Central Michigan squeaks by Colgate in 13-10 victory

Chances of a victory were looking grim for the Central Michigan Chippewas (1-1) with 5:47 remaining in the third quarter, down 10-0 to the visiting Colgate Raiders (2-1).

CMU had struggled to score all afternoon, with two interceptions, a fumble, a missed field goal and three three-and-outs amongst their mistakes in the prior periods. The boo birds were out at several points.

But the offense finally found their footing, scoring two rushing touchdowns on two straight possessions to take a 13-10 victory by game's end.

The game got off to a strange start for the home side, with Caden VanHuis missing a 29-yard field goal on the team's first offensive possession, squandering an 11-play, 37-yard effort. QB Jaydn Glasser, who rotated in for starter Angel Flores, got get the team in trouble once again on their second offensive possession, tossing an interception right into the mitts of Christian Magliacano.

Colgate took advantage, breaking the scoreless tie when quarterback Jake Strearney ran up the middle for a three-yard rushing score to put the Raiders up 7-0 with 11:48 to go in the second quarter.

The next four possessions also proved surreal, with Colgate fumbling twice and losing the ball only for Central to give it right back on three-and-outs. (That second CMU possession, which got to the Colgate 34, ended in a touchback on a punt.)

After the Chippewa defense stood tall and forced another short Colgate drive, Angel Flores tossed an ill-advised ball into quadruple coverage, with Colgate's Reece Allan nabbing it to set up Colgate for a field goal to extend the lead to 10-0.

The third quarter appeared to be a stalemate for the most part until Matt Drinkall elected to go for it on fourth-and-one from midfield with 35 seconds left in the quarter.

The play call was a QB power look, with Flores meant to follow the blockers and go up the middle for a simple conversion. Instead, he broke out of two tackles and spun out of a third before reaching the endzone with no opposition, putting the score at 10-6 Colgate. VanHuis' extra point would be blocked, but the score was enough to get CMU back in the game.

The CMU defense forced a Colgate punt (which netted 17 yards) and the CMU offense looked to have stalled out once again around midfield, staring at fourth-and-nine from the Colgate 47.

Drinkall once again elected to go for it with 9:30 remaining down four points. Angel Flores delivered, tossing a seven-yard strike to Justin Ruffin Jr. under pressire. Ruffin Jr. did the rest, plowing through the initial tackles to pick up 18 yards and give CMU a fresh set of downs.

Three plays later, CMU took the lead on a six-yard touchdown rush from Vaughn Blue, putting the home team up 13-10 with 7:33 to go.

The defense, which had been stellar all day, forced two more interceptions on back-to-back Colgate possessions to seal the deal, giving Central their first win of the season.

CMU forced four turnovers on the night, including two fumbles and two interceptions, with four different players credited for a ball apiece.

Linebacker Mayson Hitchens was the star of the show for Central's defense, notching an interception, a pass break-up and a joint team-leading 10 total tackles on the night. Fellow backer Xavier White also had 10 tackles.

Hunter Zirkle had a crucial strip sack forced fumble, which he also recovered, to go with four tackles. Korver Demma had a fumble recovery as well, with Darrell Bryant Jr. notching an interception and a pass break-up in the effort.

As a unit, the team gave up only 219 total yards, including 76 rushing yards, limiting Colgate to 5-of-14 on third-down attempts.

Central will have questions to answer offensively.

Angel Flores led the team in both passing (7-of-13, 57 yards) and rushing (122 yards, TD), but many others struggled. No other rusher had more than 27 yards, while halfback Vaughn Blue (three catches, 29 yards) lead the passcatchers. The only other receiver with more than one catch was Langston Lewis (three catches, 13 yards; 19 rushing yards).

The offensive line was also porous, giving up three sacks and four tackles-for-loss.

For Colgate, Jake Stearney finished 16-of-31 passing for 124 yards, a rushing touchdown, two interceptions and a fumble. Danny Shaban led the rushers with 22 carries for 87 yards, with Kam Phillips leading Colgate in receiving yards (43) and Winston Moore leading in receptions (five).

Trooper Price led all tacklers with 13 total stops and also had a half-TFL and half-sack. Christian Magliacano and Reece Allan each had interceptions. Paul-Marie Dougi and Justin Tedim had a sack apiece to lead the Raiders.

Central now prepares to host Wyoming next weekend, while Colgate returns home to Hamilton, New York, to host the Ivy League's Cornell. Both contests are scheduled for next Saturday at 1 p.m. Eastern time