2008 Woodie Awards
Quarterback overcomes fumble, scores game-winning touchdown
By: Daniel Monson
Issue date: 11/7/07 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
KALAMAZOO - One of the biggest mistakes of Dan LeFevour's young career could have defined the 2007 version of the Central/Western rivalry.
But LeFevour wouldn't let it happen in the football team's 34-31 win at Western Michigan's Waldo Stadium.
With a three-point lead late in the fourth quarter, LeFevour dropped back on a third-down-and-five and looked for an open receiver. But closing in behind the sophomore quarterback was WMU junior linebacker Dustin Duclo, who stripped LeFevour of the football and sent CMU's hopes
of a Mid-American Conference Championship bouncing on the damp turf.
Western junior cornerback Londen Fryar fell on the ball at CMU's 25-yard line, and two plays later, WMU was in the end zone celebrating a 31-27 lead with 1:34 left on the clock and the game seemingly out of reach.
"That's a tribute to Western Michigan," said CMU coach Butch Jones. "They're a very good defensive football team. There was nothing we could do about (the fumble)."
But the score didn't leave the defending MAC Freshman of the Year exactly fazed.
CMU took the ball over at its own 35-yard line, and LeFevour took over the game.
"It says a lot about him, Jones said. "He didn't let that bother him. He made the throws on that drive that we needed to win the football game."
The game-winning drive was highlighted by LeFevour's 39-yard pass to sophomore receiver Bryan Anderson, which tied the quarterback for the school career completions record and sent the CMU cheering section into madness.
"That's what he does," said sophomore receiver Bryan Anderson. "He kind of took over when we got into kind of a dry spell. Dan just started making plays with his feet and moving the ball."
Jones said Anderson's catch, which caused him to stumble short of the goal-line, deserved some credit.
"That's a difficult catch," Jones said. "He kind of made it look easy."
LeFevour wouldn't stop there, however. After two failed quarterback sneaks inside the 1-yard line, LeFevour made sure CMU wouldn't leave Waldo Stadium without a championship.
He kept his legs churning and found the end zone for the decisive score in the scrum.
"I just sat there on the bench, I stayed calm and I prayed the whole time," said senior linebacker Ike Brown. "It's just like a big cake, everything is so good, and now we get to eat it."
First-half struggles
Dan LeFevour spent Tuesday night searching for open receivers downfield. More often than not, his options were limited.
While CMU's four dropped passes in the second half didn't help, neither did three sacks- the most given up by CMU this season.
The Western defense held LeFevour at bay in the first half - he finished with -1 rushing yard.
"They're crowd was loud, they were very into the game," Jones said. "It took a lot of focus in the entire 60 minutes to get it done."
sports@cm-life.com
But LeFevour wouldn't let it happen in the football team's 34-31 win at Western Michigan's Waldo Stadium.
With a three-point lead late in the fourth quarter, LeFevour dropped back on a third-down-and-five and looked for an open receiver. But closing in behind the sophomore quarterback was WMU junior linebacker Dustin Duclo, who stripped LeFevour of the football and sent CMU's hopes
of a Mid-American Conference Championship bouncing on the damp turf.
Western junior cornerback Londen Fryar fell on the ball at CMU's 25-yard line, and two plays later, WMU was in the end zone celebrating a 31-27 lead with 1:34 left on the clock and the game seemingly out of reach.
"That's a tribute to Western Michigan," said CMU coach Butch Jones. "They're a very good defensive football team. There was nothing we could do about (the fumble)."
But the score didn't leave the defending MAC Freshman of the Year exactly fazed.
CMU took the ball over at its own 35-yard line, and LeFevour took over the game.
"It says a lot about him, Jones said. "He didn't let that bother him. He made the throws on that drive that we needed to win the football game."
The game-winning drive was highlighted by LeFevour's 39-yard pass to sophomore receiver Bryan Anderson, which tied the quarterback for the school career completions record and sent the CMU cheering section into madness.
"That's what he does," said sophomore receiver Bryan Anderson. "He kind of took over when we got into kind of a dry spell. Dan just started making plays with his feet and moving the ball."
Jones said Anderson's catch, which caused him to stumble short of the goal-line, deserved some credit.
"That's a difficult catch," Jones said. "He kind of made it look easy."
LeFevour wouldn't stop there, however. After two failed quarterback sneaks inside the 1-yard line, LeFevour made sure CMU wouldn't leave Waldo Stadium without a championship.
He kept his legs churning and found the end zone for the decisive score in the scrum.
"I just sat there on the bench, I stayed calm and I prayed the whole time," said senior linebacker Ike Brown. "It's just like a big cake, everything is so good, and now we get to eat it."
First-half struggles
Dan LeFevour spent Tuesday night searching for open receivers downfield. More often than not, his options were limited.
While CMU's four dropped passes in the second half didn't help, neither did three sacks- the most given up by CMU this season.
The Western defense held LeFevour at bay in the first half - he finished with -1 rushing yard.
"They're crowd was loud, they were very into the game," Jones said. "It took a lot of focus in the entire 60 minutes to get it done."
sports@cm-life.com
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
malcolm w. heydorn
posted 11/07/07 @ 12:04 PM EST
Great job. Onward march to the mid-american championship.
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