Central Michigan University Athletics
Chippewa Flashback: 2007 MAC Championship Game
12/1/2009 12:00:00 AM | Football
In Butch Jones’ first season as CMU’s head coach, he led the Chippewas to the MAC Championship Game at Ford Field in Detroit. The 35-10 victory against Miami made him only the ninth head coach to win the MAC title in his first year. CMU became the second program to win the MAC Championship in back-to-back seasons while capturing its sixth title overall.
The matchup featured the MAC’s Offensive Player of the Year Dan LeFevour and the rest of the MAC’s best statistical offense, versus the MAC Defensive Player of the Year Clayton Mullins and the rest of the MAC’s best statistical defense.
The only scoring in the first half belonged to Kito Poblah’s touchdown reception from Dan LeFevour in the first quarter to put CMU ahead, 7-0.
Midway through the third quarter, Nate Parseghian kicked a 38-yard field goal to put Miami on the scoreboard. CMU answered with a touchdown courtesy of Dan LeFevour on a 21-yard rush. The entire drive only took 80 seconds to extend the lead to 14-3, and CMU led the rest of the way.
A total of 28 points were scored in the fourth quarter, starting with CMU. On its first possession, the Chippewa offense marched 67 yards downfield ending with a 1-yard run by Ontario Sneed. The RedHawks returned the favor with an 80-yard drive that was capped by a 12-yard touchdown pass to Armand Robinson from Dan Raudabaugh. That ended Miami’s scoring for the night as Central Michigan put up two more touchdowns. Sneed scored on a 7-yard run, and the next possession resulted in a 28-yard run by LeFevour to finalize the score, 35-10.
The 25-point margin was the largest margin of victory in MAC Championship Game history. LeFevour finished 24-34 with 185 yards passing and a TD and added 170 rushing yards with two touchdowns. He was also named the game MVP. Bryan Anderson contributed five catches for 34 yards and Kito Poblah also added 29 yards on four receptions. Central Michigan went on the play Purdue in the Motor City Bowl, losing an exciting, high scoring game, 51-48.
During the course of the season, Dan LeFevour became the second player in NCAA history (Vince Young) to pass for 3,000 yards and rush for 1,000 in one season. Also, along with Tim Tebow, he was the only player to pass for 20 touchdowns and score 20 touchdowns (19 rushing, 1 receiving) in one season. He was named All-MAC first team for the second consecutive season.
| Scoring by Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Score |
| Miami | 0 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 10 |
| Central Michigan | 7 | 0 | 7 | 21 | 35 |
| | Miami | Central Michigan |
| First Downs | 19 | 23 |
| Rushing Yards | 52 | 267 |
| Passing Yards | 254 | 185 |
| Total Yards | 306 | 452 |
| Fumbles: Number-Lost | 1-0 | 0-0 |
| Interceptions: Number-Yards | 2-0 | 2-45 |
| Penalties: Number-Yards | 3-20 | 6-54 |
| Time of Possession | 31:01 | 28:59 |
| Third Down Conversions | 7-18 | 9-14 |
| Red Zone: Scores-Chances | 2-3 | 3-4 |
