MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. (Interstat) — Central Michigan used a steady ground attack and a defense that kept Sacramento State out of the end zone after one score to earn a 28-7 victory in an NCAA Football Bowl Division game on Wednesday at Kelly/Shorts Stadium. The announced attendance was 8,568. The Chippewas scored in every quarter and pulled away after halftime. Central Michigan improved to 5-5. Sacramento State fell to 2-9. The visiting Hornets were limited to seven points and one touchdown. The host Chippewas controlled the line of scrimmage and finished with 28 points. Central Michigan had lost two of its previous three games before Wednesday. Sacramento State had dropped its previous game to Toledo. The Hornets remained winless on the road.

Jadyn Glasser directed Central Michigan’s offense with an efficient passing line. The 6-foot-2, 230-pound quarterback from Tampa, Fla., completed 11 of 19 passes for 105 yards and added six carries for 33 yards. Brian Salazar Jr. led Sacramento State’s passing effort. The 6-foot-3, 170-pound quarterback completed 13 of 28 passes for 103 yards and ran four times for 9 yards. The Hornets’ lone touchdown came on Isaiah Ene’s 37-yard run. Sacramento State also got a 4-yard reception from Cincere Rhaney, two catches for 5 yards and a tackle from Elijah Huddle, one catch for 5 yards from Jace Wilson, one catch for 7 yards from Matt Coleman and two catches for 21 yards from Raiden Brown. Hamish Adams punted five times for 236 yards, and Cedric Anton had one kick return for no yards. Saul Marks made an extra point.

Sacramento State’s defense was busy throughout. Miles Tucker recorded nine tackles. Amari Wallace had three tackles. Donovan Turner added four tackles. Noah King made five tackles. Jamel Howard Jr., a 6-foot-2, 307-pound defensive lineman, had five tackles and one sack. Fata Puloka, a 6-foot-3, 221-pound defensive lineman, made eight tackles. Tim Thomas, a 6-foot-1, 221-pound linebacker, recorded nine tackles and two quarterback hurries. Boogsie Silvera, a 5-foot-11, 193-pound safety, had 11 tackles. Leki Holani led the Hornets with 14 tackles and one quarterback hurry. Malikai Nichols had three tackles. Warren Smith Jr. had one tackle and one quarterback hurry. Kaden Briggs, Dante Antonini, Peyton McCutcheon, Daniel Mataele and Alex Rocha each had one tackle. Malachi Kindle, Diesel Gordon and Miles Bailey each had two tackles. Ivan Moore Jr. and Austin Chambers each had three tackles and one quarterback hurry. Malik Tullis had three tackles. Adam Taylor returned two kickoffs for 26 yards and made three tackles. The Hornets’ defensive effort included stops in the backfield and pressure on the quarterback, but Central Michigan’s depth and rushing attack wore down Sacramento State as the game progressed.

Central Michigan’s running game produced most of the game’s decisive plays. Nick Woodford carried 23 times for 119 yards. Jayden Clerveaux, a 6-foot, 222-pound running back, ran 19 times for 100 yards and caught one pass for 1 yard and one touchdown. Brock Townsend, a 6-foot, 220-pound running back, had five carries for 58 yards, one kick return for 25 yards and two touchdowns. Vaughn Blue, a 5-foot-11, 190-pound running back, had three carries for 9 yards and four receptions for 19 yards and one touchdown. Nasir Williams caught three passes for 57 yards. Braylen Naves had two receptions for 16 yards. Gavin Spillers, a 6-foot-3, 260-pound tight end, caught one pass for 12 yards. Justin Taylor made two tackles and intercepted one pass. Jaion Jackson recorded five tackles and one sack. Matthew McKenzie and Mayson Hitchens each made four tackles. Donavan Philord and Coen Ali each had three tackles. Brett McCalla had three tackles and one quarterback hurry. JJ Douglas had two tackles and one quarterback hurry. Drew Esper added two tackles. Woodford, Clerveaux and Townsend combined for 277 rushing yards and three touchdowns. Central Michigan’s offensive line opened lanes throughout, and the Chippewas finished with a balanced effort that kept Sacramento State’s defense on the field.

The Chippewas opened the scoring in the first quarter when Clerveaux rushed up the middle for a 27-yard touchdown. Caden VanHuis converted the extra point. Central Michigan later attempted a 50-yard field goal in the second quarter, but VanHuis missed. Sacramento State answered with Ene’s 37-yard touchdown run, and Marks made the extra point. Central Michigan reclaimed the lead before halftime when Blue scored on an 8-yard run and VanHuis added the extra point. In the third quarter, Townsend broke through the middle for a 40-yard touchdown, and VanHuis converted again. Townsend capped the scoring in the fourth quarter with a 6-yard touchdown run, followed by another VanHuis extra point. VanHuis converted all four extra points. The Chippewas scored on runs of 27, 8, 40 and 6 yards. Sacramento State did not score in the second half, and Central Michigan pulled away with two second-half touchdowns. The Chippewas’ ground game and timely defense kept the Hornets from mounting a comeback. Sacramento State moved the ball in spurts but could not finish drives. Central Michigan protected its advantage and closed out the home victory. The result left Central Michigan at 5-5 and Sacramento State at 2-9. The Hornets’ next game is at Hawaii. The Chippewas next play at Buffalo.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Central Michigan 37, Sacramento State 11. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Central Michigan with an 87 percent probability to win. Central Michigan had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -17.5. The total score of 35 went over the over/under line of 43.