Central Michigan sets early marker in Matt Drinkall Era, beats Eastern Michigan, 24-13

Mt. Pleasant — Over 15 plays, 72 yards and 7:49 of fourth quarter clock, Central Michigan showed that the team it wants to be isn’t theoretical anymore. It’s the team the Chippewas are now. 

And the version of Central Michigan that beat Eastern Michigan, 24-13, on Saturday, is close to what head coach Matt Drinkall imagined when he took this job months ago. 

Now off to a 3-2 start on the season, with a gritted-out win over an in-state rival to begin MAC play 1-0, the Chippewas’ fledgling program maybe isn’t fledgling anymore. Which means a win on Saturday against an in-state rival to close out September is just the start. Saturday marked a turning point for this young program, onto a course that could have this team contending for a conference title, all built around a field goal drive to seal a win. 

“That series is a lot of how we are,” Drinkall said. “We started it with a pass to Tommy for a big play. Third down conversions, going for it on fourth down, running the quarterback, got us some single wing stuff and being able to chunk the ball down and turn over, that was exactly it. Kind of used every part of the offense to do it and different people. And what a relief when that kick goes through and just changes everything, now.” 

To hold on against the Eagles, though, Central Michigan proved its mettle.

The Chippewas had led virtually all game, at times by multiple scores, blitzing the Eastern Michigan defense for touchdowns on the first three drives of the game. But the margin had been whittled to a 21-13 lead with the 3rd quarter coming to a close, and the Chippewas hadn’t scored in more than 30 minutes of game time. 

And Eastern Michigan had seized on some momentum, driving into Central Michigan territory when safety Maddix Blackwell came up with a diving interception on third down. 

“I almost got there and he threw the ball and I'm like, 'Alright, I trust one of my guys is going to be there for a deflection or an interception,’” defensive lineman Michael Heldman said. “I turn around and I just see him dive, full-out dive for the ball and I was just like, 'Yes!' He is one of those guys who will, full effort, go make a play when it needs to happen."

Then Central Michigan embarked on what turned out to be a game-icing field goal march, leaning on what worked all afternoon: The running game, both through quarterback Angel Flores and the tailbacks.

On the 12-play drive, tailback Nahree Biggins carried five times for 21 yards, Flores had six carries for 40 yards and Brock Townsend carried once for four yards, along with a 12 yard completion from Joe Labas to Tommy McIntosh. 

Arguably the biggest run for Flores came on a 3rd and 10, gaining nine yards after a false start backed the Chippewas up into a 3rd and 10. Drinkall didn’t hesitate to run again for the fourth down try and Flores converted, bouncing outside for 12 yards in what turned out to be a deciding blow. 

“When he comes in it's not like it's a running offense,” Drinkall said. “He just runs the whole thing. It's the same offense with a different flavor to it. He is so smart and athletic. He's a kid that you can kind of get into a sound play, give him the marker last, let him check you into some of the good, clean looks and he's like having — him and Joe are like having extra coaches out on the field. They are such an advantage in those critical downs.”

Central Michigan had taken the ball away from the Eastern Michigan offense with :07 left in the third quarter, leading by eight, and gave it back to the Eagles with 7:08 to play and down by 11. 

A game that was teetering got steered firmly back into control of the home team. 

“That eighth possession of the game, we had a couple big third down conversions and a big fourth down conversion to go kick that field goal. So those just kept coming up huge over and over again.” 

Flores finished the day with 22 carries for 137 yards, and showed up constantly in key short yardage situations. 

Flores converted on 3rd and 2, 4th and 1, 3rd and 1, 4th and 1, 4th and 1 and 3rd and 5 situations on Saturday. He only got stopped in short yardage on a key down once, the 3rd and goal play before Graham’s field goal. 

He also picked up his first passing touchdown of the season after nearly throwing an interception a few plays prior, and credited offensive coordinator Jim Chapin for instilling a basketball-like mentality. 

“He has this thing instilled in us called a ‘shooter's mentality,’” Flores said postgame. “Like if you go out there and miss and something doesn't go your way, go shoot again. He instilled that confidence in me if I were to go out there, miss a throw, make a bad play that, OK, that play’s over with, move on to the next one.” 

Labas looked sharp, too, going 14-of-16 passing for 138 yards and a touchdown of his own through the air. 

And as a whole, it was the sort of complementary, complete performance that the Chippewas know they can produce, week in and week out, being aggressive while riding a strong ground game and timely, explosive passing. 

Central Michigan outgained Eastern Michigan 445-298, converted on all three fourth down attempts, created the lone takeaway of the game and produced a pair of 100 yard rushers in Flores and Biggins. The Chippewas controlled the time of possession for 35:46 of the game. 

After getting waxed by Michigan two weeks ago in Ann Arbor, the Chippewas didn’t leave The Big House with heads hanging, but instead carried a competitive chip. Being feisty losers wasn’t the goal, and real successes needed to come. 

“The thing I really like about this team is they're over moral victories,” Drinkall said in the visitors' press conference room at Michigan Stadium. “They're kind of over that phase at this point. We're always trying to be glass half full, trying to take positives away from something. But I was talking about it in there, there's not a whole lot of — they're ready to start making some results.”

Saturday against Eastern Michigan was certainly the results the Chippewas are looking for. 

It wasn’t a flawless performance, but it was a complete one in many ways, one which showed good early returns of the Drinkall Era in Mt. Pleasant is a foundation upon which Central Michigan plans to build plenty more success. 

“They played desperate, they played passionate football and executed really well to end it,” Drinkall said.