Northwestern Dominates Central Michigan 34-7 in GameAbove Sports Bowl

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In a decisive victory, Northwestern extended their bowl game winning streak to six with a 34-7 win over Central Michigan in the GameAbove Sports Bowl at Ford Field. The Wildcats' defense proved to be too much for the Chippewas, who struggled with turnovers, fumbling four times and intercepting once. The game began with Central Michigan having the first scoring opportunity after a Northwestern stop on 4th-and-1, but they missed a 43-yard field goal attempt. However, it was Northwestern who broke the seal with a 23-yard touchdown pass from Preston Stone to Griffin Wilde in the second quarter, giving them a 7-0 lead. The Wildcats continued to build on their lead, with Caleb Komolafe scoring a 2-yard run to put Northwestern ahead 14-0. Stone's 23-yard touchdown pass to Lawson Albright soon followed, and Central Michigan's struggles only intensified. In the third quarter, the Chippewas' Joe Labas fumbled on the first play after the kickoff, giving Northwestern the ball on the Chippewas 18. Turner's 47-yard fumble return for a touchdown left the score at 27-0. Central Michigan finally avoided the shutout with a 3-yard touchdown pass from Labas to Brock Townsend with 6:11 to play. However, the damage had been done, and Northwestern took home the win. The Wildcats' victory marked their sixth consecutive bowl game win, while Central Michigan fell to 0-3 against the Big Ten in bowl games. The Chippewas' struggles on offense, finishing 93rd in scoring offense and 107th in offensive yards per game, were evident in their performance against Northwestern. For Northwestern, the win highlighted the importance of finding playmakers in the transfer portal, as they were able to capitalize on Central Michigan's turnovers and take advantage of the opportunities that presented themselves.