MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. (Interstat) — In a game defined by a relentless ground attack and a stifling defensive effort, the Central Michigan Chippewas defeated the Eastern Michigan Eagles 24-13 on Saturday at Kelly/Shorts Stadium.

The Chippewas, who evened their season record at 2-2, seized control early with two first-quarter touchdowns and never relinquished the lead, capitalizing on a dominant performance from their trio of quarterbacks and a defense that consistently thwarted Eastern Michigan’s drives. The Eagles fell to 1-3 with the loss.

Central Michigan’s offense operated with a unique and effective three-quarterback system that kept the Eastern Michigan defense off balance. While starter Joe Labas of Brecksville, Ohio, was efficient through the air, completing 14 of 16 passes for 138 yards and a touchdown, it was the dynamic running of Angel Flores that proved to be the difference-maker. Flores, a quarterback from Casa Grande, Arizona, carried the ball 22 times for a game-high 134 yards and a touchdown, repeatedly gouging the Eagles defense for critical first downs.

The Chippewas set the tone on the game’s opening possession. Labas engineered a meticulous 11-play, 75-yard drive, capping it with a 1-yard touchdown pass to running back Brock Townsend of Caledonia, Michigan. The drive consumed over five minutes of clock and immediately put the Eagles on their heels.

Eastern Michigan responded with a field goal from kicker Rudy Kessinger of Columbus, Ohio, but Central Michigan’s offense answered with a swift, decisive blow. On the first play of their ensuing drive, running back Nahree Biggins of Hillside, New Jersey, broke free for a 49-yard touchdown run, extending the lead to 14-3.

The Eagles’ offense, led by quarterback Noah Kim of Centreville, Virginia, struggled to find a consistent rhythm against a swarming Central Michigan defense. Kim completed 17 of 28 passes for 175 yards and a touchdown but was sacked twice and intercepted once. The Chippewas’ defensive unit, led by linebacker Dakota Cochran of Shaker Heights, Ohio, who recorded eight tackles, and defensive back Elijah Gordon of Midland, Michigan, who had seven, consistently made stops in key situations.

Eastern Michigan managed a second field goal from Kessinger in the second quarter to cut the deficit to 14-6, but Central Michigan responded with another methodical scoring drive. After a pass interference penalty in the end zone gave the Chippewas a fresh set of downs at the 1-yard line, Flores connected with receiver Langston Lewis of Savannah, Georgia, on a 2-yard touchdown pass, pushing the lead to 21-6.

The Eagles showed signs of life in the third quarter. Kim engineered their most impressive drive, which he finished himself with a 14-yard touchdown run to bring the score to 21-13 and inject some suspense into the contest.

However, Eastern Michigan could get no closer. Their next promising drive deep into Central Michigan territory was abruptly halted when Maddix Blackwell, a defensive back from Bloomington, Indiana, intercepted a Kim pass in the end zone, preserving the Chippewas’ eight-point lead.

From that point forward, Central Michigan’s ground game and clock management took over. A 15-play, 72-yard drive that consumed over seven minutes of the fourth quarter culminated in a 22-yard field goal from kicker Cade Graham of Caledonia, Michigan, effectively sealing the victory at 24-13. The Chippewas ran the ball on 12 of the 15 plays on the decisive drive, with Flores and Biggins doing the bulk of the work.

Biggins finished with 113 rushing yards and a touchdown on 14 carries, while Townsend added 51 yards on the ground. Lewis was Labas’s primary target, hauling in seven catches for 45 yards and a score.

For Eastern Michigan, running back Dontae McMillan of Seattle was a bright spot, rushing for 71 yards on 13 attempts and catching three passes for 33 yards. Defensively, safety Bryce Llewellyn of McCordsville, Indiana, stood out with a game-high 12 tackles.

The final score of 37 combined points fell well under the pregame over/under line of 55.5, a testament to Central Michigan’s defensive performance. The result also defied the national statistical projections, which had favored Central Michigan by a wider margin but had Eastern Michigan installed as a slight 3.5-point favorite on the betting line.

Central Michigan looks to build on the victory when they travel to face Akron next Saturday. Eastern Michigan will attempt to rebound as they hit the road to take on Buffalo in their Mid-American Conference opener.