Bucknell University
0-3 , 0-0
Central Michigan
1-2 , 0-0
Football Drops Road Game at FBS Opponent Central Michigan
9/17/2022 4:32:00 PM | Football
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – The Bucknell defense limited Central Michigan to just seven points and grabbed an interception in a stout defensive effort over the first two quarters, but the Chippewas got hot in the second half and rattled off touchdowns on five consecutive drives to secure a 41-0 victory at Kelly/Shorts Stadium on Saturday.
After Central Michigan punted, threw an interception and missed two field goals on its first four drives, the Chippewas broke the scoreless tie with 4:37 to play in the second quarter on a 10-yard touchdown pass from Daniel Richardson to Joel Wilson. It was the first of two passing TDs for the sophomore.
Bucknell's best scoring chance was on a 10-play, 42-yard drive in the second quarter that ended up at the Central Michigan 28, but the Bison's field goal attempt went wide. It was one of four missed field goals in the game, with the Chippewas missing the mark on three of them.
Central Michigan's leading rusher, Lew Nichols III, cashed in on two rushing touchdowns in the third quarter, and quarterback Jase Bauer ran for two more in the fourth.
Ethan Grady, who started the game at quarterback for the Bison, finished 11 of 24 with 96 yards through the air and an interception. Tyler Beverett played most of the second half and went 6 for 12 for 57 yards. Christian Tait hauled in four receptions for 35 yards. Meanwhile, Rushawn Baker ran for a team-high 31 yards on eight attempts.
Safety Brent Jackson matched his career high with 12 tackles and two pass breakups. Alex Smith Jr. had the Bison interception, and Gavin Pringle posted three pass breakups and five tackles.
"To get away, to fly together and stay in some nice accommodations, to go to a new place and play against a great football team in a wonderful stadium, all of our players relish that opportunity," said head coach Dave Cecchini. "I think we can take confidence in knowing how we played in the first half, that we can handle ourselves like we did against Towson and like we did in the second half against VMI, but until we get it in our heads, until we can commit ourselves to becoming a more consistent football team in really every facet, we're not going to get to where we want to be."
Bucknell saw several extended drives that ended in Central Michigan territory over the first half. The offense crossed midfield on its second possession of the game thanks to a 13-yard completion to Okeyo Ayungo, a seven-yard pass to Damian Harris and 11 yards on the ground by Coleman Bennett. The drive stalled at the CMU 47 and the Bison punted it away.
Bucknell's next drive began with an 18-yard run by Beverett. Beverett later hit Josh Gary on an 18-yard completion down to the 19-yard line, but a fumbled snap backed the offense up to the 28, resulting in the 48-yard field goal attempt.
Central Michigan's first scoring drive went 80 yards and took 12 plays as well as two fourth-down conversions. Richardson's pass initially bounced off one reciever's hands and into another's in the end zone.
The Bison piled up 103 yards to Central Michigan's 177 over the first two quarters and posted nine first downs to CMU's 12.
Central Michigan missed a field goal and punted on its first two possessions of the second half, but the Chippewas got right back into scoring position when a blocked punt set their offense up and Bucknell's 25-yard line. It look Nichols just two rushes to get in the end zone and extend the lead to 13-0.
The Chippewas then scored on a six-play, 43-yard drive, a seven-play, 71-yard drive, a five-play, 72-yard drive and an eight-play, 67-yard drive on consecutive possessions. Sandwiched between the four rushing TDs by Nichols III and Bauer, Richardson connected with Langston Lewis for a 45-yard heave deep down the middle of the field.
The Bison nearly got on the board in the fourth quarter when Baker broke free down the sideline for a 14-yard gain, but he narrowly stepped out of bounds at the Central Michigan 35-yard line. Bucknell later turned it over on downs.
"We've got a week off here to address those situations and to get healthy, which we definitely need to do, and hopefully we'll have all that addressed by the time we play back at home against Lafayette in two weeks," Cecchini said.
Bucknell heads into its bye week and will not play next Saturday. The Bison look ahead to their Homecoming game against Lafayette on Saturday, Oct. 1. Kickoff at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium is set for 3:30 p.m.
Team Stats
BUC 0, CMU 7
CMU - Wilson,Joel 10 yd pass from Richardson,Daniel (Rolston,Josh kick) 12 plays, 80 yards, TOP 04:49
BUC 0, CMU 13
CMU - Nichols,Lew 3 yd run (), 2 plays, 34 yards, TOP 00:17
BUC 0, CMU 20
CMU - Nichols,Lew 15 yd run (Meeder,Marshall kick), 6 plays, 43 yards, TOP 01:46
BUC 0, CMU 27
CMU - Lewis,Langston 45 yd pass from Richardson,Daniel (Meeder,Marshall kick) 7 plays, 71 yards, TOP 02:54
BUC 0, CMU 34
CMU - Bauer,Jase 10 yd run (Meeder,Marshall kick), 5 plays, 72 yards, TOP 01:49
BUC 0, CMU 41
CMU - Bauer,Jase 8 yd run (Meeder,Marshall kick), 8 plays, 67 yards, TOP 02:59
