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CMU Balance Trumps Hiller's Big Day |
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Written by Mike Smith
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KALAMAZOO, MI. - Winning on the road in the Western Michigan-Central Michigan series isn't easy. Prior to Saturday, visiting teams had won just three of the previous 19 contests between the two schools.
Using a balanced attack and overcoming a record-setting performance by Broncos quarterback Tim Hiller, Central Michigan made it 4-of-20 for the visitors with a 34-23 win at Waldo Stadium.
A season-large crowd of 27,896 came to see a matchup between two outstanding offenses and the quarterbacks who make them go. Hiller tossed a school record 66 passes, completing 40 for 410 yards and two touchdowns in the contest. He had one interception.
"We knew what we were in store for," CMU coach Butch Jones said. "We knew they were disciplined and had play makers and perseverance."
Central Michigan (6-1, 4-0 MAC) has its share of playmakers, as well, and they combined for a balanced attack that yielded a win.
Standout quarterback Dan LeFevour connected on 18-of-30 passes for 238 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions.
The Chippewas were also able to rush for 188 yards. Antonio Brownled the way with 100-yards and the nimble LeFevour chipped in 76.
"Dan did a great job of managing the game and made some plays," Jones said. "Their defensive scheme is extremely hard to go against."
Central drew first blood when it finished its first possession with a 37-yard Andrew Aquila field goal. The hosts, however, quickly matched that with a 38-yard boot by John Potter on the ensuing possession.
A 65-yard LeFevour to Bryan Anderson pass play helped set up the game's second score. LeFevour's two-yard run and Aquila's kick put the visitors up 10-3.
Aguila and Potter traded field goals early in the second quarter before Western Michigan tied the game with its first touchdown. Hiller found Juan Nunez on an 18-yard strike for the score.
Just 2:33 seconds remained in the half, but it was enough time for CMU to not only score once, but twice. Aided by an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, CMU took over near midfield. Five plays later, LeFevour hit Bryan Schroeder on a 15-yard score.
Hiller started the Broncos back down field after the kickoff, but five plays into the drive, Nick Bellore picked off a Hiller pass and returned it 50 yards to the WMU three. Schroeder went in from two-yards out two plays later.
"Our defensive line did a great job getting pressure, and I was fortunate that he threw it to me," Bellore said.
"I feel it was my fault," senior running back Brandon West said. "I let a guy hit him and the ball came out funny."
"That's all my fault," said a disappointed Hiller. "You can't throw an interception in your own end... The window was coming open, and the middle linebacker made the play on it."
LeFevour appreciated the significance of the two late scores. "It was big. Getting a big lead (27-13) before the half with us getting the ball to start the (second) half put us in position to do some things. It was nice to have that comfort zone.
Potter's 27-yard field goal was the only score of the third quarter. Both teams added a touchdown in the final period. LeFevour hit Antonio Brown on a nine-yard TD at 11:54 and Hiller found Trey Smith for a five-yarder at 5:00 to complete scoring.
"The big key to me is just the red zone and other lost opportunities," Cubit said. "Two holding penalties, a mis-fire on a guy that's open in the end zone and the missed field goal. You're talking about a lot of points that we left out there."
NOTES:
- Both teams drew plenty of flags. Central Michigan had 11 penalties for 100 yards, while WMU lost 92 yards on 10 infractions.
- One surprising statistic was third down conversions. Central won despite converting just one of nine. Western was good on 8 of 20.
- Hiller threw his 88th and 89th career TDs to break a school record of 87 held since 1999 by Tim Lester. He also set the school's career completions record with his 879th completion.
- Robert Arnheim had a game-high nine catches (for 112) yards. Nine players caught passes in Hiller's record-setting performance. Bryan Anderson led CMU with seven catchs for 133 yards.
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