Central Michigan University Athletics
Central Michigan University
2-2 , 1-0
Ball State
1-2 , 0-1
Chippewas Pull Off Dramatic 37-34 Win With Touchdown in Waning Seconds
9/21/2024 6:49:00 PM | Football
CMU goes 75 yards in the final minute to win MAC opener on a Labas-to-Parker touchdown pass; Chippewas total 527 yards of total offense, rush for 335 yards and three touchdowns in victory.
Joe Labas connected with Chris Parker for a 20-yard touchdown pass with 16 seconds remaining on Saturday to give Central Michigan an oh-so-dramatic 37-34 come-from-behind victory over Ball State before 18,011 on Kramer/Deromedi Field at Kelly/Shorts Stadium.
"Wow, what a game," CMU coach Jim McElwain said after his Chippewas snapped a two-game losing streak and won their Mid-American Conference opener. "It was critical. Conference game, at home and being able to hold serve, that's what you've got to do, and we found a way to do it.
"It wasn't pretty, but it was a lot of fun and I'm just so happy for the players. I know what they put into it and for them to get a win, that's what it's all about."
The Chippewas emerged victorious in a wild back-and-forth nail-biter that included nearly 1,000 yards in total offense.
The Cardinals (1-2, 0-1 MAC) drove 97 yards in just five plays to score a touchdown with just 53 seconds remaining to seize a 34-30 lead.
The Chippewas started at their own 25-yard line and scored in just five plays. Running back B.J. Harris, who carried eight times for a career-high 151 yards, started the drive with a 25-yard burst to put the Chippewas at midfield.
Two plays later, on third-and-14, Labas connected with Evan Boyd for 34 yards to the Ball State 20. Labas then hit Parker for the game-winning score.
It was sweet relief for a Chippewa team that had turned in subpar performances in each of its past two games, road losses at Florida International and Illinois.
"It tells me," McElwain said about his players, "that they believe, and they believe as much as I believe in them.
"Guys stepped up and made some plays when they had to. What it says about them? You know what, at the end of the day, they're winners; that's what it says about them."
The Chippewas trailed, 10-0, early and then scored on three consecutive drives to seize a 20-10 lead. Ball State answered with a touchdown just before halftime to cut it to 20-17.
After Tristan Mattson upped CMU's lead to 23-17 with a 33-yard field goal, the Cardinals took a 24-23 lead with a touchdown midway through the third quarter.
That set the stage for the dramatic final 15 minutes.
Ball State tacked on a field goal with 8:39 left to make it 27-23, and then Bert Emanuel Jr., who spelled Labas at quarterback throughout the game for CMU, bolted 16 yards for a score with 5:02 remaining to put the Chippewas back in front, 30-27.
It was the first game of the season for the electrifying Emanuel, who missed the first three games with an injury.
The Chippewas were far from perfect. They had a punt blocked and an extra point blocked and struggled receiving kickoffs under the bright afternoon sun.
But they made up for it with 527 yards in total offense – 335 of it on the ground – and delivered when they had to, digging deep to put together the game-winning drive.
"The players, they never blinked," McElwain said. "They're going to be disappointed as heck when they watch film on Monday there's no doubt about it.
"And yet they can be disappointed with a smile on their face knowing that they figured out how to win a game and I don't want that to ever get lost.
"Wins are hard to come by and the way our guys hung in there, battled back, I'm just proud of them. I'm proud of them. Now did we play correct? No. If nothing else they maybe kept the popcorn stand open and we sold some extra popcorn."
Team Stats
BSU 3, CMU 0
BSU - Holmer,Carson 31 yd field goal 10 plays, 53 yards, TOP 04:23
BSU 10, CMU 0
BSU - Magwood,Qian 6 yd pass from Semonza,Kadin (Holmer,Carson kick) 7 plays, 63 yards, TOP 03:26
BSU 10, CMU 7
CMU - Emanuel, Jr.,Bert 20 yd run (Mattson,Tristan kick), 3 plays, 62 yards, TOP 01:18
BSU 10, CMU 14
CMU - Parker,Chris 7 yd pass from Emanuel, Jr.,Bert (Mattson,Tristan kick) 3 plays, 80 yards, TOP 01:33
BSU 10, CMU 20
CMU - Lukes,Marion 2 yd run (), 6 plays, 41 yards, TOP 01:49
BSU 17, CMU 20
BSU - Gillie,Malcolm 23 yd pass from Semonza,Kadin (Holmer,Carson kick) 9 plays, 75 yards, TOP 01:23
BSU 17, CMU 23
CMU - Mattson,Tristan 33 yd field goal 3 plays, 60 yards, TOP 00:20
BSU 24, CMU 23
BSU - Sloan,Braedon 22 yd run (Holmer,Carson kick), 11 plays, 75 yards, TOP 06:04
BSU 27, CMU 23
BSU - Holmer,Carson 40 yd field goal 8 plays, 38 yards, TOP 04:05
BSU 27, CMU 30
CMU - Emanuel, Jr.,Bert 16 yd run (Mattson,Tristan kick), 9 plays, 75 yards, TOP 03:37
BSU 34, CMU 30
BSU - Koziol,Tanner 16 yd pass from Semonza,Kadin (Holmer,Carson kick) 5 plays, 97 yards, TOP 01:06
BSU 34, CMU 37
CMU - Parker,Chris 20 yd pass from Labas,Joe (Mattson,Tristan kick) 5 plays, 75 yards, TOP 00:37
