Nov. 6, 2007: CMU 34 vs. WMU 31

Sophomore quarterback Dan LeFevour scored on a quarterback sneak from less than one yard away to give CMU a 34-31 win against rival Western Michigan to clinch a berth at the Dec. 1 MAC Championship game in Detroit at Ford Field.

“My heart was pounding all the way to the end,” said junior guard Andrew Hartline.

The final touchdown came just seconds after a heartbreaking turn of events for the Chippewas.

With a 27-24 lead and a chance to run the clock down, LeFevour fumbled on a quarterback scramble, putting Western at CMU’s 25-yard line with 1:51 remaining.

The Broncos took the lead three plays later on a 15-yard touchdown run by tailback Brandon West to leave CMU’s sideline in shock.

But coach Butch Jones, in his first season as a head coach, believed in his players to the end.

“I looked in every man’s eyes, and they said, ‘We’re going to get it done, coach.’” he said. “I can’t say enough about the guys in our program.”

After driving to WMU’s 40-yard line, LeFevour used a pump fake to fool Western defenders, leaving sophomore receiver Bryan Anderson open inside the Broncos’ 10-yard line. Anderson made the catch while stumbling down to the 1-yard line.

It then took LeFevour three sneak plays to finally cross the goal line and put CMU ahead for good.

Once the Broncos’ lateral-laden kickoff was over and the clock read zero, players and fans clad in maroon and gold rushed onto the Waldo Stadium field.

The events that transpired even left senior linebacker Ike Brown dizzy.

“I can’t even think,” he said. “I’ve never been in a game that close, ever. That was definitely the wildest finish.”

Nov. 10, 2006: CMU 31 vs. WMU 7

By Nathan Mueller

A team that three years ago was in disarray overcame freezing rain at Kelly/Shorts Stadium to win its first ever Mid-American Conference West Championship.

And it did so by beating the second-best team in the West Division and rival Western Michigan University, 31-7.

“This is what I came here to Central to do,” said senior defensive end Dan Bazuin. “This is my dream, and I always wanted to see Central on the top. Obviously it took us a little longer than we wanted, but to go out like this – I couldn’t have scripted it any better.”

The few remaining fans joined the team at the 50-yard-line to celebrate, but Kelly took a step back to watch it all.

He’s won two national championships at Grand Valley State University, but this is his first major accomplishment at the Division I level.

Kelly looked around, took it all in and cracked a smile.

“I’m proud of this team,” Kelly said. “Last year we missed our chance at a championship because we weren’t disciplined enough and savvy enough as a football team. We showed that tonight and I was proud of our kids that they took advantage of the opportunity this time.”

Nov. 12, 2005: CMU 24 vs. WMU 31

KALAMAZOO – CMU scored two touchdowns on its first two possessions to take a 14-0 lead late in the first quarter. But then Western’s senior wide receiver Greg Jennings took over, and the Chippewas couldn’t recover.

“Greg Jennings simply is too tough to match up to,” said CMU coach Brian Kelly. “We just didn’t have an answer for him.”

Jennings caught touchdown passes of 76 and 40 yards from freshman quarterback Tim Hiller en route to the Broncos’ 31-24 win against CMU at Waldo Stadium.

The 76-yard touchdown came one play after CMU kicker Rick Albreski missed a 41-yard field goal that would have given the Chippewas a 17-0 lead.

“(Hiller) hit me well, and since the safety was down so far I was able to split the two defenders and score,” said Jennings, who finished with nine catches for 171 yards.

CMU freshman tailback Ontario Sneed fumbled on its next possession, giving Western the ball at its own 7-yard line.

It took one play for Hiller to throw a touchdown pass to freshman wide receiver Jamarko Simmons.

After CMU’s offense nearly yielded a safety, Western got the ball back at CMU’s 40-yard line. It took Hiller only one play to find Jennings for the 40-yard touchdown strike.

CMU quarterback Kent Smith set three school records with 460 passing yards, 70 pass attempts and 46 completions. The 70 pass attempts also were a MAC record.

Oct. 30, 2004: CMU 24 vs. WMU 21 (OT)

Freshman placekicker Ronald Budd was the deciding factor in the Chippewas 24-21 overtime win on Oct. 30, 2004.

Central’s defense stopped the Broncos on their first possession of overtime, when Robert Menchinger’s missed 40-yard field goal gave CMU a chance to score and win.

The offense picked up 20 yards on its possession, giving Budd a chance to make a 25-yard field goal.

Western used its lone time out attempting to freeze him, but Budd calmly battled a fierce wind and put the ball just beyond the crossbar for the win.

“I just did not want to let my team down,” Budd said. “(The timeout) gave me more time to get myself together. I was just trying to get it through the posts.”

Budd would have never had his opportunity had it not been for two fumbles by the Broncos that led to a pair of CMU touchdowns. The most critical was the fumble by the tailback Daniel Marks, allowing quarterback Kent Smith to go just 25 yards to tie the game.

Smith was a perfect 2-for-2 on the drive, with both passes going to wide receiver Asante White, including a nine-yard touchdown pass.

Budd added the extra point, sending the game to overtime, before kicking the game-winner in overtime.

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