YPSILANTI, Mich. — Lew Nichols III had two fourth-quarter touchdown runs and finished with a career-high 196 yards rushing, and Central Michigan scored 25 points in the final quarter to beat Eastern Michigan 31-23 on Friday night.
Nichols scored from the 9 and 1 to cap long drives, and Marshall Meeder made a 21-yard field goal with 2:31 to play to give Central Michigan (3-1, 3-1 Mid-American Conference) a 24-23 lead.
Devonni Reed intercepted a Preston Hutchinson tipped pass on Eastern Michigan's (0-4, 0-4) next possession. Kobe Lewis scored on a 9-yard touchdown run three plays later for the Chippewas with 1:43 remaining.
Nichols had 29 carries and Lewis added 106 yards rushing on 18 carries. Meeder kicked field goals from the 51 and 29 in the first quarter.
Hutchinson was 23 of 37 for 365 yards passing, threw three interceptions and added 57 yards on the ground. Hutchinson had a 3-yard touchdown run in the first quarter and broke loose for a 20-yard TD run midway through the second.
