Andy Sneddon, CMUChippewas.com
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – Shane Morris hit Corey Willis with a 29-yard touchdown pass with 1:31 remaining on Friday as Central Michigan topped Northern Illinois, 31-24, in the Chippewas’ regular-season finale at Kelly/Shorts Stadium.
It was the fifth consecutive . . .
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – Shane Morris hit Corey Willis with a 29-yard touchdown pass with 1:31 remaining on Friday as Central Michigan topped Northern Illinois, 31-24, in the Chippewas’ regular-season finale at Kelly/Shorts Stadium.
It was the fifth consecutive . . .
. . . win for CMU, which is 8-4 overall, 6-2 Mid-American Conference. The eight wins is CMU’s most since 2009..
Central Michigan, who tied the Huskies for second place in the MAC West, will join Northern Illinois in waiting for a bowl invitation that could be announced on Dec. 3.
Central Michigan, who tied the Huskies for second place in the MAC West, will join Northern Illinois in waiting for a bowl invitation that could be announced on Dec. 3.
Morris threw for 247 yards and three touchdowns as Central Michigan overcame a 17-0 halftime deficit to extend its win streak over NIU to four games.
Morris' TD passes went to Willis, Mark Chapman and Jonathan Ward, and Ward ran 54 yards for a score early in the fourth quarter to put CMU up 24-17. On the day, Ward finished with 159 yards rushing on 21 carries. The Chippewas totaled 139 yards rushing.
NIU (8-4, 6-2) tied the game at 24 with just over three minutes remaining on a Tre Harbison 12-yard run.
CMU responded with a five-play, 75-yard game-winning drive, capped by Morris’ fourth-down-and-4 toss to Willis. It was the 23rd career TD reception for Willis, a senior who moved passed Antonio Brown and into third place on CMU’s career TD reception list.
“I think the start to the second half was the key to the game,” said NIU head coach Rod Carey. “We came out with a short run and two drops to go out and that gave them life. Then defensively we had some mental errors. That sequence set the tone for the second half.”
Central Michigan outgained the visitors 386-265 overall, although NIU registered three more first downs (19-16).
Quarterback Mark Childress completed 20 of 36 passes for 128 yards with one TD and two picks. Sophomore Spencer Tears paced NIU receivers with five catches for 41 yards. Freshman Tre Harbison and senior Jordan Huff combined for 100 yards and one score off of 20 carries.
(MRO Edit)
Morris' TD passes went to Willis, Mark Chapman and Jonathan Ward, and Ward ran 54 yards for a score early in the fourth quarter to put CMU up 24-17. On the day, Ward finished with 159 yards rushing on 21 carries. The Chippewas totaled 139 yards rushing.
NIU (8-4, 6-2) tied the game at 24 with just over three minutes remaining on a Tre Harbison 12-yard run.
CMU responded with a five-play, 75-yard game-winning drive, capped by Morris’ fourth-down-and-4 toss to Willis. It was the 23rd career TD reception for Willis, a senior who moved passed Antonio Brown and into third place on CMU’s career TD reception list.
“I think the start to the second half was the key to the game,” said NIU head coach Rod Carey. “We came out with a short run and two drops to go out and that gave them life. Then defensively we had some mental errors. That sequence set the tone for the second half.”
Central Michigan outgained the visitors 386-265 overall, although NIU registered three more first downs (19-16).
Quarterback Mark Childress completed 20 of 36 passes for 128 yards with one TD and two picks. Sophomore Spencer Tears paced NIU receivers with five catches for 41 yards. Freshman Tre Harbison and senior Jordan Huff combined for 100 yards and one score off of 20 carries.
(MRO Edit)
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