MAC Champions | Football reclaims Conference title
Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009
Central Michigan Life
Mount Pleasant, Mich.
[cm-life.com]
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RETURN TO GLORY
Photos By Matthew Stephens/Presentation Editor
The Central Michigan University football team celebrates Friday night after winning its third Mid-American Conference Championship in four years at Ford Field in Detroit against the Ohio Bobcats.
LeFevour earns MVP honors in victory against Ohio By Andrew Stover | Sports Editor
D
ETROIT — The CMU football team left no doubt who the Mid-American Conference’s elite was in 2009. One year after being denied their third consecutive MAC Championship, the Chippewas won all nine games against conference opponents — the first time in history the team finished undefeated and untied in the MAC — and outscored MAC opponents 338-147. It culminated Friday at Ford Field, where the team beat Ohio University 20-10 to claim the MAC Championship for the third time in four seasons. “It’s almost one year to the date where we gathered and we had a goal,” said coach Butch Jones. “One destination, one goal: Ford Field, December 4th, Mid-American Conference Champions.” And after accomplishing that goal, senior quarterback Dan LeFevour, named the game’s most valuable player, displayed a rare act of emotion and hurled the ball high over his head and into the air. “It’s not relief, that’s for sure. It’s just happiness,” he said. “Going through what we went through last year, falling just short playing a great Ball State team, I think we all appreciate this one.” The win also propelled CMU to its first-ever Associated Press Top 25 ranking, placing No. 25 in the final regular-season poll. Adversity Dismissing the Bobcats was not an easy task, however. Neither was avoiding mistakes. CMU committed nine penalties for 80 yards, one of which eliminated a 24-yard touchdown. After sophomore running back Bryan Schroeder took a screen pass to the end zone just before the half, the play was wiped out because of a false start penalty called late. But two plays later, CMU scored anyway with 17 seconds remaining in the first half. LeFevour also threw an interception in the end zone on CMU’s first possession from Ohio’s 18-yard line. “(Ohio) made this game tough,” LeFevour said. “I’d say, without a doubt, this was our
toughest MAC we’ve played.”
Head coach Butch Jones celebrates with defensive coordinator Tim Banks after CMU defeated Ohio University in the Mid-American Conference Championship Friday night at Ford Field in Detroit.
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Central Michigan 20, Ohio 10 - Final statistics
Legacy LeFevour, who completed 28-of-39 passes for 255 yards, two touchdowns and one interception, along with 51 rushing Dan LeFevour yards, also left some more marks in the record books before claiming the championship. His two touchdown passes set a new Football Bowl Subdivision record with 148 total touchdowns — 101 passing, 46 rushing and one receiving. ACHAMPS | 2
Score by quarter Ohio Central Michigan
1 7 10
2 0 7
3 3 3
4 0 0
Total Game leaders 10 Rushing 20 Bryan Schroeder (CMU) 16 carries, 72 yards
Scoring summary Qtr 1st 1st 1st 2nd 3rd 3rd
Scoring play Score CMU - Cody Wilson 14-yard pass from Dan LeFevour 7-0 (5:22) CMU - Andrew Aguila 25-yard field goal 10-0 (1:26) Ohio - McCrae 29-yard pass from Taylor Price 10-7 (:04) CMU - Bryan Anderson 8-yard pass from LeFevour 17-7 (:17) CMU - Aguila 19-yard field goal 20--7 (9:01) Ohio - Matt Weller 36-yard field goal 20-10 (5:36)
Passing
Dan LeFevour (CMU) 28-of-39, 255 yards, 2 TD Receiving
T. McCrae (Ohio) 7 catches, 141 yards, 1 TD
2 || Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009 || Central Michigan Life
cm-life.com/category/sports
[MAC Championship]
“We’re building this thing to last. And I’ll be proud to be a Chippewa the rest of my life.”
RIGHT: Junior wide receiver Kito Poblah is brought down by the Ohio University defense Friday during the MAC Championship game. Ashley Miller/Photo Editor BELow: Senior quarterback Dan LeFevour broke the NCAA record for total touchdowns with 148 and broke the MAC passing touchdown record with 101 during the MAC Championship game Friday. MAtthew Stephens/
Dan LeFevour, senior quarterback
presentation editor
Above: Central Michigan University’s
seniors gather around the Mid-American Conference trophy Friday after beating Ohio University 20-10 in the Mid-American Conference Championship. Ashley Miller/Photo Editor left: Junior wide receiver Antonio Brown
high-fives fans as he exits Ford Field. A young fan yelled, “Give me your jersey.“ Brown said, “I can’t — they’re already going to be pissed I gave my helmet away.“ MAtthew Stephens/ presentation editor
CHAMPS | continued from 1
matthew stephens/presentation editor
Sophomore running back Bryan Schroeder finished the game with 72 yards on 16 carries and 53 yards on five catches Friday against Ohio University.
The touchdowns also moved LeFevour past former Marshall quarterback Chad Pennington for most touchdown passes (101) in MAC history. “We always talk to our players about leaving their legacy,” Jones said. “I think Dan LeFevour, when it’s all said and done
after the bowl game, will definitely leave his legacy here.” LeFevour has one game remaining — the GMAC Bowl Jan. 6 against Troy — in his CMU career. And lately, rumors have swirled on whether Jones will leave the team for another coaching position. But Jones avoided any question about his future; instead, choosing to focus on his immediate future with CMU. “We still got one more game
left, and I’m looking forward to coaching in one more game,” he said. And LeFevour said he is proud to be a part of the big picture rather than just the present. “You can see that we’re building a program, and we’re not just building it for one year,” he said. “We’re building this thing to last. And I’ll be proud to be a Chippewa the rest of my life.” sports@cm-life.com