With six seconds remaining in the first half, Ohio quarterback Nick Poulos launched a 44-yard pass for a touchdown to take a 31-0 lead into halftime for the Bobcats.
While the Chippewas were able to hold Ohio scoreless in the second half, the deficit was too much and Central Michigan fell 31-14.
“It was very similar to the New Mexico game where it was like man, we came out we knew we needed to start fast and get rolling and they scored on the first three possessions,” head coach Matt Drinkall said. “We did some uncharacteristic things in all three phases where it just wasn’t very clean, good football and that is 100% on me. Our kids are trying as hard as they can but I have got to do a better job of getting them ready to go.”
CMU falls to 3-3 on the season and 1-1 in Mid-American Conference play.
Ohio started the game with the ball, and after a Jaion Jackson interception was called back due to a penalty, the Bobcats wasted no time putting points on the board with an eight-play 70-yard drive ending with a touchdown.
Central Michigan had its offense clicking early, driving 40-yards before a failed attempt at a fourth-and-one conversion gave the ball back to the Bobcats.
The team from Athens once again found the end zone, after eight plays, extending its lead to 14.
“The first series we pick off a ball on third and six and then it comes back because of a call,” Drinkall said. “Then our first fourth-and-one they went in the neutral zone, we thought we had a free first down and they didn’t call it, we ended up having to snap it and didn’t get that one and those two really put us at a big disadvantage right behind those two critical plays.”
The Bobcat’s offense continued to get the better of the Chippewa defense, scoring on three of its four possessions in the second quarter, including a touchdown right before halftime to take a 31-0 lead into the locker room.
Coming out of halftime, Central Michigan’s defense made the right adjustments, holding Ohio to 25 yards over four drives in the third quarter while forcing a fumble.
“Obviously we came into halftime talking about playing a harder style of football and then played much better in the second half,” Drinkall said.
The passing attack struggled for Ohio in the second half, as the Chippewas were able to put Poulos under consistent pressure. Poulos had notably missed much of the season since the Bobcats’ match against Nebraska.
“We obviously prepared for the other two [quarterbacks] that they have been playing and are better runners, we found out probably about 40 minutes before kick that he was going to go,” Drinkall said. “He is such a skilled passer and operator and changes the way that they operate on offense.”
The offense put together a drive that resulted in a touchdown with 4:05 remaining in the third quarter as Jayden Clerveaux broke off a 15-yard run after an eight play 73-yard drive.
“In the second half we played very well in all three phases we played well,” Drinkall said. “I have got to figure out a way to get us to do that consistently.”
Central Michigan found the end zone again in the fourth quarter, this time with Jadyn Glasser in at quarterback. Ultimately, it was Nick Woodford who scored the touchdown on a 20-yard rush.
In his drive at quarterback, Glasser went three of four through the air recording 42 passing yards and 19 rushing yards on two attempts.
“There were a lot of things that I told the kids after the game, when you came out for warm ups and you looked at Ohio you knew it was going to be all about ball,” Drinkall said. “They didn’t have anybody with their shirts untucked, they didn’t have anybody hooting and hollering and dancing around, it is all about football at that program.”
“That was a very good lesson for us to see and learn and we have got to focus.”
Between Angel Flores, who started the game, and Jadyn Glasser, who only played in one drive, the two quarterbacks finished a combined 17 of 24 for 154 passing yards.
Central Michigan football returns to Mount Pleasant on Saturday, Oct. 17 to take on the rival Western Michigan Broncos in the battle for the Victory Cannon trophy.
