CMU routs Eastern Michigan 56-8 on Homecoming

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The past four games between CMU and EMU have been decided by a touchdown or less, but that was not the case today in Kelly/Shorts Stadium.

CMU’s homecoming crowd of 26,730 was treated to a 56-8 CMU win. Senior quarterback Dan LeFevour had his fifth six-touchdown game of his career, rushing for three and passing for three. He completed 16-of-22 passes for 318 yards and added 44 rushing yards.

“Offensively, I thought we played with good tempo and just executed,” said coach Butch Jones.

The Chippewas scored on their first three possessions to take a 21-0 lead.

After failing to a convert a fourth down conversion on their fourth possession, junior wide receiver Antonio Brown and the special teams took over.

With EMU forced to punt, Brown fielded the kick at CMU’s 25-yard line. He sprinted right, stopped and cut up across the field with open field ahead of him.

“I thought he showed great discipline and great patience in setting his blockers up,” Jones said.

Brown said once he made his cut, he saw open field ahead.

“As soon as I saw the open field, as soon as I saw that lane straight ahead, I knew it was pretty much a wrap,” he said.

Brown also turned a wide receiver screen in the first possession into a 70-yard touchdown.

Prior to the touchdown pass, LeFevour scrambled for first downs on two separate third down plays. On a third-and-seven, he ran for 8 yards. Three plays later, LeFevour ran for 7 yards on a third-and-six.

CMU finished seven-of-eight on third down conversions.

“We stressed it on defense to get off the field and then possessing the ball on offense,” Jones said. “It’s obviously been one of Dan’s strengths since he’s been here is the ability to make a play when everything else breaks down.”

Junior wide receiver Kito Poblah led CMU with 126 receiving yards, and sophomore running back Bryan Schroeder led CMU with 57 rushing yards.

“You put it in some playmakers hands and things are going to happen,” LeFevour said. “Probably my favorite pass is when I throw it 0 yards and they go 75 (yards).”

Up 28-0 with two minutes remaining in the half, CMU looked to seal the game and go for points instead of playing conservative.

The drive ended with a Bryan Schroeder 11-yard touchdown pass with just 18 seconds remaining. CMU led 35-0 at halftime.

CMU finished with 521 offensive yards, while EMU finished with 255.