DETROIT — The CMU football team is atop the Mid-American Conference for the third time in four seasons.

CMU defeated Ohio Friday in the MAC Championships 20-10 in front of 23,714 fans at Ford Field in Detroit.

But it did not happen without some tension.

CMU’s offense, which failed to score points in the red zone just four times all season, was held in check twice in the first half. Senior quarterback Dan LeFevour was intercepted in the end zone on the offense’s first drive of the game.

“I’d be the first to say I made a few mistakes, but hats off to them,” LeFevour said. “They made this game tough. Without a doubt, this is our toughest MAC game that we’ve played.”

(Matthew Stephens/Presentation Editor)

But in his last game against a conference opponent, the senior quarterback bounced back, completing 28-of-39 passes for 255 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran for 55 yards.

LeFevour was named the game’s most valuable player. In the process, he also broke Chad Pennington’s MAC touchdown pass record — LeFevour now has 101 — and now has 148 total career touchdowns, setting the new Bowl Subdivision record.

“We always talk to our players about leaving their legacy,” said CMU coach Butch Jones. “I think Dan LeFevour, when it’s all said and done after the bowl game, will definitely leave his legacy.”

Sturdy defense

Down 10-0, Ohio’s Terrence McCrae made it a game with his first-quarter touchdown reception.

But Ohio had to resort to trickery to get it in the end zone.

At first-and-10 at CMU’s 29 yard-line, Ohio senior quarterback Theo Scott faked an option to his left and tossed the ball to wide receiver Taylor Price, who was running an end-around toward the right.

While the defense shifted its attention to Price, McCrae was left unattended in the end zone. But it was the only touchdown Ohio scored.

CMU’s defense held Ohio to 275 yards of total offense, and Scott threw for 138 yards. Last week against Temple, he threw for 324.

“To hold Ohio to 10 points with the explosive players that they have and talent, I think speaks for itself,” Jones said.

Sophomore running back Bryan Schroeder led CMU with 72 rushing yards and added 53 receiving yards.

Junior wide receiver Antonio Brown had 66 receiving yards; Bryan Anderson had 54 receiving yards and a touchdown.

Ohio’s McCrae finished with seven catches for 141 receiving yards and a touchdown. The rest of Ohio’s team was held to four catches and 26 receiving yards.

Check cm-life.com for more stories, photos and a video throughout the weekend.

E-mail the author: Andrew Stover