Central Michigan stampedes Wyoming in rain-soaked 24-10 win

There were questions going into Saturday's game whether or not Central Michigan (2-1) had lost their way on offense after a shaky showing against FCS Colgate last week.

In reply, the Chippewas would rush for 339 yards– the most in a single game dating back to 2019– en route to a dominant 24-10 victory over Wyoming (1-2) in front of the home fans on Saturday afternoon.

The first quarter was a feeling-out period for both sides, as Central's Caden VanHuis connected on a field goal in the game's first offensive possession to put the Chips up early at 3-0. That's how the score would stand at the end of the first quarter, with both teams exchanging punts throughout.

CMU would be the team to break through to start the second quarter, paying off an 11-play, 80-yard drive lasting seven minutes with a 25-yard rushing touchdown from Angel Flores to extend the lead to 10-0 with 8:00 remaining.

The defense came out to play on the next drive, forcing a turnover-on-downs when safety Justin Taylor– formerly of Wyoming– got the stop on Eric Richardson, styming the receiver one yard short of the stick to give the ball back to the offense in just over two minutes of game time.

Central took full control on the next drive, running nine straight times to start their next possession to grind the clock down before catching Wyoming off guard with two successful intermediate passes to get into the Cowboys redzone. Angel Flores would finish it off with a tough one-yard run to push the margin up to 17-0 before the halftime break.

Looking for a spark to start the third quarter, the Cowboys gambled on fourth-and-five from their own 26-yard line, opting for the fake punt pass. Bart Edminston would step up in the pocket and find Tyson Shamsid-Deen for the first down conversion to give the drive new life. However, CMU's defense stood up, forcing a punt three plays later to neutralize the trick.

Evan Sandvik's 37-yard field goal on Wyoming's next possession got the Cowboys on the board at 17-3 with 6:16 to go third quarter, but CMU's rushing offense wasn't quite done scoring yet, as Brock Townsend broke free for a 38-yard scamper to once again make it a three-score contest just over three minutes later.

The Cowboys, now with their backs against the wall, opted to go for it on fourth down once again, this time from CMU's 47-yard line. Tyler Hughes' pass to Eric Richardson fell incomplete, but Jaion Jackson was called for defensive pass interference, extending the drive. The Pokes would finally make good at the start of the fourth quarter, with Hughes and Richardson connecting on a 27-yard pass to end the third quarter setting up a six-yard rushing touchdown by Markell Holman to put the game at 24-10.

Now needing two touchdowns to try and tie the game, Wyoming came out aggressive on both sides of the ball, forcing CMU to punt twice on their last two drives of the game– but the Chippewas defense would haul in two interceptions in return, sealing the game with Kameran Hayward's fly-ball pick in the endzone with 1:24 remaining.

CMU's rushing attack posted the most rushing yards in a game since the unit ran for 359 yards against New Mexico State on Oct. 12, 2019, and ran for 300+ yards for the first time in a game since finishing with 305 yards against Eastern Michigan last season.

QB Angel Flores was the dynamo, playing all 66 snaps for the Chippewas– only te second time under head coach Matt Drinkall's tenure CMU has not utilized a rotation at the position. Flores led the rushers with 163 yards and two touchdowns on 28 carries, while also notching 32 passing yards. Flores' 28 carries were the most since Lew Nichols toted the ball 31 times against Ball State in 2022.

Jayden Clerveaux (12 carries, 81 yards) and Vaughn Blue (15 carries, 55 yards) also got a significant workload to help reset the record books.

Justin Taylor, who was a reserve safety for Wyoming in 2025, balled out against his former team, finishing second on the tackle chart with nine tackles and snagging a fourth-quarter interception. Linebacker Xavier White led the effort with 11 tackles, a forced fumble and a QB hurry. EDGE rusher JJ Douglas tipped two passes at the line.

For Wyoming, Tyler Hughes finished 14-of-30 for 173 yards and two interceptions, while also leading in rushing yards (78) and carries (10.) Markell Holmon scored the team's lone touchdown and had nine carries for 38 yards. Tight end Kyle Frendt led all passcatchers with four catches for 95 yards.

Gary Rutherford (13) and Dash Bauman (12) led the Pokes in total tackles, with the unit collecting two tackles-for-loss.

CMU now gears up for a road trip to the city where the heat is on, taking on the #6 Miami (FL) Hurricanes for a Saturday evening tilt. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Eastern time, with a national broadcast on The CW Network.