Chippewas Travel to Western Michigan for 96th Battle for the Victory Cannon Trophy

GAME 9: CENTRAL MICHIGAN (5-3, 3-1 MAC) at WESTERN MICHIGAN (4-4, 3-1 MAC)
Battle for the Victory Cannon Trophy
Saturday, November 1, 2025 • 4 p.m. ET • Kalamazoo, Mich • Waldo Stadium (30,200)

SATURDAY MATCHUP

Television: ESPNU (Jason Ross, Jr., play-by-play; Jerod Cherry, analyst; Brett Wilensky, producer).

Chippewa Sports Radio Network: Adam Jaksa, play-by-play; Brock Gutierrez, color analyst; spotter: Steve Powers; hosts: Nathan Arbaugh, Kyle Sandel.

Live Stats: visit https://www.statbroadcast.com/events/statbroadcast.php?t=1&gid=wmu

CMU Social Media: Twitter (@cmu_football); Facebook (@cmufootball); Instagram (cmufootball); Website: www.cmuchippewas.com.

Coaches: Central Michigan-Matt Drinkall, 1^st year at CMU (5-3), 6^th year as a head coach (47-20), 22^nd year in coaching. Western Michigan-Lance Taylor, 3^rd year at WMU (14-18), 3^rd year overall (14-18).

Series: Central Michigan and Western Michigan meet for the 96^th time since the series began on Oct. 19, 1907. CMU claimed last year's meeting, 16-14 in Mount Pleasant. Central Michigan has won two of the last four and five of the last nine meetings played in Kalamazoo. Western Michigan is 28-17-1 all-time in games played in Kalamazoo.

CENTRAL MICHIGAN GAME NOTES

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich.–Central Michigan (5-3, 3-1 MAC) travels to Kalamazoo where it will play Western Michigan (4-4, 3-1 MAC) in the annual Battle for the Victory Cannon Trophy game on Saturday, Nov. 1 at Waldo Stadium. Kickoff is at 4 p.m. ET for a nationally televised contest on ESPNU.

WHERE TO WATCH THE GAME

The game will be televised on ESPNU with Jason Ross, Jr. (play-by-play) and Jerod Cherry (color analyst) calling action. Brett Wilensky will produce.

WHERE TO LISTEN TO THE GAME
Fans can also listen to the CMU Chippewas Sports Network broadcast presented by Fabiano Brothers. Adam Jaksa (play-by-play) and former Central Michigan/NFL player and CMU Athletic Hall of Famer Brock Gutierrez (color analyst) call the action on the network which can be accessed on www.cmuchippewas.com, on the 98.5-FM WUPS website, or on the Black Diamond broadcasting app. Coverage begins with a one-hour pre-game show.

SATURDAY'S TOP STORYLINES

*Central and Western meet for the annual football rivalry game on Saturday on ESPNU. Both teams are tied for second place in the MAC with identical 3-1 records. Saturday's winner will claim the all-important Victory Cannon Trophy and Michigan MAC Trophy should CMU win.

*On a two-game win streak, Central Michigan enters its annual rivarly game after winning four of its last five games and is one win shy of bowl eligibility.

*Central Michigan and Western Michigan will do battle for the rights to the victory cannon for the 96th time since the series began in 1907.

GAME NOTES

KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Riding a two-game win streak, Central Michigan (5-3, 3-1 MAC) plays its fifth Mid-American Conference game and ninth overall contest of the 2025 season when it travels to Kalamazoo, Mich. to play at rival Western Michigan (4-4, 3-1 MAC) on Saturday at Waldo Stadium. Kickoff is at 4 p.m. ET for an ESPNU national broadcast. The winner earns the rights to the Victory Cannon Trophy and the Michigan MAC Trophy. Both teams enter the game in second place in the MAC standings with identical 3-1 league records.

With a victory on Saturday at Western Michigan, Central Michigan would become bowl eligible with its sixth win of the year. It is attempting to become bowl eligible for the first time in four seasons. Historically, Central Michigan has made a total of 15 bowl game appearances. With five victories, the Chippewas have already won more games than they did last season (4 wins in 2024).

In all five wins this year, Central Michigan has limited opponents to 14 points or less. CMU is 5-0 when leading at halftime, 4-1 when leading at the end of the first quarter, 4-1 when leading time of possession, and an undefeated 3-0 in home games.

As winners of four of its last five games, Central Michigan is vying for its third road win of the season after it registered a dominating 38-13 Homecoming victory over Massachusetts last Saturday. The Chippewas amassed 502 yards of total offense, including 279 rushing and 223 passing in winning its third league victory. CMU's defense 12 quarterback hurries, eight pass breakups, 7.0 tackles for loss and interception in limiting the Minutemen to 13 points. Opponents have scored just one touchdown against CMU in the last eight quarters of play. Running back Brock Townsend scored a career-high three touchdowns (two rushing and a 51-yard reception), quarterback Joe Labas tied a school-record for game completion percentage (10-11) and threw for two touchdowns and 148 yards, running back Nahree Biggins rushed for 94 yards on 10 carries, and quarterback Angel Flores ran for 63 yards and a touchdown on eight carries.

Central Michigan grabbed an early lead as it built a 21-7 first quarter advantage, then coasted to the victory. Townsend scored on two short runs, then Flores added a nine-yard touchdown for the lead. The Chippewas added two touchdown passes in the second half as Labas hit Townsend for a 51-yard reception and Nasir Williams for a 19-yarder.

Prior to the UMass win, Central Michigan registered a decisive 27-6 win at Bowling Green. The win came after an off week and followed a 28-22 loss at Akron on Oct. 4. Previously, the Chippewas claimed back-to-back home victories over Eastern Michigan (24-13) in the MAC opener and Wagner (49-10) in its home opener. In both games, the Chippewas got off to fast starts.

Central Michigan held Bowling Green without a touchdown and to only six points on the road, the fewest touchdowns and points allowed in a game since it shutout Bucknell 41-0 on Sept. 17, 2022. With the victory, Central Michigan erased a 10-game road losing streak in MAC play. Quarterback Angel Flores scored a career-high three rushing touchdowns and linebacker Jordan Kwiatkowski led the defense with a season-high 14 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and a key second quarter interception. Kwiatkowski was named the MAC Defensive Player of the Week for his effort. It was Kwiatkowski who started the Chippewas off as he intercepted a pass and returned it 26 yards to the BG one-yard line where Flores scored and gave the Chippewas a 7-3 lead. It was a lead CMU would not relinquish as the Chippewas scored again five minutes later when quarterback Joe Labas connected with receiver Collin Payne for a 63-yard pass, then Flores scored his second touchdown of the day, this time a 6-yard run. A 38-yard field goal by Cade Graham gave the Chippewas a commanding 17-3 lead. In the second half, Central Michigan took the opening possession and marched 75 yard in seven plays and ending in Flores' third touchdown of the day. Graham converted his second field goal of the day, a 47-yarder in the third quarter and CMU led 27-6.

The Chippewas defeated Wagner at home on Sept. 20 (49-10), opened MAC play with a 24-13 home win vs. Eastern Michigan, and lost at Akron on Oct. 4 (28-22).

Central Michigan opened its season with three straight road games for the first time since 1972. The Chippewas dropped a 63-3 loss at Michigan before 110,740 fans at Michigan Stadium on Sept. 13. It dropped a 45-17 decision at Pittsburgh on Sept. 6.

It won its season opener on Aug. 29 as it claimed a 16-14 come-from-behind victory at San Jose State.

The San Jose State win represented the first for coach Matt Drinkall as Central Michigan's football coach. Drinkall was named the 30th football coach at Central Michigan on Dec. 9, 2024, after serving the previous six seasons on staff at Army. His 2024 Army offensive line won the Joe Moore Award for top offensive line unit in the nation and helped guide the Black Knights to a 12-2 record, No. 22 national ranking in the College Football Playoff poll, and the American Athletic Conference title in the program's first year in the league.

In his first 11 months with the Central Michigan Football program, Drinkall has initiated a culture change with numerous improvements to the student-athlete experience. With a 3.2 grade point average, the Chippewas put together their best-ever academic semester in spring 2025. The Chippewas now have top-notch meals provided at their facility by CMU Dining Services, have turned rooms into areas for player use such as the VIP Lounge which was converted into a player lounge, the practice schedule has been revamped, and the team took a team-building trip to amusement park Cedar Point in the summer. Those are just a few of the many changes that he has made since his arrival.

Drinkall became the first coach at Central Michigan to win a debut game on the road since Bill Kelly won a 34-13 victory at Southern Illinois on Sept. 22, 1951. Drinkall also became the first coach at CMU since Herb Deromedi in 1978 to win his first road game and his first home game in his debut season.

Ranked as one of the nation's top 40 winningest FBS programs of all-time and with eight current players in the National Football League, Central Michigan is coming off three consecutive sub-.500 seasons for the first time since 2002-04. The Chippewas went 4-8 last season and 2-6 in the MAC.

FAST STARTING CHIPPEWAS

Fast starts and early leads have helped Central Michigan register victories in each of its five games this year. When Central Michigan leads at halftime, it is 5-0 on the year.

Against UMass, the Chippewas jumped on top 7-0, then 21-7 with three rushing touchdowns in the first quarter. It led 24-10 at halftime, then tacked on two Joe Labas touchdown passes.

At Bowling Green, Central Michigan scored 17 straight points to take a 17-3 lead in the second quarter. It used a Jordan Kwiatkowski interception and 26-yard return to setup its first touchdown, used a 63-yard pass from Joe Labas to Collin Payne to setup its second touchdown, then stopped a fake punt by BGSU on fourth down to setup a field goal.

In each of its two home wins (Wagner, EMU), Central Michigan started fast and accumulated 14-0 first quarter leads in both games. Against Wagner, it was CMU's defense that made the plays early as Dakota Cochran picked off a pass and rambled 30 yards for touchdown. On Wagner's second possession, CMU's Michael Heldman forced a fumble that was picked up by Cochran and the Chippewa offense scored on a run for a 14-0 lead.

Against Eastern Michigan, it was Central Michigan's offense that helped give the Chippewas an early 14-0 first quarter lead. The Chippewas took their first drive 75 yards in nine plays and scored on a 1-yard TD pass from Angel Flores to Brock Townsend. On its next offensive drive, CMU went up 14-0 when running back Nahree Biggins burst through the middle of the field for a 49-yard touchdown run.

At San Jose State, Central Michigan used three turnovers to take an early 13-0 lead. San Jose State battled back to take a 14-13 lead, but CMU answered with a Cade Graham field goal and held off the hosts the rest of the way.

Game	Key Lead	Final Score
at SJSU	13-0 lead in 1st Q	W, 16-14
Wagner	14-0 lead in 1st Q	W, 49-10
EMU	14-0 lead in 1st Q	W, 24-13
at BGSU	17-3 lead in 2nd Q	W, 27-6
UMass	21-7 lead in 1st Q	W, 38-13

TURNOVER MARGIN TURNAROUND

In its first eight games of the 2025 season, Central Michigan has a +6 turnover margin, which ranks No. 1 in the MAC and No. 20 in FBS (12 turnovers gained/6 turnovers lost). The Chippewas also rank No. 31 nationally and No. 3 in the MAC in turnovers gained (12) and No. 14 nationally and No. 1 in the MAC in turnovers lost (6). The +6 turnover margin ranks as the best at Central Michigan since 2007 when the Chippewas registered a +6 (30 gained/24 lost).

CMU has scored 57 of its 196 points off turnovers and has outscored its opponents 57-21 in points off turnovers. Last year, CMU was ranked No. 133 in turnover margin (-17) and tied a school record for worst turnover margin in a season.

The Chippewas have registered at least one turnover in each of its first eight games.

At San Jose State, Central Michigan forced three first half turnovers including two interceptions and a fumble recovery. The Chippewas scored their first 13 points off those turnovers. CMU also limited San Jose State to just 74 yards rushing on 17 carries. The two interceptions by Brenden Deasfernandes and Elijah Rikard equaled Central Michigan's interception total from the entire 2024 season. Last year, CMU totaled just five turnovers (2 interceptions/3 fumble recoveries), the Chippewas already have registered nine through six games in 2025.

At Pitt, Central Michigan registered one interception as Jordan Kwiatkowski stepped in front a pass and returned it 18 yards.

At Michigan, Brenden Deasfernandes registered an interception in the second quarter and turned it into three points.

Versus Wagner, Central Michigan turned two turnovers into a 14-0 lead in the first few minutes of the game. On Wagner's first possession, Dakota Cochran intercepted a tipped pass by Jordan Kwiatkowski and returned it 30 yards for a touchdown. On the next drive, Michael Heldman forced a fumble which was picked up by Cochran. The Chippewas scored on a 2-yard run by Angel Flores.

Central Michigan's Maddix Blackwell snatched an interception in the fourth quarter which ended an EMU drive.

At Akron, Caleb Spann intercepted a pass. At Bowling Green, Jordan Kwiatkowski and Jaion Jackson both intercepted passes. Kalen Carroll intercepted CMU's 10th pass of the year vs. UMass.

TURNOVER FREE CMU

Central Michigan has turned the ball over just six times in eight games this season. It has surrendered just one turnover in MAC play this season. Previously, Central Michigan went 15 quarters without turning the ball over. The streak was from the Eastern Michigan game through the fourth quarter of the UMass game.

Of the six turnovers, all six were committed with the game already decided. Not one of CMU's turnovers have come with the game on the line.

Central has had four games this season where it did not turn the ball over (at San Jose State, Eastern Michigan, at Akron, and at Bowling Green).

DEFENSE WINS GAMES

In all five wins this season, Central Michigan has limited each of its opponents to 14 points or less. In four MAC games, opponents are averaging just 15.0 points per game, which ranks No. 3 in the league in conference only games.

The last time Central Michigan held as many teams under 20 points in a season was in 2009, when the Chippewas held seven of their 14 opponents to 20 points or less.

Here is a look at the best defensive stretches in the last 25 years of Central Michigan football:

Year	Opp. held under 20 points	PPG
2025	5 of 8	24.0
2009	7 of 14	18.9
2006	6 of 14	22.3
2005	5 of 11	23.6

MICHIGAN MAC TROPHY

In addition to the Victory Cannon Trophy, should Central Michigan win, it would take home the Michigan MAC Trophy. CMU already defeated EMU 24-13 and a victory over WMU would give it a 2-0 record in the series. Here are some facts on the Michigan MAC Trophy:

*Presented annually to one of the Michigan-based Mid-American Conference institutions (CMU, EMU, WMU), the trophy is awarded to the team which has the best head-to-head record against each other. It is one of just two regularly awarded trophies between three teams (the other is the Commander-in-Chief trophy between Army, Navy, and Air Force).

•Central Michigan last won the trophy in 2021 with wins over both Eastern and Western.

A WIN OVER WESTERN MICHIGAN WOULD…

*Give Central Michigan a 6-3 overall record. The six wins would be the most since the 2021 season when the Chippewas went 9-4.

*Give CMU a 4-1 record to start to MAC play for the first time since 2019 (not counting the CoVID-shortened 2020 season). The four wins would be the most since the 2021 season when it won six MAC games.

*Give Central Michigan its third consecutive victory and fifth victory in its last six contests.

*Give Central Michigan its third road victory of the season, the most road wins since 2021 (3).

*Give Central Michigan its second straight victory over Western Michigan. It would mark the first time that CMU defeated WMU in back-to-back seasons since 2009 and 2010.

*Give Central Michigan its second win in three tries in games played at Western Michigan.

CMU-WMU SERIES

Central Michigan and Western Michigan meet for the 96th time in series history. Consider the following:

*Central Michigan enters its rivalry game with a 40-53-2 all-time record vs. Western Michigan.

*Central Michigan claimed last year's Victory Cannon Trophy with a 16-14 victory in Mount Pleasant on Senior Day.

*Western Michigan has claimed five of the series' last seven games.

*In games played in Kalamazoo, Central Michigan has won two of the last four and five of the last nine meetings. Western holds a 28-17-1 all-time advantage in games played in Kalamazoo.

RUN THE BALL

Central Michigan has run the ball in 72.2 percent of its total offensive plays, (363 of 503) so far this season.

CMU is averaging 201.6 yards rushing per game, which ranks No. 2 in the MAC and No. 25 in FBS, and 4.4 yards per carry. The Chippewas have rushed for over 200 yards in each of their last five games and have won four of those games.

CMU's Top Rushing Games

Game	Rushes	Yards	TD	Result
EMU	51	305	1	W, 24-13
UMass	53	279	3	W, 38-13
at Akron	40	238	2	L, 28-22
at SJSU	51	236	1	W, 16-14
Wagner	48	233	2	W, 49-10
at BGSU	46	203	3	W, 27-6

CMU IN NATIONAL STATISTICS

Following its first eight games, Central Michigan is ranked among the nation's top 35 national leaders in 11 statistical categories. The Chippewas rank:

•  No. 3, passes had intercepted (1).
•  No. 11, fourth down conversion percentage defense (35.70).
•  No. 13, passes intercepted (10).
•  No. 14, completion percentage (69.30).
•  No. 14, turnovers lost (6).
•  No. 15, time of possession (32:43).
•  No. 18, team passing efficiency (160.89).
•  No. 20, turnover margin (75.00).
•  No. 25, rushing offense (201.6).
•  No. 31, turnovers gained (12).
•  No. 33, defensive touchdowns (1).

In addition, several individuals were ranked among the nation's top 35 in several different statistics:

•  Angel Flores, No. 25, rushing touchdowns (8).
•  Cade Graham, No. 29, field goal percentage (85.70).
•  Michael Heldman, No. 30, sacks (0.69).
•  Cade Graham, No. 33, field goals per game (1.50).
•  Angel Flores, No. 35, total touchdowns (8).