Central Michigan University Athletics
Purdue Holds Off Chippewas, 45-22
9/15/2007 12:00:00 AM | Football
The Boilermakers improved to 3-0 with the win. CMU dropped to 1-2 overall.
The Boilermakers, ranked eighth and 13th nationally in scoring and total offense respectively, outgained CMU 402-161 in building a 31-0 halftime lead. In the second half, however, the Chippewas outscored the hosts 22-14 and held a 304-181 advantage in total offense against a defense that kept its starters on the field throughout the second half.
Dan LeFevour finished 35-of-56 for 364 yards, all career highs. He threw two touchdowns and was intercepted once. In the second half alone, he was 21-of-31 for 239 yards.
After fumbling in the red zone on the game’s opening possession, Purdue scored on its next four possessions to build a 24-0 lead.
Chris Summers converted a 20-yard field goal, Jaycen Taylor scored on a 19-yard run and Kory Sheets scored on runs of 17 yards and 7 yards. A 37-yard touchdown pass from Painter to Dustin Keller late in the second quarter extended the Purdue lead to 31-0 at halftime.
CMU fumbled on the opening possession of the second half, and Purdue responded with a 2-yard touchdown pass from Painter to Kyle Adams. Summers’ point-after made it 38-0.
The CMU offense began to click later in the third quarter, capitalizing on two turnovers and piecing together three sustained touchdown drives.
The Chippewas covered 76 yards in 12 plays following Painter’s touchdown pass to
The teams traded punts, before Chaz West accounted for back-to-back Purdue turnovers that led to CMU touchdowns.
On first-and-10 from the CMU 41-yard line, Desmond Terry attempted a reverse pass that was intercepted by West at the CMU 10-yard line. He returned it to the 22, setting up a seven-play, 78-yard drive that culminated in a 14-yard touchdown pass from LeFevour to Justin Gardner. LeFevour was 5-for-5 through the air for 68 yards on the march.
The Boilermakers’ next possession lasted just three plays. Tim Brazzel forced a Sheets fumble that West recovered at the CMU 33-yard line. The Chippewa offense nearly went three-and-out, but punter Tony Mikulec ran eight yards for a first down on fourth-and-3 from the CMU 40-yard line to extend the drive. Eight plays later, Hoskins scored on second-and-goal from the 1-yard line, and LeFevour connected with Joe Bockheim on a two-point conversion attempt to pull CMU within 38-22 with 12:16 remaining in the game.
Dorien Bryan returned the kickoff 58 yards to the CMU 39-yard line, and Painter eventually threw a 5-yard touchdown pass to Selwyn Lymon with 9:07 remaining to close the scoring.
CMU continues nonconference play next Saturday, hosting
