R-Freshman leads late Chippewa comeback
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – Daniel Richardson came off the bench to throw three fourth-quarter touchdown passes on Saturday, leading Central Michigan to a dramatic 31-27 nonconference victory over Florida International before more than 18,000 at Kelly/Shorts Stadium.
Richardson ignited a Chippewa team (2-2) that played sluggishly through three quarters and trailed, 27-10, with under 11 minutes to play.
The redshirt freshman hit Lew Nichols III for a 15-yard TD, found JaCorey Sullivan for a 14-yard score, and then connected with Dallas Dixon on a 27-yard TD pass play. The Dixon TD catch came with 1:18 remaining. The Richardson-led scoring drives covered 80 yards (twice) and 76 yards.
"The guys hung in and they gave us an opportunity to win the game in the end," CMU coach Jim McElwain said. "I'm proud of the way (Richardson) came in and played. He did what he was expected to do, and he did his job. I'm happy for him, and I'm happy for this football team."
It looked anything but good for CMU through three quarters. The Chippewas missed two field goals, had a blocked punt returned for a touchdown and threw an interception. FIU quarterback Max Bortenschlager threw for 395 yards and two touchdowns to lead the charge as the Panthers (1-3) put the Chippewas on the ropes.
Richardson replaced starter Jacob Sirmon with under five minutes remaining in the third quarter. Richardson completed 16 of his 23 pass attempts for 276 yards. The three TD passes were a career high.
"More than anything it's really a testament to these kids and them saying, you know what, it's never over and let's just go win this play," McElwain said. "I saw a lot of that today.
"I'm really excited that we won the football game because no matter what you do, when you go compete, the idea is to win. I'm going to tell you I'm not real excited about the way we went about it, but at the end of the day our guys – you know what, there was a lot of joy in that locker room and that was exciting."
Dixon finished with eight catches for 127 yards and two touchdowns, and Kalil Pimpleton had 117 yards on eight.
After Dixon's second TD catch put CMU ahead for good, FIU drove from its own 10-yard line, beginning with 1:11 remaining, to the Chippewa 18 in nine plays. The game ended when Donte Kent intercepted Bortenschlager in the end zone as time ran out.
(Courtesy of CMU Athletics)
Richardson ignited a Chippewa team (2-2) that played sluggishly through three quarters and trailed, 27-10, with under 11 minutes to play.
The redshirt freshman hit Lew Nichols III for a 15-yard TD, found JaCorey Sullivan for a 14-yard score, and then connected with Dallas Dixon on a 27-yard TD pass play. The Dixon TD catch came with 1:18 remaining. The Richardson-led scoring drives covered 80 yards (twice) and 76 yards.
"The guys hung in and they gave us an opportunity to win the game in the end," CMU coach Jim McElwain said. "I'm proud of the way (Richardson) came in and played. He did what he was expected to do, and he did his job. I'm happy for him, and I'm happy for this football team."
It looked anything but good for CMU through three quarters. The Chippewas missed two field goals, had a blocked punt returned for a touchdown and threw an interception. FIU quarterback Max Bortenschlager threw for 395 yards and two touchdowns to lead the charge as the Panthers (1-3) put the Chippewas on the ropes.
Richardson replaced starter Jacob Sirmon with under five minutes remaining in the third quarter. Richardson completed 16 of his 23 pass attempts for 276 yards. The three TD passes were a career high.
"More than anything it's really a testament to these kids and them saying, you know what, it's never over and let's just go win this play," McElwain said. "I saw a lot of that today.
"I'm really excited that we won the football game because no matter what you do, when you go compete, the idea is to win. I'm going to tell you I'm not real excited about the way we went about it, but at the end of the day our guys – you know what, there was a lot of joy in that locker room and that was exciting."
Dixon finished with eight catches for 127 yards and two touchdowns, and Kalil Pimpleton had 117 yards on eight.
After Dixon's second TD catch put CMU ahead for good, FIU drove from its own 10-yard line, beginning with 1:11 remaining, to the Chippewa 18 in nine plays. The game ended when Donte Kent intercepted Bortenschlager in the end zone as time ran out.
(Courtesy of CMU Athletics)
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