Central Michigan University
10-2 , 8-0
Northern Illinois
7-5 , 5-3
CMU Completes First Perfect MAC Season with 45-31 Win
11/27/2009 12:00:00 AM | Football
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MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – Bryan Anderson kicked off Central Michigan University's Senior Day with a record-setting catch on the first drive, and the remainder of the 14-member senior class did the rest as the Chippewas completed the first unbeaten and untied Mid-American Conference regular season in school history.
Anderson, on the Chippewas' second play from scrimmage, set an NCAA all-divisions record by catching a pass in his 52nd consecutive game. The 12-yard reception from Dan LeFevour with 12:10 remaining in the first quarter was his 274th career reception, the second most in school history and third most in Mid-American Conference history. The previous record of 51 straight games with a reception was shared by Taurean Henderson (Texas Tech) and Michael Larkin (Miami, Ohio).
The Chippewas (10-2, 8-0 MAC) went on to take a 7-0 lead on the drive and a 10-0 lead by the end of the first quarter.
The Huskies (7-5, 5-3 MAC) got on the board midway through the second quarter on a 30-yard field goal, but the Chippewas responded with an 11-play, 80-yard drive that concluded with a 16-yard touchdown pass to Kito Poblah to put CMU up 17-3 with 6:29 left in the half.
Northern Illinois needed just three plays to come within seven again, 17-10, but Central extended its lead to two touchdowns on Bryan Schroeder's second touchdown of the half, a 5-yard run less than a minute before halftime.
On the first play of the second half, Schroeder broke through the line for an 80-yard touchdown run, and Anderson added a 16-yard touchdown reception midway through the quarter to put the Chippewas up, 38-10. The scoring play was LeFevour's 146th touchdown of his career, tying him with Graham Harrell (Texas Tech) and Colt Brennan (Hawaii) for the most touchdowns in a Bowl Subdivision career.
With Central leading by what appeared to be a comfortable margin, LeFevour started the fourth quarter on the bench, but an 80-yard interception return by the Huskies' Patrick George caused LeFevour to re-enter the game and sparked 21 fourth-quarter points for Northern Illinois. The Huskies came within 14, 38-24, at the 8:25 mark and were threatening to make it even closer when Frank Zombo intercepted a pass and returned it for a touchdown and a 45-24 Chippewa lead. NIU added one more score with 2:03 remaining, but CMU recovered the ensuing on-side kick and was able to run out the clock.
Schroeder totaled 128 yards and two touchdowns on just nine carries as the Chippewas outgained the Huskies 257-126 on the ground. LeFevour, meanwhile, completed 27 of his 41 pass attempts for 255 yards and three touchdowns, including four completions for 41 yards and a touchdown to Schroeder.
Team Stats
NIU 0, CMU 7
CMU - SCHROEDER, B. 13 yd pass from LeFEVOUR, Dan (AGUILA, Andrew kick) 6 plays, 43 yards, TOP 2:22
NIU 0, CMU 10
CMU - AGUILA, Andrew 24 yd field goal 6 plays, 18 yards, TOP 1:32
NIU 3, CMU 10
NIU - SALERNO, Mike 30 yd field goal 13 plays, 55 yards, TOP 6:29
NIU 3, CMU 17
CMU - POBLAH, Kito 16 yd pass from LeFEVOUR, Dan (AGUILA, Andrew kick) 11 plays, 80 yards, TOP 2:58
NIU 10, CMU 17
NIU - COX, Landon 32 yd pass from HARNISH, Chand (SALERNO, Mike kick) 3 plays, 68 yards, TOP 1:17
NIU 10, CMU 24
CMU - SCHROEDER, B. 5 yd run (AGUILA, Andrew kick), 13 plays, 78 yards, TOP 4:24
NIU 10, CMU 31
CMU - SCHROEDER, B. 80 yd run (AGUILA, Andrew kick), 1 plays, 80 yards, TOP 0:17
NIU 10, CMU 38
CMU - ANDERSON, Bryan 16 yd pass from LeFEVOUR, Dan (AGUILA, Andrew kick) 14 plays, 78 yards, TOP 5:30
NIU 17, CMU 38
NIU - GEORGE, Patrick 80 yd interception (SALERNO, Mike kick)
NIU 24, CMU 38
NIU - SPANN, Chad 6 yd run (SALERNO, Mike kick), 8 plays, 69 yards, TOP 3:00
NIU 24, CMU 45
CMU - ZOMBO, Frank 27 yd interception (AGUILA, Andrew kick)
NIU 31, CMU 45
NIU - LEWIS, Marcus 7 yd pass from HARNISH, Chand (SALERNO, Mike kick) 7 plays, 71 yards, TOP 1:55