Nov. 10, 2006

From Central Michigan Athletics

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. (www.cmuchippewas.com) - Central Michigan University made history on a night that threatened to be more memorable for the weather conditions.

Playing in a driving rainstorm and temperatures hovering around freezing, the Chippewas rattled off 24 unanswered points to knock off rival Western Michigan, 31-7, on Friday night. The win is CMU's fifth straight, clinches the Michigan MAC championship and punches the Chippewas' ticket to the Mid-American Conference Championship Game on Nov. 30.

True freshman Marcel Archer ran for 70 yards and three touchdowns off the bench, while Daniel Bazuin tallied eight sacks, two sacks, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. CMU has now won five straight overall, its longest winning streak since the 1994 MAC championship team won the final six games of the regular season.

A Kelly/Shorts Stadium record crowd of 30,027 saw the Chippewas (7-3 overall, 6-0 MAC) strike first, as Dan LeFevour hooked up with Damien Linson for a 53-yard score on the third play from scrimmage. Going into a driving rain, LeFevour placed a perfectly thrown fade pass into the outstretched arms of Linson, who beat his defender down the west sideline.

Western Michigan (7-3, 5-2) answered on its next possession, however, marching 67 yards in 10 plays. A 5-yard pass from Ryan Cubit to Nic Saad and Nate Meyer's extra point tied the score just 6:08 into the game.

Rick Albreski drilled a 47-yard field goal, the second-longest of his career, late in the second quarter to give a Chippewas a 10-7 lead at the break.

The Chippewa defense dominated the second half, forcing turnovers on the Broncos' first two possessions, both of which led to touchdowns.

On the first snap of the second half, Daniel Bazuin sacked Cubit, forcing a fumble that he recovered at the WMU 44-yard line. On third-and-goal from the 2-yard line, Archer plowed across for the first of his three second half scores.

Pacino Horne returned an interception 49 yards to the Bronco 26-yard line on the ensuing possession, and three plays later Archer burst up the middle for a 24-yard score.

Archer added his third score late in the fourth, scoring on a 16-yard run with 4:45 left to put the game away. Archer carried four times for all 45 yards on the final scoring drive.

LeFevour was an efficient 17-of-27 for 163 yards in the downpour. He spread his completions around to six different receivers, with Obed Cétoute snagging game highs of six receptions for 57 yards.

Defensively, Red Keith finished with a game-high nine tackles for CMU, while Bazuin finished with eight tackles, two sacks, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.

The Broncos were led by Brandon West's 117 yards rushing. Cubit completed just 12-of-23 passes for 59 yards.

CMU closes the regular season with a pair of conference road trips. The Chippewas visit Northern Illinois next Friday, then travel to Buffalo on Nov. 24.