Football Notebook: Chippewa Offense Sets the Tone Early in the Third Quarter

Vaughn Blue (#24) celebrates his touchdown run during the Central Michigan vs Colgate football game on Saturday Sept. 12, 2026 in Mount Pleasant. (Ty Klopf/Central Michigan Football)

Photo by: Ty Klopf

Photo by: Katrina Shammami - @mediabykat

Photo by: Brayden Gallagher

Photo by: Lilly Sharrak, @shot.by_lilly ('29)

Angel Flores (#7) watches as the head official flips the coin during the coin toss Central Michigan vs Colgate football game on Saturday Sept. 121, 2026 in Mount Pleasant. (Ty Klopf/Central Michigan Football)

Photo by: Ty Klopf

Angel Flores (#7) thorws a screen pass during the Central Michigan vs Colgate football game on Saturday Sept. 12, 2026 in Mount Pleasant. (Ty Klopf/Central Michigan Football)

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Captains, Langston Lewis (#20), Martin Koivisto (#76), Korver Demma (#5), and Angel Flores (#7) head out to the coin toss before the Central Michigan vs Colgate football game on Saturday Sept. 121, 2026 in Mount Pleasant. (Ty Klopf/Central Michigan Football)

Photo by: Ty Klopf

Darrell Bryant Jr. (#19) celebrates with his teammates after a interception during the Central Michigan vs Colgate football game on Saturday Sept. 12, 2026 in Mount Pleasant. (Ty Klopf/Central Michigan Football)

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Fans cheer on 3rd down during the Central Michigan vs Colgate football game on Saturday Sept. 12, 2026 in Mount Pleasant. (Ty Klopf/Central Michigan Football)

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Fans cheer during Central Michigan vs Colgate football game on Saturday Sept. 12, 2026 in Mount Pleasant. (Ty Klopf/Central Michigan Football)

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Hunter Zirkle (#6) prushes the quarterback during the Central Michigan vs Colgate football game on Saturday Sept. 12, 2026 in Mount Pleasant. (Ty Klopf/Central Michigan Football)

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Hunter Zirkle (#6) gets a strip sack during the 2nd quarter of the Central Michigan vs Colgate football game on Saturday Sept. 12,, 2026 in Mount Pleasant. (Ty Klopf/Central Michigan Football)

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Jadyn Glasser (#5) warms up throwing ahead of the Central Michigan vs Colgate football game on Saturday Sept. 12, 2026 in Mount Pleasant. (Ty Klopf/Central Michigan Football)

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Offensive Coordinator Jim Chapin ahead of the Central Michigan vs Colgate football game on Saturday Sept. 12, 2026 in Mount Pleasant. (Ty Klopf/Central Michigan Football)

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Justin Ruffin Jr. (#9) pcatches a pass over the middle during the Central Michigan vs Colgate football game on Saturday Sept. 12, 2026 in Mount Pleasant. (Ty Klopf/Central Michigan Football)

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Korver Demma (#5) celebrates a recovered fumble in the 2nd quarter during the Central Michigan vs Colgate football game on Saturday Sept. 12, 2026 in Mount Pleasant. (Ty Klopf/Central Michigan Football)

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Korver Demma (#5) prepares ahead of the Central Michigan vs Colgate football game on Saturday Sept. 12, 2026 in Mount Pleasant. (Ty Klopf/Central Michigan Football)

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Korver Demma (#5) rushes up the field during the Central Michigan vs Colgate football game on Saturday Sept. 12, 2026 in Mount Pleasant. (Ty Klopf/Central Michigan Football)

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Landon Swanson (#42) celerates with student section after a Central Michigan win against Colgate football on Saturday Sept. 12, 2026 in Mount Pleasant. (Ty Klopf/Central Michigan Football)

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Langston Lewis (#20) and Jaion Jackson (#4) signal towards the Central Michigan marching band after a Central Michigan win against Colgate football on Saturday Sept. 12, 2026 in Mount Pleasant. (Ty Klopf/Central Michigan Football)

Photo by: Ty Klopf

Langston Lewis (#20) celerates with the Central Michigan marching band after a Central Michigan win against Colgate football on Saturday Sept. 12, 2026 in Mount Pleasant. (Ty Klopf/Central Michigan Football)

Photo by: Ty Klopf

Marcus Beamon (#10) hands off the ball to Vaughn Blue (#24) during the 1st half of the Central Michigan vs Colgate football game on Saturday Sept. 12, 2026 in Mount Pleasant. (Ty Klopf/Central Michigan Football)

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Head Coach Matt Drinkall looks towards the videoboard during the 4th quarter of the Central Michigan vs Colgate football game on Saturday Sept. 12, 2026 in Mount Pleasant. (Ty Klopf/Central Michigan Football)

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Max Van Fleet (#97) rushes of the line of scrimmage during the Central Michigan vs Colgate football game on Saturday Sept. 12, 2026 in Mount Pleasant. (Ty Klopf/Central Michigan Football)

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Nasir Williams (#3) takes the jet sweep and rushes towards a first down during the Central Michigan vs Colgate football game on Saturday Sept. 12, 2026 in Mount Pleasant. (Ty Klopf/Central Michigan Football)

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Nolan Anderson (#22) during warmups in preperation for Central Michigan vs Colgate football game on Saturday Sept. 121, 2026 in Mount Pleasant. (Ty Klopf/Central Michigan Football)

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Rusty VanWetzinga IV (#8) looks for space after a 2nd quarter reception during the Central Michigan vs Colgate football game on Saturday Sept. 12, 2026 in Mount Pleasant. (Ty Klopf/Central Michigan Football)

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Defensive Coordinator Sean Cronin coaches up his defense during the Central Michigan vs Colgate football game on Saturday Sept. 12, 2026 in Mount Pleasant. (Ty Klopf/Central Michigan Football)

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Tayte Vanderleest (#5) catches a pass during warmups before the Central Michigan vs Colgate football game on Saturday Sept. 12, 2026 in Mount Pleasant. (Ty Klopf/Central Michigan Football)

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Team celerates with the Central Michigan marching band after a Central Michigan win against Colgate football on Saturday Sept. 12, 2026 in Mount Pleasant. (Ty Klopf/Central Michigan Football)

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Central Michigan prepares for ther game against Colgate football game on Saturday Sept. 12, 2026 in Mount Pleasant. (Ty Klopf/Central Michigan Football)

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A group of Chippewas tackle a Colgate rusher Central Michigan vs Colgate football game on Saturday Sept. 12, 2026 in Mount Pleasant. (Ty Klopf/Central Michigan Football)

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Linebacker group huddles up during warmups of the Central Michigan vs Colgate football game on Saturday Sept. 121, 2026 in Mount Pleasant. (Ty Klopf/Central Michigan Football)

Photo by: Ty Klopf

Vaughn Blue (#24) rushes towards the sideline during the Central Michigan vs Colgate football game on Saturday Sept. 12, 2026 in Mount Pleasant. (Ty Klopf/Central Michigan Football)

Photo by: Ty Klopf

Vaughn Blue (#24) leaps into the endzone for his first touchdown during the Central Michigan vs Colgate football game on Saturday Sept. 12, 2026 in Mount Pleasant. (Ty Klopf/Central Michigan Football)

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Football Notebook: Chippewa Offense Sets the Tone Early in the Third Quarter

9/13/2026 9:23:00 AM | Football

Full Game Book (PDF)Matt Drinkall Press Conference Angel Flores Press Conference Justin Ruffin, Jr. Press Conference Vaughn Blue Press Conference

By: Andy Sneddon

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – "Winning a college football game," Central Michigan senior running back Vaughn Blue said, "is just hard in general."

Indeed. Nothing comes easy, no matter the opponent, and it certainly did not on Saturday for Blue and the Chippewas, who survived a lackluster first-half offensive performance to post a 13-10 nonleague victory over Football Championship Subdivision Colgate.

The Chippewas did all of their scoring and gained 180 of their 276 yards in total offense in the second half, and their defense kept the Raiders off the scoreboard over the final two quarters.

"Halftime was just a big reality check for us," said Blue, who scored what proved to be the winning touchdown on a 6-yard run midway through the fourth quarter. "We just had to lock in, get back to the basics, and realize that we had to be as efficient and execute things as (well) as possible."

The Chippewas missed a field goal and had an extra-point kick blocked and committed three turnovers. Three of their first seven drives ended with an interception or a fumble.

The fumble, by quarterback Angel Flores with CMU at the Colgate 26-yard line, came on the Chippewas' first possession of the second half.

But that drive, in which the Chippewas went 38 yards in 11 plays, served to begin the momentum shift to CMU's side, and it proved to the Chippewas that they could move the ball.

Their next two drives – the first covering 87 yards, the second 65 – ended in touchdowns as they took the lead for good.

"We probably squeezed a little too hard in the first half," CMU coach Matt Drinkall said. "Trying to make something happen instead of taking what they give you, and those were valuable lessons for us to learn.

"We just got out of (the second game of the season) where we got to play an entire game and got to play three guys at quarterback, got to play a tight game and have to battle through and win. That was very good for the long-term investment development."

Big Play
In 2025, Drinkall's first year in charge of the program, the Chippewas never shied away from going for it on fourth down.

On Saturday, they converted all three of their fourth-down tries, the last of which turned out to be the play of the game.

The Chippewas trailed, 10-6, with about eight minutes remaining and faced a fourth-and-9 at the Colgate 43-yard line.

Drinkall elected to go for it and it paid off.

Quarterback Angel Flores found Justin Ruffin, Jr. for an 18-yard gain to and a first down at the Colgate 29. Three plays later, CMU was in the end zone and had the lead for good.

"I believe in our guys," Drinkall said. "And we had run the play earlier, and we had missed it earlier. And we called it again … and Ruff, tough as nails, man. That dude is nails, and he made a great play and kept it going."

'Ruff' used every bit of his 5-foot-9 frame in going up to snag the ball, a frozen rope fastball from Flores, who was under pressure from a blitzing linebacker.

"Our receivers coach (Brandon Johnson-Farrell), he did a good job today just getting us all in the right mindset to do everything," Ruffin said. "He was on the sideline talking about, you know, we need a big play right now, real dogs make real plays in big moments, and that was just my mindset going into it."

Flores' Big Day
Flores, Jadyn Glasser and Marcus Beamon each took a turn at quarterback in the game for the Chippewas and that was the plan going in, Drinkall said.

But it became apparent in the second half that Flores had the hot hand and it became his game over the final 30 minutes.

The senior from Casa Grande, Ariz., finished with 122 rushing yards, 100 of that total coming in the final two quarters. It was his second highest rushing total as a Chippewa, and it stands as the second 100-yard rushing day of his career.

His 50-yard third-quarter touchdown scamper ranks as the longest run of his career.

"My whole line did a tremendous job blocking for me," said Flores, who finished with 57 yards on 7-of-13 passing. "And then the perimeter guys did an extremely good job setting the blocks up for me. They made it extremely easy for me to go out there and score a touchdown on that play. All the credit to them."

Kicking Woes
CMU placekicker Caden VanHuis, a sophomore from Holland, missed a 29-yard field goal attempt in the first quarter, and his first extra point attempt was blocked.

And while the Chippewas survived to win, had those kicks been successful it would have changed the complexion of the game.

"I have to do a better job as a coach of (bringing) the sense of urgency that every single snap matters so much," Drinkall said. "And then we've got to get our guys to execute. That's the job of the coaching staff. And they want to do it right."

Jackson Returns
Junior cornerback Jaion Jackson, one of CMU's four captains and a critical member of an inexperienced defense, sat out the first half at Drinkall's discretion after Jackson was ejected from CMU's season-opening loss at New Mexico.

He played the second half on Saturday and made a major impact, Drinkall said, but his influence weighs heavily on the Chippewas whether he is on the field or not.

"He took ownership of the mistake he made, he wore it and owned it like a professional," Drinkall said. "He was awesome all week. That's a perfect example of him being such a great leader and why he makes us so great.

"His energy was high, he coached the whole first half and he got everybody going at halftime and led the team out, and everybody's got his back, and guys like that make a huge difference. He is an unbelievable player and leader, and we're so lucky to have him.

"Especially on a day like today, where you saw how big of an impact he makes on the field and from a cultural, leadership standpoint. He's the man."

The Defense
The defense kept CMU in the game until the Chippewa offense got untracked in the second half.

"We had a big challenge going into this season just because we had to replace all of those guys on defense -- I mean, great players that played here for a million years," Drinkall said, referring to the likes of standouts Michael Heldman, Jordan Kwiatkowski and Dakota Cochran, among others, who graduated after the 2025 season. "You've got all these new guys and (they're) learning all this new stuff.

"The coolest part was (members of the defense) didn't even care like when they were asked to go back out again and get another stop and get another turnover. They were all like, 'Yeah, let's go.' They were loose, having fun.

"And part of it is they've just got (outstanding) leadership over there," he added, naming Jackson, Darrell Bryant, Jr., Korver Demma, and Hunter Zirkle.

The defense, which forced four turnovers on the day, clinched the game with two interceptions in the final three-plus minutes, the first by Bryant, a safety, at the CMU 24-yard line and the second by linebacker Mayson Hitchens at the Chippewa 26.

"The defense, we're really resilient," Bryant said. "So whatever the offense had going on, we trust those guys to do their job, and we knew as long as we kept doing our part, getting the ball back, we knew they'd do their job and eventually they'd come out on top."

Hitchens and fellow linebacker Zavier White led the Chippewas with 10 tackles each.

The Crowd
Drinkall and the players gushed about the crowd of 19,005, the largest to witness a Chippewa home opener since 2015.

"It was amazing," Bryant said. "The sound of the crowd, that was amazing. That definitely got us going. Just having them at the game, having them being that supportive, whether we were down or up, just having them on our side, we knew we'd be fine. And it was definitely loud out there today. I appreciate the crowd for everything they did today."

Said Blue: "I loved it. I thought the crowd was very attached to the game the entire time. They were very into it and they were cheering, especially the student section was pretty awesome. It was a great feeling. I have a great feeling that we're going to keep having (better) attendance as we go through the season."

CMU vs. FCS Teams
The Chippewas have won 18 consecutive games against FCS opponents and are 18-1 all time against such competition. CMU's lone loss to an FCS team came to North Dakota State, 44-14, in 2007.

50 Wins
The victory lifted Drinkall's record as the Chippewas' coach to 8-7 and it was his 50^th win as a head coach, including five seasons (2014-18) at Kansas Wesleyan.

He served as an assistant at Army West Point from 2019-24 and was named to head the Chippewas ahead of the 2025 season.

Next
The Chippewas entertain Wyoming in a nonconference game on Saturday, Sept. 19 (1 p.m.). CMU is 1-2 all time against the Cowboys.

Their last meeting came in the 2017 Idaho Potato Bowl, a 37-14 Wyoming win. The Cowboys were quarterbacked that season by Josh Allen, who is now in his ninth year with the Buffalo Bills and in 2024 earned the NFL's Most Valuable Player Award.