5 plays the propelled Central Michigan to Week 1 win over SJSU, 1st under Matt Drinkall

Central Michigan opened the Matt Drinkall Era with a win on Friday night, going on the road to San Jose State and pulling off a 16-14 victory. 

The Chippewas did it on the back of a defense that forced three early turnovers and made life difficult for the Spartans offense, coupled with a punishing ground game on offense. 

And as Drinkall had said throughout fall camp, the Chippewas didn’t hesitate to play multiple quarterbacks, supplementing starter Joe Labas with snaps for Angel Flores and Jadyn Glasser, all three of whom contributed significantly to the win. 

On a night where the Chippewas attempted 13 passes for 115 yards — Labas went 5-for-10 for 56 yards, Flores went 3-for-3 for 59 yards — it was the ability to run the ball and control the clock that powered the offense, primarily. 

Running backs Nahree Biggins (18 carries, 102 yards) and Trey Cornist (13, 99 and a touchdown) contributed the bulk of the production as Central Michigan rolled to 225 net rushing yards and one score on the ground. 

And by playing smothering defense, running the ball and controlling the game, Central Michigan left the West Coast 1-0. 

Here are five key moments that swung the game for the Chippewas.

Brandon Deasfernandes intercepts Walker Eget in end zone

3rd and goal, San Jose State ball at Central Michigan 2, 7:42 remaining in the 1st quarter

After Central Michigan drove into fringe field goal range and a Cade Graham attempt from 51 yards came up short, San Jose State responded with a march of its own, right to the doorstep of the CMU endzone. 

The defense stuffed back-to-back run plays for no gain at the 2 yard line, and on 3rd and goal, the Spartans opted to pass. Eget took the snap and eventually left the pocket, rolled left, collided with an official, and fired a pass into the back corner of the end zone, which Deasfernandes leapt up and nabbed. 

Not only did it stop a potential scoring chance in its tracks, Deasfernandes wisely took the touchback and set the offense up at the 20 yard line after his first career interception. 

The Chippewas kept on turning over the Spartans to start, with Michael Heldman forcing a fumble recovered by Fernando Sanchez III on the next drive. In the 2nd quarter, Elijah Rikard nabbed his second career interception.

Cornist opens the scoring

1st and 10, Central Michigan ball at San Jose State 29, 3:14 remaining in 1st quarter

Much like the first series that ended in a missed field goal, Central Michigan marched down the field on possession No. 2. 

But this time, it was capped with a score, as Cornist rumbled for 29 yards through the San Jose State defense for a touchdown. 

On top of the ground game working early, the score meant Central Michigan could play with an upperhand as the defense kept holding off the Spartans offense. 

Glasser converts 4th down late

4th and 1, Central Michigan ball at own 29, 9:53 remaining in 4th quarter

By the middle portion of the 4th quarter, CMU had given up the lead, and trailed, 14-13. The offense hadn’t produced points since Graham made a field goal late in the 2nd quarter. 

So facing a 4th and 1, at their own 29, Drinkall sent out the Chippewas offense with the big and athletic Glasser at quarterback. 

And Glasser did his job, running for two yards to pay off the gamble, converting the critical down to keep the offense on the field.

That specific drive — which later featured a 14 yard pass from Labas to Langston Lewis and a 17 yard dash from Biggins — would prove to be the one where the Chippewas retook the lead for good.

Graham knocks home go-ahead field goal

4th and 5, Central Michigan ball at San Jose State 10, 4:13 remaining in 4th quarter

Graham missed his first attempt but ended up playing an integral role in the win for Central Michigan.

He bounced back to make his next two field goals in the first half. And with less than five minutes remaining, his 28 yard attempt to give his team a 16-14 lead it wouldn’t relinquish sailed through.

And after going 3-for-4 on field goals with his only miss from 51 yards, plus making an extra point, Graham accounted for 10 of the Chippewas' 16 points.

Denis Lynch misses two go-ahead field goals

4th and 13, San Jose State ball at Central Michigan 15, 1:13 remaining in 4th quarter

Ok, not quite one moment, but bear with me: San Jose State’s ensuing drive looked like it would pierce Central Michigan’s hopes of a surprise victory, quickly marching into field goal range. 

And a 33 yard attempt for Lynch seemed like the dagger, poised to plunge. 

Then Lynch hit the kick low with a bit of hook, and it missed the right upright wide. 

Central Michigan got the ball back and was one first down away from bleeding out the clock. Not only did the Chippewas not pick it up, but Lewis getting his helmet knocked off on a block on 3rd down stopped the clock and gave San Jose State nearly a full minute to get back into field goal range, but this time with no timeouts.

And while the Spartans got close, it wasn’t close enough, as Lynch had a second attempt, this one from 56 yards, that missed.

After surviving two go-ahead field goal attempts in the final 90 seconds, the Chippewas could finally celebrate the opening win of the Drinkall Era.