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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Thursday, January 7, 2010

Central Michigan wins GMAC Bowl


Associated Press

MOBILE, Ala. — Dan LeFevour finished with flair.

No. 25 Central Michigan's senior quarterback moved into second place on the career total yards list, accounted for two late touchdowns to rally the Chippewas to a 44-41 double-overtime victory against Troy in the GMAC Bowl last night.

"I just tried to stay cool, tried to stay calm and collected," LeFevour said. "I tried to show that aura to my team and let them believe in me."

Antonio Brown started the rally with a 95-yard kickoff return. LeFevour followed with a touchdown pass to put the sluggish Chippewas (12-2) ahead with 1:17 left and scored from 13 yards out in the first overtime to set up Andrew Aguila's 37-yard game-winning field goal. It was his fifth field goal of the game.

LeFevour completed 33 of 55 passes for 395 yards and finished his career with 15,853 total yards, trailing only Hawai'i quarterback Tim Chang (16,910). He also moved into fifth place in the FBS in career completions and 10th in yards passing before being selected the game's most valuable player.

DuJuan Harris scored three touchdowns for the Trojans (9-4).

C. MICHIGAN 3 6 10 15 7 3—44

TROY 7 3 14 10 7 0—41

First Quarter

Troy—Harris 9 pass from Brown (Taylor kick), 3:52

CM—FG Aguila 28, 00:10

Second Quarter

CM—FG Aguila 35, 8:45

Troy—FG Taylor 22, 3:59

CM—FG Aguila 44, 1:28

Third quarter

Troy—Southward 1 run (Taylor kick), 13:10

CM—FG Aguila 42, 9:47

CM—Brown 7 run (Aguila kick), 2:46

Troy—Harris 6 run (Taylor kick), 00:23

Fourth quarter

Troy—Harris 1 run (Taylor kick), 8:01

CM—Brown 95 kickoff return (Aguila kick), 7:47

CM—Anderson 4 pass from Lefevour (Poblah pass from Lefevour), 1:17

Troy—FG Taylor 46, 00:31

First overtime

CM—Lefevour 13 run (Aguila kick)

Troy—Southward 1 run (Taylor kick)

Second overtime

CM—FG Aguila 37

A—34,486.

CMU Troy

First downs 27 31

Rushes-yards 27-109 39-169

Passing 395 403

Comp-Att-Int 33-56-1 32-57-0

Return Yards 0 0

Punts-Avg. 1-40.0 2-36.5

Fumbles-Lost 0-0 2-1

Penalties-Yards 4-31 8-63

Time of Possession 26:35 33:25

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING—Cent. Michigan, Schroeder 13-73, A.Brown 4-22, LeFevour 9-12, Volny 1-2. Troy, Du.Harris 14-112, Jernigan 6-39, Southward 10-28, Greer 1-2, L.Brown 8-(minus 12).

PASSING—Cent. Michigan, LeFevour 33-55-1-395, A.Brown 0-1-0-0. Troy, L.Brown 31-56-0-386, C.Williams 1-1-0-17.

RECEIVING—Cent. Michigan, A.Brown 13-178, Anderson 7-84, C.Wilson 4-36, Poblah 3-50, Schroeder 3-14, Volny 1-17, J.Wilson 1-12, Blackburn 1-4. Troy, Jernigan 9-154, Bruce 4-51, Du.Harris 4-49, Southward 3-29, Gill 3-28, Cherry 2-26, C.Williams 2-21, Marcum 2-9, L.Brown 1-17, Jarboe 1-12, A.Davis 1-7.

KENTUCKY

Phillips is new coach: Offensive coordinator Joker Phillips yesterday was formally introduced as head coach of his Kentucky alma mater, replacing Rich Brooks, who two days earlier announced that he was stepping down after seven years on the job.

The hiring was also historically notable because Phillips becomes Kentucky's first black head football coach.

GOING PRO

Florida: All-American tight end Aaron Hernandez announced yesterday he is leaving school early and entering the NFL draft. Hernandez, who won the Mackey Award, given annually to the nation's top tight end, had a team-high 68 receptions for 850 yards and five touchdowns this season.

Penn State: Injury-plagued defensive end Jerome Hayes is opting to pursue an NFL career instead of petitioning the NCAA for a sixth year of eligibility. The senior had 18 tackles and a sack for the No. 11 Nittany Lions in 2009.

UCLA: Defensive tackle Brian Price will skip his senior season to enter the NFL draft. The Pac-10's defensive player of the year, who had 23 1/2 tackles for losses and seven sacks, announced his decision yesterday after consulting with his father, coach Rick Neuheisel and NFL experts who believe he could be a first-round pick.