Central Michigan University Athletics
Central Michigan University
4-3 , 4-0
Ball State
2-5 , 2-2
Chippewas Grind Out 18-7 Win Over Ball State
10/14/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
Final Stats
Postgame Notes
Postgame Quotes
MOUNT PLEASANT Redshirt freshman quarterback Dan LeFevour accounted for 246 yards of offense and ran for two touchdowns to lead Central Michigan University to an 18-7 win over Ball State on Saturday.
CMU improves to 4-3 overall, 4-0 in the Mid-American Conference with the win. The Chippewas remain alone in first place in the MAC West Division with the win and are 4-0 in the MAC for just the fifth time in program history.
The CMU defense was the story, limiting the conference’s top passing offense to just 160 yards through the air and forcing five turnovers. The defense also held the Cardinals (2-5, 2-2 MAC) out of the end zone on five consecutive snaps inside the 5-yard line in the fourth quarter.
Ball State, averaging a conference-leading 32.7 points per game, had not scored fewer than 23 points in a game this season.
LeFevour scored on a 15-yard run in the first quarter and a 3-yard run in the third quarter to stake the Chippewas to a 12-0 lead. He was 6-for-6 passing for 66 yards and ran for 10 yards, accounting for all 76 yards on the third-quarter march.
Brad Salyer scored from the 1-yard line on third-and-goal with 2:00 left in the third quarter, but the Chippewas took advantage of a key Ball State turnover to put the game out of reach. B.J. Hill fumbled a punt that Josh Gordy recovered at the 7-yard line, and two plays later Marcel Archer scored from the 1-yard line to extend the CMU lead to 18-7 with 13:20 remaining.
The Cardinals drove to the doorstep of the end zone on their ensuing possession, but the CMU defense came up with the goal-line stand and offense responded by draining 4:31 off the fourth-quarter clock.
The teams traded punts on their first two possessions, including a career-long 78-yard bomb by CMU’s Tony Mikulec, before the Chippewas drove 62 yards in eight plays to go in front, 6-0. LeFevour hit Bryan Anderson for 14 yards on third-and-nine to extend the drive, the scored on a 15-yard run three plays later.
That score stood until the third quarter, when LeFevour single-handedly carried the Chippewas to their second score. CMU converted a pair of third downs on the drive, with LeFevour finding Anderson for 13 yards on third-and-two and Justin Gardner for 19 yards on third-and-13.
LeFevour finished 18-of-30 for 171 yards passing with an interception. He also ran 18 times for a game-high 75 yards. Anderson matched his career high with eight receptions for 81 yards.
Ball State true freshman quarterback Nate Davis was 23-of-29 through the air for 160 yards. Dante Love caught seven passes for 33 yards and Larry Bostic six for 39 yards.
Doug Kress paced the CMU defense with 11 tackles, while Daniel Bazuin made six stops, including a sack, and forced a fumble in the fourth quarter. Gordy and Pacino Horne both intercepted passes for CMU.
The Chippewas are back at Kelly/Shorts Stadium on Thursday night, hosting Bowling Green at 7:30 p.m. ESPNU will televise the contest.
Team Stats
BALL 0, CMU 6
CMU - LeFEVOUR, Dan 15 yd run (ALBRESKI, Rick rushfailed), 8 plays, 62 yards, TOP 3:34
BALL 0, CMU 12
CMU - LeFEVOUR, Dan 3 yd run (LeFEVOUR, Dan passfailed), 13 plays, 76 yards, TOP 5:37
BALL 7, CMU 12
BALL - SALYER, Brad 1 yd run (JACKSON, Brian kick), 13 plays, 69 yards, TOP 5:13
BALL 7, CMU 18
CMU - ARCHER, Marcel 1 yd run (ALBRESKI, Rick kickfailed), 2 plays, 7 yards, TOP 0:14