Detroit - The Bobcats relied on their depth all season, but the nicks, bruises and sprains finally caught up to them.
As time was running out, and Ohio needed to make a big play, Terrence McCrae looked around the huddle and didn't see the familiar faces of those who had made key play after key play all season.
Gone were wide receivers Taylor Price and LaVon Brazill. Quarterback Theo Scott was in and out of the game. Instead, he saw young, inexperienced players who were called upon at the most pressing of times.
Just being an older player
I just tried to help the younger players out if they didn't know where they were going McCrae said
While Ohio's playmakers battled injuries, Central Michigan's leaders seemingly made every play, and that's how they won their third Mid-American Championship in four years with a 20-10 win over Ohio (9-4, 7-1).
We were not healthy coming in said coach Frank Solich. But that in no way takes away from what Central Michigan is all about.
Central Michigan quarterback Dan LeFevour, the leading touchdown scorer in Football Bowl Subdivision history, extended Chippewa drives. The Chippewa defense, meanwhile, halted most of the Bobcat scoring chances.
Central Michigan (11-2, 8-0 MAC) converted 10 of 17 third down chances, while Ohio was only 4 of 13. Those longs drives kept Ohio's defense on the field and its offense on the sidelines.
We were having trouble stopping them
Solich said. We'd get them in third-and-medium
third-and-long and then all of a sudden it'd be first-and-10.
And their defense in the first half was able to keep us from converting on third-and-two, and third-and-medium, and so we weren't able to get enough going in the first half to be where we wanted at halftime.
After halftime
it was too late. Central Michigan led 17-7
and in the third quarter the teams traded field goals to make it 20-10
which remained the score until the game ended.
LeFevour cemented his name in the record books as he elevated his status as a great FBS quarterback. He threw for 255 yards
and two touchdowns on 28-39 passing with one interception. His two passing touchdowns give him 101 for his career
most in MAC history. They also give him 147 total touchdowns - the most in FBS history.
Ohio
the MAC East Champions
