by Kent, OH; It would be another edition of midweek MACtion which featured the 6-4 Central Michigan Chippewas and the 4-6 Kent State Golden Flashes. With a 4-2 conference record, the Chippewas were staring down a win-out situation to clinch a berth in the MAC Championship. They made sure it stayed that way by literally running away with a 28-16 win over the Golden Flashes who refused to quit in this game.
“I love the direction we’re going as a football program right now,” head coach Mark Carney said following the home finale loss. “This is a locker room that believes in what we’re building here, and I firmly believe that the best has yet to come.”
The game itself could not have started any better for Central Michigan. After forcing a Kent State three and out, the Chippewas would respond back with an 18-play, 75-yard opening drive themselves ending with a 1-yard touchdown pass from Joe Labas to Tommy McIntosh. Don’t be fooled though as the run game going early on.
Kent State would start driving the ball down the field on their next drive. That was at least until Dru Deshields fumbled the ball and gave it over to Central Michigan with great field position. The Chippewas would of course put together a quick 7-play, 34-yard drive capped off by third string running back Brock Townsend for his first of two touchdowns on the night. With a dominating 78 rushing yards on their first two drives, it was beginning to look like a blowout may be in store.
The play of the first half for the Golden Flashes would be an interception by Terell Miller with 4:22 left in the second quarter. Miller was making sure his final home game in college was a memorable one with the pick. Despite not making the most of the opportunity with a touchdown, Kent State did make it a 3-14 game following a field goal.
With still time to add onto the lead, Central Michigan would come up empty as it remained a 14-3 game at halftime. Despite the dominant rushing attack, Dru Deshields was making enough plays along with the Golden Flashes defense coming up with a few stops to keep them in the game. The Chippewas had a total of 174 rushing yards on the night, with three different players having at least 35 yards. Labas did get out passed though finishing with just 121 passing yards compared to Deshields’ 185 passing yards.
The stingy defense would continue for Kent State in the third quarter as they allowed just one first down and forced three punts from Central Michigan. But the Golden Flashes still found themselves trailing 3-14, coming up with no points by the quarter came to an end. The offense was driving down the field after getting the ball to start off with the fourth quarter. But a blocked kick would put an end to that momentum and keep it a 14-3 Chippewas lead.
Central Michigan would continue to get chance after chance to pull away in this game, but they could not take the shot. After a three and, Kent State would make them pay with a 59-yard punt return for a touchdown by wide receiver Wayne Harris. It all of a sudden had Kent State down just 9-14 with 10:38 left in the game. “Wayne has been so close a couple of times this year,” Carney said about Harris and his return for a touchdown. “We talked to the team about making it happen today, and it did.”
The Golden Flashes touchdown may have been exactly what the Chippewas offense needed to get motivated in the fourth quarter. Very similar to their opening two drives, Central Michigan put the primary focus on the rushing attack as they put together a 10-play, 75-yard drive which took 5:94 off the clock. It was Townsend getting his second touchdown of the night making it a 21-9 game with 4:41 left to play. Kent State would turn it over on downs their next drive as DeShields took a sack which set up the Chippewas with amazing field position. It did not take long for the Chippewas to officially put the nail in the coffin as Labas found a wide open DeCorion Temple in the end zone making it a 28-9 Central Michigan lead.
Despite the score, the Golden Flashes refused to quit as they put together an 8-play, 68 yard drive with DeShields taking it up the middle himself for a 10-yard touchdown run. It was a little too late for Kent State though as they still trailed 16-28 with 1:28 left in the game.
The Chippewas were able to kneel it out in the end coming away with the 28-16 win, improving to 7-4 on the season. While the Golden Flashes fall to 4-7 themselves, but still come away with a 3-2 home record in the 2025 season.
