Jadyn Glasser, Nick Woodford shine as Central Michigan dismantles Eastern Michigan, 35-7

DETROIT — Jadyn Glasser called his shot, or his block, really, in the huddle. 

And if you think he’s telling tales, his teammate had his back. 

“He told me!” Nick Woodford said, interjecting as Glasser explained the moment. 

And Glasser delivered the shot, as the quarterback broke downhill and plastered a defender hoping to tackle Woodford, his running back, who dove for the pylon. The play was eventually ruled just short of the goal line, though CMU scored the next play. 

“I told Nick that he bounces it,” Glasser said recalling the play, “I said, ‘I'm going to hit that guy.’”

Behind Woodford’s career day and a strong showing from Glasser, Central Michigan (4-5, 2-3 MAC) picked up a big in-state rivalry win and a key victory to stop a three-game skid. Woodford led the charge with his three scores while Glasser played arguably his best game as a Chippewa in his second start this season for the injured Angel Flores. That pair of offensive performances, plus the CMU defense snuffing out the Brogan McCaughey-led EMU offense, were more than enough to fuel a dominant victory at Ford Field on Wednesday night. 

Glasser finished 14-of-19 for 175 yards and a touchdown. Woodford carried 21 times for 123 yards and three touchdowns. Vaughn Blue added a touchdown and Brock Townsend had 64 rushing yards. Nasir Williams led CMU with 57 receiving yards and the touchdown from Glasser. 

“I thought Coach [Jim] Chapin did just a tremendous job of getting these guys ready to go and kind of being like, you know, ‘Hey, we're gonna do these things until you prove you can stop them.’”

While Woodford came to dominate the game, particularly in the second and third quarters, it was Glasser that opened the game on a heater, completing his first four passes for 57 yards on an opening drive that went for a touchdown for CMU. 

The big play on that drive came as Glasser connected down the left side to Justin Ruffin Jr., as the receiver got relatively wide open as the EMU zone coverage broke down for a 34 yard connection.

And while CMU got somewhat bailed out by a dubious forward progress call that prevented a clear fumble and recovery from counting for EMU, the Chippewas followed it up the next play with the opening touchdown with Glasser navigating around an oncoming defender, resetting in the pocket and finding Nasir Williams streaking to the back left corner of the end zone. 

Glasser would also complete passes for 38, 16 and 18 yards, part of a strong overall passing performance. He did take one sack for a 14 yard loss, in the third quarter with the game out of hand, but mostly used his legs to extend plays for CMU’s benefit, and occasionally run in spots. 

“I'm telling you, on the third down, he got pressured, broke contain to the left, and ended up completing along, down the [sideline] to Colin Payne,” Drinkall said. “I was screaming louder than anyone in the stadium did for him to throw it away, throw it away, but then he was able. He's getting more comfortable and to make plays, and extend plays.”

He also ran for a few key conversions, as CMU went 5-for-5 on fourth downs. He also connected on a pass with Woodford for one 4th and 4 conversion from the EMU 40 yard line, keeping the second scoring drive of the day going. 

CMU actually converted two fourth downs on that drive, with Glasser running for the first in short yardage on the first play of the second quarter. Woodford paid that drive off with a score. 

Woodford powered in for his second score just before halftime and his third looked like it came on a highlight play for Glasser, with the quarterback getting upfield to throw a mean block to spring his tailback. 

Instead, Woodford was ruled out just before the pylon and slithered into the end zone the next play. 

And aside from his touchdowns, Woodford’s down-to-down rushing — and Central Michigan’s in general — took over the game as the lead started to balloon. He credited his offensive line and the whole operation for the way it went down, though Woodford’s own ability had something to do with it. 

Central Michigan ran 53 times for 235 yards on Wednesday evening, with four rushing touchdowns.

"And what that allowed you to do is you can pick and choose and you get a couple explosives and a couple chunk and frustration plays," Drinkall said of CMU's early passing success. "But then you can lean on the run game later on."

Woodford himself felt that a big game might be coming, especially when the coaches started to pour into him pregame about the need to be physical and aggressive as a runner. 

“I was coming to the game, you know, we discussed about going downhill, taking care of business,” Woodford said. “And we did it.”