Central Michigan Edges Western Michigan 16-14 in MAC Thriller
Central Michigan survived a tight contest against Western Michigan, winning 16-14 in Week 13 of the 2024 season. The Chippewas controlled the first half, scoring 13 points through two quarters, while the Broncos remained scoreless. Western Michigan mounted a second-half comeback, scoring seven points in both the third and fourth quarters to nearly complete the upset.
Marion Lukes led Central Michigan's ground game with 93 rushing yards, while Myles Bailey paced the receiving corps with eight catches. Despite the offensive struggles, Central Michigan's defense made crucial plays down the stretch, including a sack by Jason Williams that forced Western Michigan back late in the game.
The fourth quarter proved decisive, featuring 21 lead changes and intense momentum swings throughout. Hayden Wolff led Western Michigan's offense late with several completions, including an 18-yard pass to Kaevion Mack, but the Broncos couldn't score the final touchdown needed. Central Michigan covered the six-point spread, and the game finished under the 56-point over-under line with a final combined 30 points.
AI-generated recap · Sep 3, 2026
| Team | 1Q | 2Q | 3Q | 4Q | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Western Michigan | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 14 |
 Central Michigan | 7 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 16 |
Scoring Timeline
Drive Chart
Box Score
| Statistic | Western Michigan | Central Michigan |
|---|---|---|
| Passing | 15-26 | 8-17 |
| Pass Yards | 134 | 140 |
| Rush Yards | 50 | 167 |
| Total Yards | 184 | 307 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 1 |
| 3rd Down | 2-12 | 8-18 |
| Penalties | 3-40 | 3-30 |
| Possession | 23:43 | 36:17 |
Player Leaders
Player Leaders
Play-by-Play
Hayden Wolff pass complete to Anthony Sambucci for 3 yds to the WMU 22
Jaden Nixon run for a loss of 2 yards to the WMU 20
Hayden Wolff pass incomplete to Jaden Nixon
Ryan Millmore punt for 33 yds
Jadyn Glasser pass incomplete to Jesse Prewitt III
Jadyn Glasser pass incomplete to Jesse Prewitt III
Jadyn Glasser pass incomplete to Marion Lukes
David Chapeau punt for 41 yds, fair catch by Jordin Parker at the WMU 12
Jalen Buckley run for 5 yds to the WMU 17
Jalen Buckley run for 1 yd to the WMU 18
Hayden Wolff pass incomplete to Jordin Parker
Ryan Millmore punt for 54 yds, fair catch by Donte Kent at the WMU 49
Myles Bailey run for 6 yds to the WMU 43
Jadyn Glasser run for a loss of 6 yards to the WMU 49
Jadyn Glasser pass complete to Myles Bailey for 4 yds to the WMU 45
David Chapeau punt for 36 yds, fair catch by Jordin Parker at the WMU 9
Hayden Wolff pass complete to Jaden Nixon for 3 yds to the WMU 12
Hayden Wolff pass complete to Blake Bosma for 18 yds to the WMU 30 for a 1ST down
Jaden Nixon run for 2 yds to the WMU 32
Jaden Nixon run for 4 yds to the WMU 36
Jaden Nixon run for no gain to the WMU 36
Ryan Millmore punt for 34 yds, punt out-of-bounds at the CMU 30
B.J. Harris run for 9 yds to the CMU 39
Jadyn Glasser pass complete to Solomon Davis for 55 yds to the WMU 6 for a 1ST down
B.J. Harris run for 6 yds for a TD (Tristan Mattson KICK)
Jalen Buckley run for 3 yds to the WMU 28
Hayden Wolff pass incomplete to Blake Bosma
Hayden Wolff pass incomplete to Chris Toudle
Ryan Millmore punt for 32 yds, punt out-of-bounds at the CMU 40
B.J. Harris run for 1 yd to the CMU 41
Marion Lukes run for 4 yds to the CMU 45
Jadyn Glasser pass incomplete to Marion Lukes
David Chapeau punt for 55 yds for a touchback
Jaden Nixon run for 2 yds to the WMU 22
Lorenzo Williams Jr. run for 4 yds to the WMU 26
Hayden Wolff pass complete to Anthony Sambucci for 4 yds to the WMU 30 for a 1ST down
Broc Lowry pass incomplete to Anthony Sambucci
Jalen Buckley run for 3 yds to the WMU 33
Broc Lowry pass complete to Kenneth Womack for 5 yds to the WMU 38
Ryan Millmore punt for 39 yds, fair catch by Donte Kent at the CMU 23
Ryan Millmore punt for 39 yds, fair catch by Donte Kent at the CMU 23
(14:52) Shotgun Glasser,Jadyn pass incomplete short left to McIntosh,Tommy thrown to CMU35 PENALTY WMU Pass Interference (Kone,Bilhal) 15 yards from CMU23 to CMU38, 1ST DOWN. NO PLAY.
B.J. Harris run for 1 yd to the CMU 39
Jadyn Glasser pass complete to Solomon Davis for 2 yds to the CMU 41
Marion Lukes run for no gain to the CMU 41
David Chapeau punt for 39 yds , Jordin Parker returns for no gain to the WMU 17
Jalen Buckley run for 10 yds to the WMU 27 for a 1ST down
Jalen Buckley run for 3 yds to the WMU 20
Hayden Wolff pass incomplete to Anthony Sambucci
Ryan Millmore punt for 47 yds
Jadyn Glasser pass incomplete to Nathan VanTimmeren
Myles Bailey run for 3 yds to the CMU 36
Jadyn Glasser pass incomplete to Myles Bailey
David Chapeau punt for 35 yds , Jordin Parker returns for 6 yds to the WMU 35
Jaden Nixon run for 3 yds to the WMU 38
Broc Lowry pass complete to Blake Bosma for 3 yds to the WMU 41
Hayden Wolff pass incomplete to Jordin Parker
Ryan Millmore punt for 51 yds, fair catch by Donte Kent at the CMU 8
B.J. Harris run for 4 yds to the CMU 12
B.J. Harris run for 1 yd to the CMU 13
Jadyn Glasser pass complete to B.J. Harris for 26 yds to the CMU 39 for a 1ST down
Jadyn Glasser pass complete to B.J. Harris for 21 yds to the WMU 40 for a 1ST down
Jadyn Glasser sacked by Corey Walker for a loss of 3 yards to the WMU 43
Marion Lukes run for 6 yds to the WMU 37
Marion Lukes run for 17 yds to the WMU 20 for a 1ST down
B.J. Harris run for 2 yds to the WMU 18
B.J. Harris run for no gain to the WMU 18
Central Michigan Penalty, Ineligible Downfield on Pass (Yards) declined
Tristan Mattson 36 yd FG GOOD
Cade Graham kickoff for 59 yds , Jaden Nixon return for 23 yds to the WMU 42 Western Michigan Penalty, Offensive Holding (10 Yards) to the WMU 10
Hayden Wolff pass complete to Kenneth Womack for 10 yds to the WMU 20 for a 1ST down
Zahir Abdus-Salaam run for 4 yds to the WMU 24
Hayden Wolff pass complete to Zahir Abdus-Salaam for 11 yds to the WMU 35 for a 1ST down
Hayden Wolff pass complete to Kenneth Womack for 15 yds to the 50 yard line for a 1ST down
Zahir Abdus-Salaam run for a loss of 2 yards to the WMU 48
Hayden Wolff pass complete to Blake Bosma for 6 yds to the CMU 46
Hayden Wolff pass complete to Jalen Buckley for 3 yds to the CMU 43
Hayden Wolff pass incomplete to Kaevion Mack
Myles Bailey run for 5 yds to the CMU 48
Myles Bailey run for 3 yds to the WMU 49
Myles Bailey run for 4 yds to the WMU 45 for a 1ST down
Jadyn Glasser pass complete to Solomon Davis for 16 yds to the WMU 29 for a 1ST down
Tristan Mattson 47 yd FG GOOD
End of 2nd Quarter
Marion Lukes run for 10 yds to the CMU 36 for a 1ST down
Marion Lukes run for 5 yds to the CMU 41
Marion Lukes run for 7 yds to the CMU 48 for a 1ST down
(13:04) PENALTY CMU False Start (Heinzen,Davis) 5 yards from CMU48 to CMU43. NO PLAY.
Marion Lukes run for 19 yds to the WMU 38 for a 1ST down
Marion Lukes run for 1 yd to the WMU 37
B.J. Harris run for 1 yd to the WMU 36
Cale Allaire kickoff for 43 yds , Myles Bailey return for 16 yds to the CMU 38
Jadyn Glasser sacked by Corey Walker for a loss of 7 yards to the CMU 31
Jadyn Glasser run for 6 yds to the CMU 37
Jadyn Glasser pass complete to Marion Lukes for 12 yds to the CMU 49 for a 1ST down
Central Michigan Penalty, Offensive Holding (-10 Yards) to the CMU 49
Myles Bailey run for 3 yds to the WMU 48
Myles Bailey run for 5 yds to the WMU 43
Myles Bailey run for 3 yds to the WMU 40 for a 1ST down
Jadyn Glasser pass incomplete to B.J. Harris
Myles Bailey run for 6 yds to the WMU 34
Myles Bailey run for 5 yds to the WMU 29 for a 1ST down
B.J. Harris run for a loss of 2 yards to the WMU 31
Marion Lukes run for 5 yds to the WMU 26
B.J. Harris run for 11 yds to the WMU 15 for a 1ST down
B.J. Harris run for a loss of 4 yards to the WMU 19
Marion Lukes run for 4 yds to the WMU 15
Jadyn Glasser run for 3 yds to the WMU 12
Tristan Mattson 30 Yd Field Goal
Cade Graham kickoff for 54 yds , Jaden Nixon return for 13 yds to the WMU 24
Hayden Wolff pass complete to Kenneth Womack for 17 yds to the WMU 41 for a 1ST down
Jalen Buckley run for 4 yds to the WMU 45
Jalen Buckley run for 8 yds to the CMU 47 for a 1ST down
Hayden Wolff sacked by Jason Williams for a loss of 8 yards to the WMU 45
Hayden Wolff pass complete to Zahir Abdus-Salaam for 17 yds to the CMU 38
Jalen Buckley run for 2 yds to the CMU 36 for a 1ST down
Hayden Wolff sacked by Ke'Shon Parker for a loss of 7 yards to the CMU 43
Hayden Wolff pass complete to Zahir Abdus-Salaam for 7 yds to the CMU 36
Hayden Wolff pass incomplete to Jordin Parker
Hayden Wolff pass complete to Kaevion Mack for 18 yds to the CMU 18 for a 1ST down
Hayden Wolff sacked by Jason Williams for a loss of 3 yards to the CMU 21
Jalen Buckley run for 15 yds to the CMU 6 for a 1ST down
Jalen Buckley run for 5 yds to the CMU 1
Jalen Buckley 1 Yd Run (Luka Zurak Kick)
Cale Allaire kickoff for 44 yds , Myles Bailey return for 8 yds to the CMU 29
Marion Lukes run for a loss of 7 yards to the CMU 22
Myles Bailey run for 8 yds to the CMU 30
Jadyn Glasser pass complete to Myles Bailey for 4 yds to the CMU 34
David Chapeau punt for 31 yds, punt out-of-bounds at the WMU 35
Jalen Buckley run for no gain to the WMU 35
Hayden Wolff pass incomplete to Kenneth Womack
Hayden Wolff run for 3 yds to the WMU 38
Ryan Millmore punt for 46 yds , Donte Kent returns for 29 yds to the CMU 30
B.J. Harris run for 6 yds to the CMU 36
B.J. Harris run for 1 yd to the CMU 37
B.J. Harris run for 4 yds to the CMU 41 for a 1ST down
Marion Lukes run for 4 yds to the CMU 45
Marion Lukes run for 8 yds to the WMU 47 for a 1ST down
J. Glasser takes a knee
J. Glasser takes a knee
J. Glasser takes a knee