excitement, but for swinging momentum back to CMU's side.
It gave the Chippewas a 14-7 lead and started them on a 35-point scoring binge that left them with a 42-7 halftime lead.
"That definitely helped with the momentum," Labas said. "That definitely picked us up a little bit. But the mindset never changes. When we go out on the field offensively we plan on scoring every time."
Kent Shines
Kent's 68-yard punt return for a touchdown came midway through the third quarter and put the Chippewas ahead, 59-10.
The senior defensive back, a consensus preseason All-Mid-American Conference selection who is on the Jim Thorpe Award Watch List, had not returned a punt since his high school days in Harrisburg, Pa.
He returned four for 132 yards – a 33-yard average – on Thursday. He said that he had worked in with the punt return team in practice throughout his CMU career, as a backup, and when his number was called, he seized on the opportunity.
"As the game was going on I felt like I was getting stronger with each punt return and it was just building my confidence," he said. "The guys hooked me up with some nice blocks. They paved the way for me and then I just had to outrun a bigger guy. My team, they led me to the end zone."
It was Kent's first TD in his 42nd career game.
The Crowd
The game was played before a crowd of more than 18,000 on a beautiful summer night with the kickoff temperature at 78 degrees.
McElwain took note of the crowd, the student section and Marching Chippewas in the east-side stands in particular.
"The student section, unbelievable," he said. "We've got the best band; those guys, I'll tell you what, they're fantastic and they stay in the game the whole time. It was good to see that student section fill up especially with the (Labor Day) weekend coming."
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