Chippewas Travel to Akron for Saturday Game

GAME 6: CENTRAL MICHIGAN (3-2, 1-0 MAC) at AKRON (1-4, 0-1 MAC)
Saturday, October 4, 2025 • 3:30 p.m. ET • Akron, Ohio • InfoCision Stadium (30,000)

SATURDAY MATCHUP

Television: ESPN+ (Michael Reghi, play-by-play; Ryan Cavanaugh, analyst; Gene Winters, producer).

Chippewa Sports Radio Network: Adam Jaksa, play-by-play; Brock Gutierrez, color analyst; spotter: Steve Powers; hosts: Nathan Arbaugh, Kyle Sandel.

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

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

Coaches: Central Michigan-Matt Drinkall, 1^st year at CMU (3-2), 6^th year as a head coach (45-19), 22^nd year in coaching. Akron- Joe Moorhead, 4^th year at Akron (9-32), 10^th year overall (61-57).

Series: Central Michigan and Akron meet for the 31^st time since the series began on Nov. 1, 1969. CMU has own each of the last three meetings vs. Akron and 10 of the last 11. CMU owns an 8-6-1 record at Akron, including wins in six of the last seven games played in Akron. CMU is 1-1 vs. Akron at InfoCision Stadium, the last meeting on Oct. 15, 2022, a 28-21 Chippewa win.

CENTRAL MICHIGAN GAME NOTES

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich.–Central Michigan (3-2, 1-0 MAC) plays its second MAC game and sixth overall contest when it travels to Akron, Ohio to take on Akron (1-4, 0-1 MAC) on Saturday, Oct. 4 at InfoCision Stadium. Kickoff is at 3:30 p.m. ET on ESPN+.

WHERE TO WATCH THE GAME

The game will be televised on ESPN+ with Michael Reghi (play-by-play) and Ryan Cavanaugh (color analyst) calling action, with Gene Winters handling production.

WHERE TO LISTEN TO THE GAME

Fans can also listen to the CMU Chippewas Sports 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 the action on the network which can be accessed on www.cmuchippewas.com, on the 98.5-FM WUPS website, or on the Black Diamond broadcasting app. Coverage begins with a one-hour pre-game show.

SATURDAY'S TOP STORYLINES

*With a win on Saturday at Akron, Central Michigan would start conference play with a 2-0 record for the first time since 2009 (not counting COVID-year 2020). A win would give Central Michigan its second straight MAC victory for the first time since 2022.

*CMU is looking for its third straight victory for the first time since it closed out the 2021 season with five straight wins.

*Central Michigan is coming off back-to-back wins over Wagner and Eastern Michigan that saw it average 36.5 points, 475.5 yards of total offense, 269.0 yards rushing, and 206.5 yards passing per game.

GAME NOTES

Central Michigan (3-2, 1-0 MAC) plays its second Mid-American Conference game and sixth overall contest of the 2025 season when it travels to Akron, Ohio to take on Akron (1-4, 0-1 MAC) in a Saturday contest at InfoCision Stadium. Kickoff is at 3:30 p.m. ET for a televised game on ESPN+.

Central Michigan is coming off back-to-back home victories over Eastern Michigan (24-13) in the MAC opener and Wagner (49-10) in its home opener. In both games, the Chippewas got off to fast starts.

With a win on Saturday at Akron, Central Michigan would start conference play with a 2-0 record for the first time since 2009 (not counting the COVID-year 2020). A win would give Central Michigan its second straight MAC victory for the first time since 2022. CMU is also looking for its third straight victory for the first time since it closed out the 2021 season with five wins.

Last Saturday, Central Michigan won its MAC opener with a 24-13 win over in-state rival Eastern Michigan before 28,605 fans, the ninth largest crowd in Kelly/Shorts Stadium history.

The Chippewas rushed for 305 yards on 51 carries (6.0 average), outgained EMU 445-298 in total yardage, and controlled time of possession (35:46-23:36) in taking the win. Angel Flores (22-134 yards) and Nahree Biggins (14-113) both rushed for over 100 yards, Joe Labas completed 14 of 18 passes for 138 yards, Langston Lewis caught a career-high six passes for 45 yards and a touchdown and Central Michigan's defense accounted for an interception and 2.0 sacks.

Central Michigan got off to a fast start as it went 75 yards in nine plays on its opening possession ending in a 1-yard touchdown pass from Labas to Brock Townsend. The Chippewas went up 14-0 in the first quarter when Biggins burst up the middle for a 49-yard touchdown run. After Eastern Michigan scored a field goal, Central Michigan responded with another 75-yard, 12-play scoring driving ending in a 2-yard pass from Flores to Lewis and 21-3 halftime lead.

Eastern Michigan battled back to a 21-13 deficit, but Maddix Blackwell intercepted a pass and then Cade Graham converted a 22-yard field goal to put the game out of reach.

The previous week, it was a dominating 49-10 home victory over Wagner on Sept. 20, which saw the Chippewas rack up 506 yards of total offense, 233 yards rushing, 273 yards passing, and 24 first downs. CMU's defense also limited Wagner to 113 yards of total offense, six first downs, 72 yards rushing and only 41 yards passing.

It was defense that gave the Chippewas an early lead in the game's first six minutes. On Wagner's second offensive play of the game, Jordan Kwiatkowski tipped a pass into the waiting arms of Dakota Cochran, who gathered the ball and ran 30 yards for an interception return touchdown and 7-0 lead. Then on Wagner's second drive, Michael Heldman's sack forced a fumble that Cochran picked up. The play gave the ball back to Central Michigan, which drove 36 yards in six plays and ended in a 2-yard touchdown run by Flores and commanding 14-0 lead.

Then the Chippewas offense came to life led by quarterback Joe Labas, who threw three touchdown passes, 241 yards, and completed 85.7 percent (12 of 14) of his passes, which ranked as the fifth-best performance in school history. Labas' 301.02 passing efficiency rating ranked as the second-best all-time game performance in school history behind Dan LeFevour (303.7) at Buffalo on Nov. 24, 2006. His touchdown passes in the second quarter included an 88-yard screen pass to Biggins, a 33-yard pass to Tommy McIntosh, and a 33-yard pass to a wide-open Tyson Davis and the Chippewas took a 35-3 lead into halftime.

CMU's quarterbacks combined for six of the Chippewas' seven touchdowns (Labas, three TD passes; Flores, 2 rushing scores, one passing).

Previously, Central Michigan opened its season with three straight road games for the first time since 1972. The Chippewas dropped a 63-3 loss at Michigan before 110,740 fans at Michigan Stadium on Sept. 13. It dropped a 45-17 decision at Pittsburgh on Sept. 6. It won its season opener on Aug. 29 as it claimed a 16-14 come-from-behind victory at San Jose State.

The San Jose State win represented the first for coach Matt Drinkall as Central Michigan's football coach. Drinkall was named the 30th football coach at Central Michigan on Dec. 9, 2024 after serving the previous six seasons on staff at Army. His 2024 Army offensive line won the Joe Moore Award for top offensive line unit in the nation and helped guide the Black Knights to a 12-2 record, No. 22 national ranking in the College Football Playoff poll, and the American Athletic Conference title in the program's first year in the league.

In his first 10 months with the Central Michigan Football program, Drinkall has initiated a culture change with numerous improvements to the student-athlete experience. With a 3.2 grade point average, the Chippewas put together their best-ever academic semester in spring 2025. The Chippewas now have top-notch meals provided at their facility by CMU Dining Services, have turned rooms into areas for player use such as the VIP Lounge which was converted into a player lounge, the practice schedule has been revamped, and the team took a team-building trip to amusement park Cedar Point in the summer. Those are just a few of the many changes that he has made since his arrival.

Drinkall became the first coach at Central Michigan to win a debut game on the road since Bill Kelly won a 34-13 victory at Southern Illinois on Sept. 22, 1951. Drinkall also became the first coach at CMU since Herb Deromedi in 1978 to win his first road game and his first home game in his debut season.

Ranked as one of the nation's top-40 winningest FBS programs of all-time and with eight current players in the National Football League, Central Michigan is coming off three consecutive sub-.500 seasons for the first time since 2002-04. The Chippewas went 4-8 last season and 2-6 in the MAC.

FAST STARTING CHIPPEWAS

Fast starts have helped Central Michigan register victories in each of its three games this year. In each of the last two games, both home victories, Central Michigan started fast and accumulated 14-0 first quarter leads in both games. Against Wagner, it was CMU's defense that made the plays early as Dakota Cochran picked off a pass and rambled 30 yards for touchdown. On Wagner's second possession, CMU's Michael Heldman forced a fumble that was picked up by Cochran and the Chippewa offense scored on a run for a 14-0 lead.

Against Eastern Michigan, it was Central Michigan's offense that helped give the Chippewas an early 14-0 first quarter lead. The Chippewas took their first drive 75 yards in nine plays and scored on a 1-yard TD pass from Angel Flores to Brock Townsend. On its next offensive drive, CMU went up 14-0 when running back Nahree Biggins burst through the middle of the field for a 49-yard touchdown run.

At San Jose State, Central Michigan used three turnovers to take an early 13-0 lead.

OFFENSIVE EXPLOSION

Central Michigan has turned the offense on in each of last two victories over Wagner and Eastern Michigan. Combining both games, the Chippewas are averaging 36.5 points, 475.5 yards of total offense, 269.0 yards rushing, and 206.5 yards passing per game.

In those two games, two rushers and one receiver have eclipsed the 100-yard mark and Central Michigan quarterbacks have completed an incredible 78.3 percent (29 of 37) of passes for 413 yards and six touchdowns. CMU's offense has generated 10 plays of over 20 yards in the last two games.

In the last two games, quarterback Joe Labas has completed 26 of 30 passes (87 percent) for 379 yards, five touchdowns, no interceptions.

A WIN OVER AKRON WOULD…

•  Give Central Michigan a 4-2 overall record to start a season for first time since 2016.
•  Give CMU a 2-0 start to league play for the first time since 2009 (not counting the 2020 COVID-shortened year).
•  Give Central Michigan its third consecutive win for the first time since it closed out the 2021 season with five straight wins.
•  Give Central Michigan its fourth consecutive victory over Akron and second straight over the Zips in Akron.

SERIES VS. AKRON

•  Central Michigan and Akron meet for the 31st time since the series began on Nov. 1, 1969.
•  Central Michigan has claimed each of the last three meetings vs. Akron.
•  The Chippewas own an 8-6-1 record in games played in Akron, including wins in six of the last seven games played in Akron.
•  Central Michigan is 1-1 vs. Akron at InfoCision Stadium, which opened in 2009.
•  Central Michigan won the last meeting in Akron on Oct. 15, 2022, a 28-21 victory.

CMU AMONG WINNINGEST ALL-TIME G5 TEAMS

Central Michigan ranks No. 6 nationally among the winningest Group of Five team in the all-time wins rankings category (source: CFB Home). Here is the list (as of Sept. 22, 2025):

Rk.	Team	Wins
1.	Navy (4-0)	752 wins
2.	Army (1-3)	740 wins
3.	Miami (Ohio) (1-3)	734 wins
4.	Appalachian State (2-2)	670 wins
5.	Fresno State (4-1)	657 wins
6.	Central Michigan (3-2)	654 wins
7.	Tulsa (2-3)	652 wins
8.	Louisiana Tech (4-1)	650 wins
9.	Marshall (2-3)	641 wins
10.	Western Kentucky (4-1)	626 wins
11.	Jacksonville State (2-3)	624 wins

CMU AMONG TOP 50 PROGRAMS

Historically, Central Michigan has been ranked among the nation's top-50 all-time football programs by a variety of organizations. The Pro Football Hall of Fame and ESPN both rated Central Michigan No. 41 on its list of all-time most successful college football programs.

Of MAC schools, the two highest-rated college football programs of all-time are Miami (Ohio) and Central Michigan.

Also, on display at the College Football Hall of Fame is Central Michigan and Western Michigan, one of the top rivalries in all of college football.

OHIO CHIPPEWAS

Nine Central Michigan players are from the state of Ohio including Jakivion Calip (Lewis Center), Tysen Campbell (Akron), Dakota Cochran (Shaker Heights), Trey Cornist (Cincinnati), Malik Denkins (Cincinnati), Dylan Fisher (Toledo), Joe Labas (Brecksville), Trey Liebhardt (Chardon), and Jacob Saurbeck (Oregon). Campbell is the only player from Akron.

RUN THE BALL

Central Michigan has run the ball in 69.8 percent of its total offensive plays, (224 of 321) this season.

The Chippewas rushed for a season-high 305 yards on 51 carries last week vs. Eastern Michigan. They rushed for 236 yards on 51 carries in the season opener at San Jose State (Aug. 29) and for 233 yards on 48 carries vs. Wagner.

CMU is averaging 177.0 yards rushing per game, which ranks No. 3 in the MAC and No. 55 in FBS, and 4.0 yards per carry.

TURNOVER MARGIN TURNAROUND

In its first five games of the 2025 season, Central Michigan has a +3 turnover margin, which ranks No. 2 in the MAC and No. 35 in FBS (8 turnovers gained/5 turnovers lost). The Chippewas also rank No. 20 nationally in turnovers gained (8). CMU has scored 40 of its 109 poins off turnovers and has outscored its opponents 40-21 in points off turnovers. Last year, CMU was ranked No. 133 in turnover margin (-17) and tied a school record for worst turnover margin in a season.

The Chippewas have registered at least one turnover in each of its first five games.

At San Jose State, Central Michigan forced three first half turnovers including two interceptions and a fumble recovery. The Chippewas scored their first 13 points off those turnovers. CMU also limited San Jose State to just 74 yards rushing on 17 carries. The two interceptions by Brenden Deasfernandes and Elijah Rikard equaled Central Michigan's interception total from the entire 2024 season. Last year, CMU totaled just five turnovers (2 interceptions/3 fumble recoveries), the Chippewas already have registered seven through four games in 2025.

At Pitt, Central Michigan registered one interception as Jordan Kwiatkowski stepped in front a pass and returned it 18 yards.

At Michigan, Brenden Deasfernandes registered an interception in the second quarter and turned it into three points.

Versus Wagner, Central Michigan turned two turnovers into a 14-0 lead in the first few minutes of the game. On Wagner's first possession, Dakota Cochran intercepted a tipped pass by Jordan Kwiatkowski and returned it 30 yards for a touchdown. On the next drive, Michael Heldman forced a fumble which was picked up by Cochran. The Chippewas scored on a 2-yard run by Angel Flores.

Central Michigan notched its second game without a turnover on Saturday against Eastern Michigan. Maddix Blackwell snatched an interception in the fourth quarter which ended an EMU drive.

CENTRAL MICHIGAN IN NATIONAL STATISTICS

Following its first five games, Central Michigan is ranked among the nation's top 35 national leaders in 10 statistical categories. The Chippewas rank:

•  No. 8, passes had intercepted (1).
•  No. 9, passes intercepted (6).
•  No. 17, time of possession (32:58).
•  No. 18, punt returns (14.75).
•  No. 19, completion percentage (70.1).
•  No. 20, turnovers gained (8)
•  No. 20, defensive touchdowns (1).
•  No. 30, team passing efficiency (158.10).
•  No. 34, fourth down conversion defense (40.0).
•  No. 35, turnover margin (0.60).

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

•  Brenden Deasfernandes, No. 12 in interceptions (2).
•  Dakota Cochran, No. 13 in fumbles recovered (1).
•  Fernando Sanchez III, No. 13 in fumbles recovered (1).
•  Michael Heldman, No. 17 in forced fumbles (0.40).
•  Michael Heldman, No. 18 in sacks (0.90).

Central Michigan University Athletics

Players Mentioned

Nahree Biggins

Maddix Blackwell

Jakivion Calip

Tysen Campbell

Dakota Cochran

Trey Cornist

Tyson Davis

Brenden Deasfernandes

Malik Denkins

Dylan Fisher

Angel Flores

Cade Graham

Michael Heldman

Jordan Kwiatkowski

Joe Labas

Langston Lewis

Trey Liebhardt

Tommy McIntosh

Elijah Rikard

Fernando Sanchez III

Jacob Saurbeck

Brock Townsend

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