Adam Kaminski and Jake May

1.CMU falls 31-24 to Ball State in home finale

The CMU football team was one win away from three-peating the MAC West Division. All it had to do was beat its first ranked opponent to come to Kelly/Shorts Stadium -No. 14 Ball State. The two teams, with the Chippewas donning gold for the first time, exchanged blows throughout the game. But the Cardinals, behind a 177-yard performance by running back MiQuale Lewis, survived their toughest game of the year. CMU’s final drive fell short when junior quarterback Dan LeFevour uncharacteristically threw an interception to safety Sean Baker. BSU would solidify the MAC West one week later in a 45-22 win against Western Michigan, ending CMU’s MAC dominance.

2. Backup QB Brunner leads CMU to Big Ten win

Starting in place of injured LeFevour, senior quarterback Brian Brunner threw for 485 passing yards and four touchdowns as CMU defeated its first Big Ten opponent in 16 years. Brunner’s passing yards were the most by any Division I quarterback that week and the most by any player in school history. Brunner accounted for all five of CMU’s touchdowns, including running in the eventual game winner with 8:52 to play. That touchdown gave CMU its first lead of the game, yet unlike when the Chippewas played Purdue, the defense was able to maintain the lead and the 37-34 win. Following the win, the Chippewas received votes in the Associated Press Top 25 poll.

3. CMU beats WMU for third consecutive year

CMU was without stars LeFevour and senior running back Ontario Sneed for its rivalry game against Western Michigan. It did not matter, however, with Brunner and freshman running back Bryan Schroeder running the show. Despite a career day from WMU quarterback Tim Hiller, who threw for a Kelly/Shorts Stadium record 471 yards, the Chippewas outlasted the Broncos thanks to Brunner’s 346 passing yards and Schroeder’s 106 rushing yards to win 38-28. It was CMU’s third consecutive victory in the rivalry in one of the most critical games of the early season.

4. Tempers flare at EMU

Tempers were flying and so was the football as CMU and EMU competed at Rynearson Stadium in the final game of the regular season for both teams Nov. 28. The Eagles played inspired football for their outgoing head coach Jeff Genyk, but occasionally let their emotions get the best of them. EMU had nine penalties for 97 yards and could often be seen dancing on the sidelines and taunting the CMU bench throughout the game, usually following Genyk’s lead. However, it did not slow down the EMU passing attack. Eastern quarterback Andy Schmitt set an NCAA record with 58 completions as the Eagles beat the Chippewas, 56-52, for the fourth time in five years, retaining the Michigan MAC trophy.

5. Aguila kicks overtime winner

CMU had the game in hand, up 30-6 in the middle of the third quarter inside the foggy Huskie Stadium at NIU. But behind the arm and legs of quarterback Chandler Harnish, the Huskies came back with 24 unanswered points to end the game and force overtime. CMU’s late-game heroics shined yet again in the extra period, with junior cornerback Josh Gordy intercepting his first pass of the season on NIU’s second play. The Chippewas would secure the 33-30 win on kicker Andrew Aguila’s 40-yard field goal. The win was the team’s sixth consecutive and set the stage for the Ball State showdown the following week.

6. Jones makes call of year; shock follows

Sneed caught a 6-yard touchdown pass from LeFevour with 1:18 to go in the game to cut the Boilermaker lead to one. Coach Butch Jones said after the game that his team had practiced for the exact situation all week, and it paid off as LeFevour connected with sophomore wide receiver Antonio Brown for a two-point conversion and CMU took its first lead of the game, 25-24. However, a 46-yard touchdown run from Purdue running back Kory Sheets on the very next play from scrimmage made the score 32-25 and gave Purdue the win.

7. Brunner replaces LeFevour, leads Chippewas to Homecoming win

Since 2006, Brunner had not played extensively in a college football game. But when LeFevour had to leave the game because of a right ankle injury, he stepped up and led the team to victory, a 24-14 win over Temple on Homecoming. Although his numbers – 7-for-13 for 136 yards and a touchdown – did not pop, he was critical in keeping the flow of the game in CMU’s favor. He even got the chance to perform the “Kelly/Shorts leap” following the game, joining the jubilant student section after the win.

8. Buffalo hits upright, CMU escapes

CMU’s MAC Championship aspirations might not have made it to November had it not been for the right goal post in the north end zone on Sept. 27 at Kelly/Shorts Stadium against Buffalo. After Buffalo scored a touchdown to cut CMU’s lead to 27-25 with less than two minutes to play, the Bulls recovered an onside kick at their own 42-yard line. Buffalo then drove to the CMU 29 and called timeout with three seconds remaining. UB kicker A.J. Principe had a chance to complete the late comeback with a 46-yard field goal, but his kick bounced off the right upright and CMU held on for its second MAC win.

9. Ohio fumbles

Frank Zombo jarred the ball loose from Ohio quarterback Boo Jackson at the 1-yard line and linebacker Matt Berning recovered for a touchback. Ohio would have one more chance to tie or win, but another fumble recovery – this time by defensive tackle Sean Murnane – would seal CMU’s 31-28 win.

10. The return of LeFevour

LeFevour suffered his second ankle injury of the season on the fifth play of scrimmage at Toledo. After sitting out for two drives, he returned and ensured the Chippewas left the Glass Bowl with a 24-23 win. He finished 24-of-31 for 242 yards and two touchdowns.

E-mail the author: Brian Manzullo and Justin Berndt