Central Michigan University Athletics
Central Michigan University
5-3 , 5-0
Bowling Green
4-4 , 3-2
CMU Wins Third Straight, 31-14 Over Bowling Green
10/20/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
Final Stats
Postgame Notes
Postgame Quotes
MOUNT PLEASANT – Ontario Sneed ran for a season-high 121 yards, including a 44-yard touchdown on the first snap from scrimmage, and Obed Cétoute caught an 88-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter as Central Michigan University remained perfect in the Mid-American Conference with a 31-14 win over Bowling Green on Thursday night.
In between, Eric Fraser returned an interception 47 yards for a score, Rick Albreski hit a career-long 48-yard field goal and Justin Gardner capped the win with a 15-yard scoring catch from Dan LeFevour late in the fourth quarter.
The win keeps the Chippewas (5-3 overall, 5-0 MAC) unbeaten in the MAC and alone in first place in the West Division.
CMU raced to an early 17-0 lead, but Freddie Barnes scored twice in the final eight minutes to pull the Falcons (4-4, 3-2) within a field goal at halftime.
Following a scoreless third quarter, Cétoute made two of the game’s biggest plays in the fourth to seal the win.
On the second play of the fourth quarter, following a run for a loss of 3 yards and a penalty, LeFevour hit Cétoute over the middle, and the senior receiver out-ran the BGSU secondary for the 88-yard score. Albreski’s point-after made it 24-14 with 14:06 remaining.
Bowling Green drove to the CMU 7-yard line on the ensuing possession, but the drive ended when Cétoute blocked Sean Ellis’ 24-yard field goal attempt. The CMU offense then responded by marching 80 yards in 11 plays, the final 15 yards coming on the LeFevour-to-Gardner touchdown pass. CMU converted a trio of third downs on the drive, including on the touchdown.
Fraser returned the opening kickoff 50 yards to the Bowling Green 44-yard line, and Sneed scored on a run off the left side on the game’s first snap. Later in the quarter, Fraser intercepted a pass in the left flat, broke a tackle along the sideline and returned the pick 47 yards for the score.
Albreski’s field goal in the second quarter stretched the CMU lead to 17-0, the Chippewas’ largest first-half lead of the season.
Bowling Green responded with Anthony Turner’s 6-yard touchdown pass to Barnes, then capitalized on a Sneed fumble with a 14-play, 55-yard drive that Barnes capped with a 1-yard touchdown run.
Both teams punted three times in the third quarter before the Chippewas scored twice late to pull away.
Sneed’s 121 yards were the most for a CMU player in a game this season, while Cétoute’s three catches covered 10, 88 and 24 yards. LeFevour finished 15-of-25 passing for 212 yards and two scores. He was 6-of-9 for 141 yards in the second half alone.
Defensively, Red Keith was in on 13 tackles, including eight solo, while Doug Kress made 10 stops.
Chris Bullock ran for 91 yards for BGSU, while Turner completed 16-of-29 for 187 yards.
CMU is now off for 16 days before visiting Temple on Nov. 4. The Chippewas’ home finale is set for Friday, Nov. 10 against Western Michigan at 7 p.m.
Team Stats
BGSU 0, CMU 7
CMU - SNEED, Ontario 44 yd run (ALBRESKI, Rick kick), 1 plays, 44 yards, TOP 0:40
BGSU 0, CMU 14
CMU - FRASER, Eric 47 yd interception (ALBRESKI, Rick kick)
BGSU 0, CMU 17
CMU - ALBRESKI, Rick 48 yd field goal 5 plays, 28 yards, TOP 1:23
BGSU 7, CMU 17
BGSU - BARNES, Freddie 6 yd pass from TURNER, Anthony (ELLIS, Sean kick) 9 plays, 59 yards, TOP 4:01
BGSU 14, CMU 17
BGSU - BARNES, Freddie 1 yd run (ELLIS, Sean kick), 14 plays, 55 yards, TOP 5:53
BGSU 14, CMU 24
CMU - CETOUTE, Obed 88 yd pass from LeFEVOUR, Dan (ALBRESKI, Rick kick) 2 plays, 80 yards, TOP 1:06
BGSU 14, CMU 31
CMU - GARDNER, Justin 15 yd pass from LeFEVOUR, Dan (ALBRESKI, Rick kick) 11 plays, 80 yards, TOP 5:36