KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Western Michigan led 21-7 at halftime and 28-14 heading into the fourth quarter, but Central Michigan scored 21 unanswered points to stun WMU, 35-28 inside Waldo Stadium on Wednesday night.
CMU's game-winning score . . .
CMU's game-winning score . . .
. . . was a 77-yard Shane Morris to Corey Willis pass over the middle on the first play of a drive with 2:37 left in the contest. Western Michigan got the ball to the CMU 46 on its final drive before three incomplete passes and penalty forced the turnover on downs.
It was the Chippewa's first victory over WMU since 2013.
Willis finished a career-high 148 yards on five receptions. Sophomore running back Jonathan Ward finished with 213 all-purpose yards - 132 on the ground, 81 through the air, and one touchdown.
The Broncos dominated the game on the ground, totaling 315 yards, including 228 and two touchdowns from senior running back Jarvion Franklin.
It was Franklin's third 200-yard rushing game of his career while also eclipsing the century mark for the fourth straight game and 20th time in his career. Franklin also became Western Michigan's all-time leader for touchdowns in a career, breaking the mark of 52 set by last year's No. 5 overall NFL draft pick Corey Davis.
All four touchdowns for WMU came on the ground with junior Jamauri Bogan and sophomore Davon Tucker each adding one. Western Michigan, however, managed just 42 yards passing, playing in wet conditions and with freshman quarterback Reece Goddard under center in his first career start.
Central Michigan, meanwhile, managed to get 243 yards and two passing TDs from Morris, who completed 12 of 30 attempts on the evening.
CMU completely flipped momentum in the second half, outgaining the Broncos, 327-88 and outscoring WMU, 28-7.
Western’s Franklin opened scoring early. On the fifth play from scrimmage he raced 47 yards up the right side for his record-breaking TD.
Tucker’s 8-yard TD put the hosts up 14-0 before Central got on the board with a 3-yard Morris run with 1:00 left in the opening stanza.
Bogan’s 2-yard TD gave Western Michigan a 21-7 halftime lead and the two teams traded touchdowns in the third period. Morris tallied on an 8-yard run, while Franklin went in from nine yards out to make it a 28-14 game with 8:28 remaining in the third period.
Central Michigan caught fire midway through the fourth quarter. Ward ripped off a 29-yard run to get it started and Eric Cooper knotted the game at 28-all with a 9-yard rush at 5:50.
An onside kick and fumble recovered by CMU went for naught, as the Chippewas were forced to punt. WMU, however, could not sustain its own drive and punted to Central’s 23. Morris found Davis for the game-winning touchdown on the next play.
CMU improved to 5-4, 3-2 Mid-American Conference. The Chippewas need one more win to become bowl eligible. Western Michigan falls to 5-4 overall and 3-2 in MAC play and hosts Kent State in the final home regular season game on Wednesday, Nov. 8.
(CMU/WMU Athletics/MRO edit)
Willis finished a career-high 148 yards on five receptions. Sophomore running back Jonathan Ward finished with 213 all-purpose yards - 132 on the ground, 81 through the air, and one touchdown.
The Broncos dominated the game on the ground, totaling 315 yards, including 228 and two touchdowns from senior running back Jarvion Franklin.
It was Franklin's third 200-yard rushing game of his career while also eclipsing the century mark for the fourth straight game and 20th time in his career. Franklin also became Western Michigan's all-time leader for touchdowns in a career, breaking the mark of 52 set by last year's No. 5 overall NFL draft pick Corey Davis.
All four touchdowns for WMU came on the ground with junior Jamauri Bogan and sophomore Davon Tucker each adding one. Western Michigan, however, managed just 42 yards passing, playing in wet conditions and with freshman quarterback Reece Goddard under center in his first career start.
Central Michigan, meanwhile, managed to get 243 yards and two passing TDs from Morris, who completed 12 of 30 attempts on the evening.
CMU completely flipped momentum in the second half, outgaining the Broncos, 327-88 and outscoring WMU, 28-7.
Western’s Franklin opened scoring early. On the fifth play from scrimmage he raced 47 yards up the right side for his record-breaking TD.
Tucker’s 8-yard TD put the hosts up 14-0 before Central got on the board with a 3-yard Morris run with 1:00 left in the opening stanza.
Bogan’s 2-yard TD gave Western Michigan a 21-7 halftime lead and the two teams traded touchdowns in the third period. Morris tallied on an 8-yard run, while Franklin went in from nine yards out to make it a 28-14 game with 8:28 remaining in the third period.
Central Michigan caught fire midway through the fourth quarter. Ward ripped off a 29-yard run to get it started and Eric Cooper knotted the game at 28-all with a 9-yard rush at 5:50.
An onside kick and fumble recovered by CMU went for naught, as the Chippewas were forced to punt. WMU, however, could not sustain its own drive and punted to Central’s 23. Morris found Davis for the game-winning touchdown on the next play.
CMU improved to 5-4, 3-2 Mid-American Conference. The Chippewas need one more win to become bowl eligible. Western Michigan falls to 5-4 overall and 3-2 in MAC play and hosts Kent State in the final home regular season game on Wednesday, Nov. 8.
(CMU/WMU Athletics/MRO edit)
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