Chippewas Host San Diego State for Final Non Conference Game

GAME 5: SAN DIEGO STATE (1-2, 0-0 MWC) AT CENTRAL MICHIGAN (2-2, 1-0 MAC)
Final Non Conference Game/CMU & You Day/Family & Friends Weekend/Band Day
Saturday, September 28, 2024 • 3:32 p.m. ET • Mount Pleasant, Mich.
Kramer/Deromedi Field at Kelly/Shorts Stadium (30,255)

SATURDAY MATCHUP

Television: CBS Sports Network national broadcast (Chris Lewis, play-by-play; Taylor McHargue, analyst; Mike Pittman, producer).

Chippewa Sports Radio Network: Adam Jaksa, play-by-play; Brock Gutierrez, color analyst; spotter: Steve Powers; host: Riley Edwards; host/engineer: Nathan Arbaugh.

Live Stats: visit https://cmuchippewas.com/sidearmstats/football/summary

CMU Social Media: Twitter (@cmu_football); Facebook (@cmufootball); Instagram (cmufootball); Website: www.cmuchippewas.com.

Coaches: Central Michigan-Jim McElwain, 6th year at CMU (31-30), 12th year overall (75-57), 39th year in coaching. San Diego State-Sean Lewis, 1st year at San Diego State (1-2), 6th year overall (25-33).

Series: Central Michigan and San Diego State meet for the second time in college football. San Diego State defeated CMU 48-11 in the New Mexico Bowl on Dec. 21, 2019.

CENTRAL MICHIGAN GAME NOTES

THE ESSENTIALS

Central Michigan (2-2, 1-0) plays its final non conference game and second straight home contest when it hosts San Diego State (1-2, 0-0 MWC) on Saturday, Sept. 28 at Kramer/Deromedi Field at Kelly/Shorts Stadium. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. ET. It is the second of three consecutive home games for the Chippewas.

WHERE TO WATCH THE GAME

The game will be nationally televised on CBS Sports Network with Chris Lewis (play-byplay) and Taylor McHarge (color analyst) calling action with Mike Pittman producing.

WHERE TO LISTEN TO THE GAME

Fans can also listen to the Chippewa Sports Radio Network broadcast presented by Fabiano Brothers. Adam Jaksa (play-by-play) and former Central Michigan/NFL player and CMU Athletic Hall of Famer Brock Gutierrez (color analyst) call action on the five-station network (Mount Pleasant, Detroit, Grand Rapids, and Muskegon) and nationally on the Varsity Network app. Coverage begins with a one-hour pre-game show.

SATURDAY'S TOP STORYLINES

• Central Michigan concludes its nonconference portion of the season by hosting San Diego State on Saturday.

• Central Michigan is hard to beat at Kelly/Shorts Stadium as it has won two straight home games and six of its last seven matchups. The Chippewas are a combined 20-8 under Head Coach Jim McElwain with a .714 win percentage
in games played at Kelly/Shorts Stadium.

• McElwain is in search of his third bowl appearance and third winning season at Central Michigan in the last five full years (2019 New Mexico Bowl and 2021 Sun Bowl).

ABOUT THE CHIPPEWAS

Central Michigan (2-2, 1-0 MAC) plays the final non conference game of its 123rd season of college football on Saturday, Sept. 28 when it hosts San Diego State (1-2, 0-0 MWC) at Kramer/Deromedi Field at Kelly/Shorts
Stadium.

The Chippewas will spend the next month in Mount Pleasant for three consecutive home games as they host Ball State (Sept. 21) and San Diego State (Sept. 28) on consecutive Saturdays, have a bye week on Oct. 5, then host Ohio for the 2024 Homecoming Game on Saturday, Oct. 12.

Central Michigan enters the matchup after an exciting 37-34 victory over Ball State in its MAC opener last Saturday. The victory snapped a two-game losing streak. The Chippewas rallied from behind and scored the go-ahead and game-winning touchdown with 16 seconds to play when quarterback Joe Labas found Chris Parker in the end zone for a 20-yard touchdown pass. CMU rushed for 335 yards and 527 total yards of offense. It marked the most rushing yards since CMU rolled up 352 in a 42-28 win over New Mexico State on Oct. 12, 2019. The 527 total yards are the most since the Chippewas finished with 529 in a 41-0 win over Bucknell on Sept. 17, 2022.

B.J. Harris, who earned MAC Offensive Player of the Week honors, rushed for a career-high 151 yards on only eight carries (18.9 yards per carry), led CMU in all-purpose yards (156), Chris Parker caught two touchdown passes, Labas completed 14 of 20 passes for 185 yards, and quarterback Bert Emanuel, Jr. saw his first game action of the season and was responsible for three touchdowns, including touchdown runs of 20 and 16 yards, and a 7-yard touchdown pass. Linebacker Jordan Kwiatkowski paced the defense with 15 tackles (nine solo) and Elijah Rikard had a
career-high eight tackles. CMU trailed 10-0 in the first quarter but scored 20 unanswered points to get back into it.

Ball State took the lead back in the third quarter, but the Chippewas answered with an Emanuel 16-yard TD run with 5:02 to play. The Cardinals regained the lead with 53 seconds to play on a 97-yard scoring drive spanning five plays which culminated on a 16-yard pass. But CMU was not finished as the Chippewas marched 75 yards in five plays for the game-winning pass with 16 seconds to play. B.J. Harris rambled 25 yards, Labas hit Evan Boyd down the middle of the field for a 34 yards, then Labas found Parker for the 20-yard strike.

On Saturday, Sept. 14 in Champaign, Ill., Illinois handed the Chippewas a 30-9 loss. Defense kept CMU within striking distance, but the Chippewa offense failed to capitalize. Twice the Chippewas drove inside the Illinois 10-yard line and another time CMU had a touchdown nullified by a penalty. In each case, CMU ended up settling for a field goal. The Chippewas trailed just 13-6 at halftime.

Illinois scored on its opening drive of both halves and sandwiched those scores around two field goals, the second of which was a program record 59-yarder as time expired in the first half. Central Michigan was held without a touchdown for the first time in 57 games and since Sept. 7, 2019 in a game at Wisconsin. The statistics were nearly even as Illinois outgained CMU 379-309 in total yards, registered 20 first downs to CMU's 19, and time of possesion
was even. Linebacker Jordan Kwiatkowski led the Chippewas with a career-high 12 tackles, quarterback Joe Labas completed 12 of 25 passes for 125 yards to 11 different receivers, and running back Myles Bailey led CMU with
49 yards on six carries.

Central Michigan returned 17 players who started a significant number of games in 2023, including eight players on offense and nine on defense. Several transfers were added in who play significant roles in 2024, several players
return from injury, and a variety of players have improved over the offseason and are ready to contribute. The Chippewas are a year older across the board with a majority of their talent returning.

Last year, CMU narrowly missed advancing to a bowl game as it entered its season finale against No. 23 Toledo needing one more win to become bowl eligible. CMU dropped a 32-17 decision.

Combining the last three seasons (2022-24), CMU has accumulated an 11-17 record and the Chippewas are coming off back-to-back losing seasons for the first time since 2010 and 2011 when they went 3-9 in consecutive years. Central Michigan is hoping to erase the memory of those two seasons that saw it finish an identical 3-5 in Mid-American Conference play.

The last two seasons were a drastic change from the course that Head Coach Jim McElwain has put the Chippewas on since his arrival in 2019. In his first year guiding the program in 2019, he took over a team that finished 1-11 and 0-8 in MAC play and led the Chippewas to one of the nation's top turnarounds, an 8-6 record, 6-2 in the MAC with a berth in the 2019 New Mexico Bowl. After a COVID-shortened 2020 season, he led CMU to a 9-4 overall, 6-2 MAC record and berth in the 2021 Sun Bowl, where the Chippewas closed the year on a five-game win streak, including a 24-21 Sun Bowl win over Washington State.

B.J. HARRIS EARNS MAC HONOR

Senior running back B.J. Harris was named the Mid-American Conference's co-Offensive Player of the Week after he piled up a career-high 151 rushing yards and led CMU with 156 all-purpose yards.

Harris averaged 18.9 yards per carry as he finished with just eight attempts. He helped set up CMU's game-winning touchdown with a 25-yard run late in the game. He leads the Chippewas in rushing yards (232), average yards rushing per game (58.0) and average yards per carry (9.7) on only 24 carries and four games.

HOME SWEET, HOME

Under Head Coach Jim McElwain, Central Michigan has enjoyed a tremendous home field advantage. The Chippewas are a combined 20-8 under Coach Mac with a .714 win percentage within the confines of Kelly/Shorts Stadium since 2019.

CMU will enter its next home game vs. San Diego State on a two-game home win streak and after winning six of its last seven home contests. The one loss came in the 2023 season finale, a 32-17 loss to Toledo on Nov. 24, 2023.

The last time CMU completed a season with an undefeated home record was during McElwain's first year in 2019, when the Chippewas went a perfect 6-0. The last several seasons, CMU went 1-2 in 2020, 5-1 in 2021, 2-4 in 2022, 4-1 in 2023, and now 2-0 in 2024 at Kelly/Shorts Stadium.

Since 1950, CMU has registered 13 undefeated seasons at home: 1953 (4-0), 1954 (4-0), 1955 (4-0), 1956 (4-0), 1967 (4-0), 1970 (4-0), 1977 (5-0), 1979 (5-0), 1980 (6-0), 1994 (5-0), 1998 (5-0), 2009 (5-0), and 2019 (6-0).

BALL STATE POST-GAME NOTES

The Central Michigan win...

• Improved Central Michigan to a 2-2 overall record and 1-0 in MAC record in play. The Chippewas opened MAC play with a win for the second consecutive year.

• Gave Central Michigan its second straight home victory and improved CMU to 2-0 I home games this year. Central Michigan has now won six of its last seven games.

• Evened the series at 28-28-1 all-time vs. Ball State in the series which began on Oct. 27, 1939.

• Snapped a two-game losing streak to Ball State in the series.
• Snapped a three-game losing streak to Ball State in home games. Previously the last time CMU defeated Ball State at home was in 2016.

• Improved Central Michigan to 13-14 overall in its series vs. Ball State in games played in Mount Pleasant.

• Gave Head Coach Jim McElwain his 20th home victory since he became head coach at CMU in 2019. His record at home improved to 20-8.

Team Notes

• Central Michigan scored on 20-yard touchdown pass from Joe Labas to Chris Parker to win the game with 16 seconds to play.

• CMU battled back from a 10-0 first quarter deficit. The Chippewas answered with 20 unanswered points in the second quarter to take a 20-10 lead. CMU trailed again 27-23 with 6:39 to play. Bert Emanuel gave the Chippewas the lead back on a 16-yard run, then trailed again 34-30 with 1:06 to play. The Chippewas drove 75 yards in five plays
and 37 seconds to take the win.

• Central Michigan totaled a season-best 527 yards of total offense on 54 plays for a 9.8 yards per play average. Ball State finished with 431 yards of total offense and 285 yards passing. CMU's 527 total yards represented its most yards since the Chippewas finished with 529 in a 41-0 win over Bucknell on Sept. 17, 2022.

• Central Michigan rushed for 335 yards, three touchdowns on 33 carries and averaged 10.2 yards per carry. CMU's 335 rushing yards represented its most yards rushing since it rolled up 352 in a 42-28 win over New Mexico State on Oct. 12, 2019.

• In the first half, Central Michigan rushed for 238 yards and three touchdowns on 17 carries (14.0 yards per carry).

• In the second quarter alone, CMU scored 23 points, and rushed for 187 yards, three touchdowns on 11 carries (17.0 yards per carry).
• Central Michigan lost the turnover battle for the third straight game. The Chippewas lost a fumble and did not gain a turnover. On the year, CMU has one takeaway and seven turnovers.

• Ball State led the time of possession battle: 36:40-23:20. The Cardinals had 27 first downs to CMU's 19.

• Ball State blocked a CMU punt in the second quarter. The last time an opponent blocked a CMU punt was FIU's Rishard Dames on Sept. 25, 2021.

• Ball State blocked a CMU point after attempt in the second quarter. The last time an opponent blocked a CMU PAT was on Nov. 16, 2013, when Western Michigan's Travonte Boles blocked a PAT.

Player Notes

• Quarterback Joe Labas made his fourth start and completed 14 of 20 passes for 185 yards and the game-winning touchdown pass. He connected with Chris Parker for the game-winning TD pass with 16 seconds to play. The play went for 20 yards.

• Quarterback Bert Emanuel, Jr. saw his first action of the 2024 season. He was responsible for three touchdowns (two rushing and one passing), completed 1-1 passes for a seven-yard touchdown, and rushed for two touchdowns and 33 yards on seven carries. His touchdowns were on runs of 20 and 16 yards. His first play of the game
was a four-yard run in the first quarter. His second touch was a 20-yard touchdown run in the second quarter.

• With a game and career-high 151 yards rushing, running back B.J. Harris registered CMU's first 100-yard rushing game of the season and career. He averaged 18.9 yards per gain on eight attempts. His top two runs were a 41-yard run in the first quarter and 71-yard run in the second quarter. Harris also caught a career-high two passes for five yards. He led the Chippewas in all-purpose yards with a total of 156.

• Wide receiver Chris Parker caught the game-winning touchdown pass, a 20-yard TD with 37 seconds to play. He finished with a career-best two touchdown catches, career-high five receptions for a team-high 79 yards. His first touchdown reception came on a 7-yard TD reception from Joe Labas in the second quarter. Parker's long catch was 36 yards.

• Running back Nahree Biggins rambled for a 76-yard run in the second quarter. It marked the longest run of the year for CMU and Biggins' longest run of his career. It was Central Michigan's longest run from scrimmage on the year. Biggins finished with three rushes for 71 yards.

• Running back Marion Lukes scored his first touchdown of the year, a 2-yard run in the second quarter. It marked his ninth career rushing touchdown. He finished with 86 yards on 13 carries for a 6.6 yards per carry average. Lukes ranked second on the squad in all-purpose yards and he finished with 110 on the day (86 rushing, three receiving, and 21 on kickoff returns). It marked his 10th career 100-yard all-purpose game.

• Wide receiver Evan Boyd tied a career-high with a 78-yard day on three receptions. His long was 34 yards.

• Linebacker Jordan Kwiatkowksi finished with a career-high 15 tackles (nine solo). He also registered 1.5 tackles for loss.

• Defensive back Elijah Rikard finished with a career-high eight tackles (five solo).

• Linebacker Dakota Cochran tied a career-high with six solo tackles, finished with seven tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks for nine yards.

• Linebacker Justin Whiteside had a career-high three quarterback hurries. He now has 11 total quarterback hurries and moves into a tie for seventh place on the all-time list. He finished with seven tackles (four solo) and 0.5 tackle for loss.

• Defensive back Jaion Jackson finished with a career-high six tackles on the day. He also registered 1.0 tackle for loss.

• Defensive back Jaree Turner-Kinsler saw his first action of the season. Turner-Kinsler
made three tackles on the day.

• Placekicker Tristan Mattson converted his fourth consecutive field goal and scored seven points on the day. He converted 4-5 point after attempts as one was blocked and a 33-yard field goal.

• Punter David Chapeau averaged 47.3 yards per punt (3-142) with a career-high tying long of 56 yards. He placed one punt inside the 10-yard line.

BIG PLAY BERT IS BACK!

Junior quarterback Bert Emanuel, Jr. made his much-anticipated season debut on Saturday against Ball State. After missing the season's first three games with an injury, Emanuel was responsible for three touchdowns as he scored on TD runs of 20 and 16 yards and hit Chris Parker for a 7-yard TD pass in the second quarter. In all, he finished with 33 yards rushing, two touchdowns on seven carries and completed 1-1 passes for seven yards.

CMU IN NATIONAL STATISTICS

After two games, Central Michigan is ranked among the nation's top-35 national leaders in three statistical categories.

The Chippewas ranked:
• No. 6 in punt returns (26.6).
• No. 13 in defensive touchdowns (1).
• No. 28 in team tackles for loss (7.0).

In addition, several individuals were ranked among the nation's top-35 in eight different statistics:

• Stephan Bracey, Jr., No. 1 in kickoff return touchdowns (1).
• Donte Kent, No. 1 in punt return touchdowns (1).
• Donte Kent, No. 2 in punt returns (26.6).
• Jordan Kwiatkowski, No. 15 in solo tackles (5.8).
• Marion Lukes, No. 22 in combined kick returns (183).
• Jordan Kwiatkowski, No. 30 in total tackles (9.3).
• Chris Parker, No. 30 in receiving touchdowns (3).
• Tristan Mattson, No. 35 in field goal percentage (83.3).

CMU-SAN DIEGO STATE SERIES

Saturday's game marks the second-ever football meeting between Central Michigan and San Diego State. The two schools previously met in the 2019 New Mexico Bowl played at Dreamstyle Stadium in Albuquerque, N.M.

San Diego State claimed a 48-11 win that day as it took advantage of three interceptions to build a 20-3 halftime lead. The Aztecs finished with 510 total yards and scored two touchdowns in the first six minutes of the third quarter to extend their lead to 34-3.

Central Michigan's highlight came on a 66-yard run by Kobe Lewis in the third quarter. CMU finished with five turnovers on the day.

Players Mentioned

Myles Bailey

Nahree Biggins

Evan Boyd

Stephan Bracey, Jr.

David Chapeau

Dakota Cochran

Bert Emanuel, Jr.

B.J. Harris

Jaion Jackson

Donte Kent

Jordan Kwiatkowski

Joe Labas

Marion Lukes

Tristan Mattson

Chris Parker

Elijah Rikard

Jaree Turner-Kinsler

Justin Whiteside

Chippewas Host San Diego State for Final Non Conference Game

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