CMU football stays ahead in MAC West after Wednesday rout of Toledo

The CMU football team remains on track for a showdown with Northern Illinois in two weeks for the Mid-American Conference West Division title.

After routing Toledo 56-28 Wednesday at Kelly/Shorts Stadium, CMU remains undefeated in the MAC (6-0). Northern Illinois, which beat Ball State last night 26-20, is 5-1 in conference play.

The Chippewas took advantage of a number of Toledo miscues — turning five turnovers into 28 points after a back-and-forth start. The Rockets led 14-7 before CMU scored 49 unanswered points from the second quarter on.

“On offense, we were able to capitalize on those turnovers and turn them into points,” said coach Butch Jones. “And I thought it was big that we weren’t kicking field goals again in the red zone, that we were scoring touchdowns.”

Senior quarterback Dan LeFevour became CMU’s all-time rushing touchdown leader after rushing for 19 yards and four touchdowns. He has 45 rushing touchdowns in his career.

LeFevour completed 29-of-36 passes (80.6 percent) for 341 yards and two touchdowns. At one point in the first half, LeFevour completed 16 consecutive passes.

Jones said LeFevour’s leadership was apparent on the field.

“I thought he was really focused,” Jones said. “When they went up (in the first half), he looked at me and said, ‘Don’t worry, I got you.’”

LeFevour led an offense that did not turn the ball over.

“We also take great pride in taking care of the football,” Jones said, who mentioned the advantage in field position CMU gained from winning the turnover battle.

At one point in the second quarter, LeFevour evaded a heavy rush, rolled right looking as if he was going to step out of bounds. Within yards of the sideline, LeFevour stopped, set his feet and fired a 42-yard pass to junior wide receiver Kito Poblah, who broke off his coverage.

Jones called the play one of the best plays LeFevour has made all year.

“We talk about our quarterbacks being a high-vision guy, meaning that when they flush the pocket, their eyes don’t go down and they just become a runner,” Jones said. “As he flushes the pocket, he escapes, but he has the high vision to see the receiver down the field.”

Shutting down Opelt

Even with senior cornerback Josh Gordy out, the defense held the MAC’s second-best passing team to 222 passing yards.

And it did so with a banged-up secondary. Starting free safety Eric Fraser left the game because of injury, and it gave way to extended playing time for junior Bobby Seay, who tied junior linebacker Nick Bellore with a game-high 10 tackles. Playing in place of Gordy was junior Vince Agnew, who started, and redshirt freshman LaVarus Williams.

“That’s what you do — that’s what you got to have to win championships, is the next guy in. That’s part of being a team,” Jones said.

Toledo quarterback Aaron Opelt was held to 128 passing yards before getting knocked out of the game by a hit from senior defensive end Frank Zombo. The hit led to CMU’s third interception, this time by junior defensive tackle Sean Murnane.

Along with Murnane, sophomore strong safety Dannie Bolden, Bellore and freshman linebacker Alex Smith had interceptions. Junior linebacker Matt Berning forced a fumble in the second quarter that Zombo recovered.

“The defense definitely put us in some favorable situations, which we were able to capitalize on,” LeFevour said.

Bellore, who intercepted his second pass of the season, said CMU excelled at something it has struggled with in the past.

“I think that’s been kind of a weak point in our defense this year and, obviously, turnover margin is something you always look to for a team to be successful,” he said.

Impending showdown

CMU plays Ball State at 8 p.m. Wednesday in Muncie, Ind., before its game against Northern Illinois.

NIU will play at Ohio (7-3, 5-1 MAC) Nov. 21. If CMU and NIU win, it would set up the MAC West Division Championship game. Although CMU is undefeated and NIU has lost once, the Huskies would win the head-to-head tiebreaker with a win.