Dominant Defense: Chippewas Force 5 Turnovers in Dismantling Buffalo, 38-19

Wednesday, November 12

Mount Pleasant, Mich.

7:00 PM

Central Michigan University

6-4 , 4-2

Buffalo

5-5 , 4-2

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Buffalo

Central Michigan

Photo by: Lauren Verellen '26 - @laurenverellen_photography

Photo by: Kailey Hill '26 - @rahsignz

Dominant Defense: Chippewas Force 5 Turnovers in Dismantling Buffalo, 38-19

11/13/2025 12:23:00 AM | Football

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CMU clinches bowl eligibility with its 6th win, moves into second-place tie in the MAC

By: Andy Sneddon

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – Central Michigan's defense forced a season-high five turnovers and quarterback Joe Labas threw for 247 yards and two touchdowns on Wednesday as the Chippewas downed Buffalo, 38-19, in a Mid-American Conference game on Kramer/Deromedi Field.

The win upped CMU's record to 6-4 and kept it relevant in the MAC race at 4-2. The sixth win makes the Chippewas bowl eligible for the first time since 2021 and they share second place in the league standings, one game back of conference-leading Western Michigan.

"I'm so incredibly happy for the team," first-year CMU coach Matt Drinkall said. "That is as scary of a game to prepare for as I have ever had in my entire life just because they are super talented and incredibly well coached in all three phases.

"I cannot put into words how happy I am for these guys to be rewarded for all their hard work, all their commitment, and discipline."

CMU responded with a dominant performance after dropping an emotional 24-21 at rival Western Michigan 12 days ago. The Chippewas go to Kent State on Wednesday, Nov. 19 and then closes the regular season at home against Toledo on Nov. 29.

"I told them in the locker room afterwards, go celebrate and have a good time, and they did for about four seconds," Drinkall said. "And then (senior captain Jordan Kwiatkowski) kind of settled everybody down, and he's like, listen, we've got a game, it's a road game, it's going to be really, really tough because Kent State is playing unbelievable right now. And that kind of got everybody's jaw reset, and it's like, all right, we're back to work tomorrow.

"So that's just kind of how we do business here."

The Chippewa defense registered as many takeaways in Wednesday's game as it had in the entire 2024 season. Linebacker Joe Kwiatkowski returned an interception 48 yards for a touchdown and Dakota Cochran went 85 yards with a fumble for another score.

Labas, CMU's senior quarterback, was his ultra efficient self, completing 18 of 24 pass attempts (75 percent). His TD passes went for 75 yards to Langston Lewis and for 10 to Tommy McIntosh.

The Chippewa defense, spearheaded by the likes of Kwiatkowski, Korver Demma and Michael Heldman, kept consistent pressure on Buffalo quarterback Ta'Quan Roberson and never allowed the Bull offense to get into rhythm.

Heldman and Demma recorded two sacks apiece. The Chippewas totaled a season-high five sacks along with five quarterback hurries.

CMU's defense turned the Bulls away several times when Buffalo drove deep into Chippewa territory. Three times Buffalo drives ended at the CMU 15-yard line or closer; twice the Chippewas forced turnovers and once they held the Bulls to a field goal.

"It was just an unbelievably dominant performance by those guys," Drinkall said. "We had an incredible defensive performance today. I cannot say enough good things about our players, led by our senior leaders. … Those guys show up over and over again."

Lewis finished with six catches for 118 yards, while McIntosh had five for 85. All four of those numbers were career highs.