Central Michigan University
3-7 , 2-5
.png&width=60&height=60&type=webp)
Western Michigan
3-6 , 2-3
Chippewas, Broncos Collide at Kelly/Shorts Stadium
11/5/2010 12:00:00 AM | Football
MOUNT PLEASANT - Central Michigan and Western Michigan renew their rivalry Friday night at Kelly/Shorts Stadium.
Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. ESPNU will air the contest live to a national audience.
The CMU Sports Network's radio broadcast can be heard over the air across the state and online around the world on CMUChippewas.com.
The winner of Friday's game will take home the Victory Cannon, the third-year traveling trophy that is presented each year to the winner of the CMU-WMU matchup. The trophy is emblematic of the cannon that is fired at both CMU's Kelly/Shorts Stadium and WMU's Waldo Stadium.
The Chippewas also will retain the Michigan MAC Championship Trophy with a victory Friday night. The traveling trophy goes to the winner of the round-robin competition between Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan and Western Michigan. The Chippewas defeated EMU, 52-14, on Sept. 18.
CMU has won the last four meetings, its longest winning streak in the series since the 1980s. The Chippewas are 15-2-1 all-time against Western Michigan at Kelly/Shorts Stadium, and the home team has won 16 of the last 20 meetings in the series.
The Chippewas claimed a rare road victory last season, downing Western Michigan, 34-23, in Kalamazoo. Dan LeFevour threw for 238 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 75 yards and a score. Matt Berning and Nick Bellore tallied 13 and 12 tackles, respectively, while Bellore returned an interception 50 yards late in the first half to set up a CMU touchdown.
Both teams are coming off narrow home losses last weekend. Western Michigan dropped a 28-21 decision to Northern Illinois, while the Chippewas were defeated by Bowling Green, 17-14. Both games were decided in the final minutes. NIU scored its go-ahead touchdown with 3:42 remaining at Waldo Stadium, while Bowling Green's game-winning touchdown came with just 21 seconds remaining. CMU's loss was its fourth by seven points or fewer this season.
Friday's game features the top two passing offenses in the MAC. Western Michigan averages a conference-leading 298.8 yards per game, while CMU's average of 265.8 passing yards per game ranks second in the MAC. WMU quarterback Alex Carder and CMU signal-caller Ryan Radcliff rank second and third, respectively, in the MAC in completions.
Fourteen members of the CMU program are participating in their final game at Kelly/Shorts Stadium. The seniors, who have been a part of two MAC championships, three bowl games and 30 total victories, will be recognized prior to kickoff.
Team Stats
WMU 0, CMU 7
CMU - WILSON, Cody 17 yd pass from RADCLIFF, Ryan (HARMAN, David kick) 8 plays, 85 yards, TOP 3:12
.png&width=32&height=32&type=webp)
WMU 2, CMU 7
WMU - TEAM 8 yd safety
WMU 2, CMU 10
CMU - HARMAN, David 35 yd field goal 5 plays, 20 yards, TOP 1:49
WMU 8, CMU 10
WMU - WHITE, Jordan 3 yd pass from CARDER, Alex (CARDER, Alex passfailed) 12 plays, 72 yards, TOP 3:54
WMU 15, CMU 10
WMU - WHITE, Jordan 55 yd pass from CARDER, Alex (POTTER, John kick) 7 plays, 85 yards, TOP 2:46
WMU 15, CMU 13
CMU - HARMAN, David 22 yd field goal 4 plays, 2 yards, TOP 2:05
WMU 22, CMU 13
WMU - NUNEZ, Juan 11 yd pass from CARDER, Alex (POTTER, John kick) 6 plays, 44 yards, TOP 2:07
WMU 22, CMU 20
CMU - VOLNY, Carl 1 yd run (HARMAN, David kick), 9 plays, 75 yards, TOP 2:06
WMU 22, CMU 26
CMU - POBLAH, Kito 5 yd pass from RADCLIFF, Ryan (RADCLIFF, Ryan passfailed) 8 plays, 72 yards, TOP 3:15