Football Shows Strong Resolve Against 12th-Ranked Cowboys

Thursday, September 1

Stillwater, Okla./Boone Pickens Stadium

7 p.m. ET

Central Michigan University

No. 12/11 Oklahoma State

Photo by: Jack Reeber '23,M'25 - @jackreeber.raw

9/2/2022 1:51:00 AM | Football

Box Score Photo Gallery

Chippewas never stop charging in season-opening 58-44 loss

By: Andy Sneddon, CMUChippewas.com

STILLWATER, Okla. – Bright spots? Sure. There almost always are no matter the final score.

And there were for fourth-year coach Jim McElwain and his Central Michigan football team on Thursday as the Chippewas kept coming and coming despite a deep early deficit against the 12^th-ranked team in the nation.

"Since we've been here and started to establish the program, there's a certain mentality that it takes to be a Chippewa," said McElwain after CMU's 58-44 nonconference loss to Oklahoma State before 53,808 at the Cowboys' Boone Pickens Stadium.

"It's cliché, but it's a never-say-die deal. I'm proud of them; we'll fight 'til the bitter end and that's who we are and that's what we've established as a program."

The Chippewas couldn't duplicate the magic they conjured up the last time they visited Boone Pickens in 2016, when they won on a Hail Mary touchdown pass with no time remaining.

But they likely found something deep within themselves that should serve them well going forward in 2022. They trailed 37-7 late in the second quarter and then 51-15 early in the third.

"Bascially I said it was not over yet," said CMU quarterback Daniel Richardson. "At the end of the day, there was time on that clock. We had 30 more minutes left and we had to go out with a fight.

"I told them (not to) put their heads down; we've got a long season ahead of us. At the end of the day our goal is a MAC championship and we're going to get that job done."

Playing from behind and with the Chippewa run game bottled up, Richardson completed 36 of 49 pass attempts for 424 yards and four touchdowns. His completions, attempts and yards were career highs and he tied his career high in TD tosses.

Richardson triggered an offense that produced 44 points against a defense that ranked fifth in the nation a year ago. CMU's run game produced 122 yards, 72 of that – on 26 carries – came from Lew Nichols III, the 2021 national rushing leader.

"I thought D-Rich did a good job of taking what the defense gave him," McElwain said. "He took care of the ball for the most part, he put the ball where we needed to catch it, and we're going to need that. We're going to have to get some 450-, 500-, 600-yard passing games for (defenses) to loosen up so we can get (Nichols) going a little bit."

The Richardson-led CMU offense finally caught fire, but only after falling into a deep hole. It was 7-7 after Richardson hit Carlos Carriere for a 15-yard TD midway through the first quarter.

Then the Cowboys hit with a flurry, scoring on six consecutive possessions and adding a safety for a 51-15 lead less than a minute into the third quarter.

"Proud of our guys," McElwain said. "The speed of the game is always something that worries you in first games, especially against a quality opponent and it showed up at times and yet I thought we settled in pretty decently and did a few things."

Cowboys quarterback Spender Sanders lived up the billing as one of the Big 12's – if not the nation's – best as he threw for 406 yards and four touchdowns and ran for another two TDs.

"That's a hell of a football team we played," McElwain said. "They're going to be in the national picture as the season goes on. I can easily see them winning (the Big 12). They've got a complete team and they've got a quarterback who can make plays not only throwing the football but obviously with his feet."

Richardson brought the Chippewas back within striking distance by throwing three second-half TD passes and Nichols scored on a 15-yard run. Richardson's final scoring pass of the night, a 54-yarder to Jalen McGaughy, came with 3:15 to play and drew the Chippewas to within two TDs, 58-44.

The Cowboys covered CMU's onside kick and that effectively ended the Chippewas' last legitimate hope.

"As I said from the beginning, I really like our football team," McElwain said. "We're going to win a lot of games. Those kids are going to learn from this (game) and we're going to get a little bit better.

"This is going to be a great film for us to watch because it's going to show what we're able to accomplish when we simply do our jobs."

Spreading the Wealth
Ten Chippewas caught at least one pass in the game and Richardson was generous. Three CMU receivers – McGaughy, tight end Joel Wilson and Nichols – caught six passes apiece, while Carriere and Dallas Dixon had five each.

McGaughy, a transfer from Ball State, finished with 126 yards in receptions.

"A lot of receivers stepped up pretty decent for us," McElwain said. "It was good to see Dallas get going again. It's a total team game and D-Rich did a good job of getting the ball where those guys had a chance to catch it."

Richardson was earlier on Thursday named to the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Watch List. The award goes to the top quarterback in college football.

"It takes the five (offensive linemen) up front and without them it doesn't get started," Richardson said. "That and getting the ball in the playmakers' hands and just go from there.

"Overall I thought all of the receivers played great tonight. Just got to get back to the drawing board, (correct) a couple miscues we had, keep getting better. Our goal is 11-0."

Nice Debuts
It was the first game in a Chippewa uniform for McGaughy and for Carriere, a Maryland transfer who finished with 75 yards through the air.

The Defense
Safety Trey Jones led CMU's defense with nine tackles, while another safety De'Javion Stepney, a converted running back, had eight. Thomas Incoom had the Chippewas' lone sack.

Next
The Chippewas entertain South Alabama in their home opener on Saturday, Sept. 10 (1 p.m.). The Jaguars, who play in the Sun Belt Conference, open the season on Saturday, Sept. 3, at home against Nicholls.