Chippewas Claim 24-17 Overtime Win at Eastern Michigan

Saturday, September 23

Ypsilanti, Mich.

4:00 PM

Central Michigan University

2-2 , 2-0

Eastern Michigan

0-4 , 0-2

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Central Michigan

Eastern Michigan

9/23/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football

Box Score

Final Stats 

Postgame Notes

YPSILANTI, Mich. – Central Michigan University sophomore quarterback Brian Brunner ran for two touchdowns and tossed a 10-yard scoring pass to Bryan Anderson in overtime to lead CMU to a 24-17 win at Eastern Michigan on Saturday.

CMU snapped a two-game losing streak to the Eagles (0-4 overall, 0-2 Mid-American Conference) in the third consecutive overtime contest between the two programs. The Chippewas (2-2, 2-0) are 2-0 in conference play for the first time since 1998.

Brunner, who came off the bench in the second quarter, completed 20-of-29 passes for 214 yards and ran 11 times for a team-high 72 yards. He engineered a pair of fourth quarter scoring drives, including a 10-play, 94-yard masterpiece that he capped with a 3-yard scoring run with 1:44 left to put CMU in front, 17-10. He was 4-for-7 passing on the march, including third down completions to Bryan Anderson and Sam Williams to extend the march.

The Eagles sent the game to overtime on a 4-yard touchdown pass from Andy Schmitt to Jacory Storne with 13 seconds remaining. EMU covered 70 yards on seven plays on its final possession in regulation, and benefited from consecutive pass interference calls against the Chippewas that moved to the ball from the CMU 41-yard line to the CMU 11-yard line in the final minute.

Brunner connected with Anderson over the middle on third-and-goal from the three on the first possession of overtime to put CMU up 24-17. Dontayo Gage hit Eric Deslauriers for 11 yards on third-and-11 on EMU’s possession, but his scramble later on fourth-and-8 from the 13-yard line came up one yard short.

Andrew Wellock’s 27-yard field goal midway through the second quarter, his only make on three attempts on Saturday, accounted for the only scoring in the first half. It marked the first time since the second half of last season’s nonconference tilt at Penn State that CMU had been shut out in a half.

Brunner put CMU in front for the first time with a 39-yard touchdown run on the Chippewas’ second possession of the second half. He broke a tackle at the line of scrimmage, then bounced off a pair of defenders inside the 10 before diving into the end zone.

Eastern Michigan answered with a 16-play, 66-yard drive that Schmitt capped with a 1-yard sneak on third-and-goal. The score put the Eagles in front, 10-7.

The Chippewa offense came to life in the fourth quarter, accounting for 202 yards of offense in the final period of regulation and putting 10 points on the scoreboard. Rick Albreski’s 25-yard field goal with 6:04 remaining tied the score at 10 and capped a 13-play, 64-yard drive, only to be followed by the 94-yard drive that led to the go-ahead touchdown.

The CMU offense piled up a season-high 452 yards behind three different quarterbacks. Dan LeFevour started for the third straight week, but left the game after completing 4-of-7 passes for 39 yards in the first quarter. Duane Brooks completed 3-of-6 passes and ran for 61 yards, while Brunner played the balance of the contest and accounted for 286 yards of offense and three touchdowns.

CMU takes a break from conference action next weekend, visiting Southeastern Conference foe Kentucky. Kickoff at Commonwealth Stadium is set for 6 p.m.