LeFevour Leading the Way

Since losing their opening game to Arizona, Central Michigan has gone on a tear winning their last six consecutive games while outscoring opponents by a 235-92 margin.  The Chippewas' offensive juggernaut is lead by senior quarterback Dan LeFevour, who threw for 238 yards and two touchdowns in 34-23 win over Western Michigan last week. 

LeFevour was recently named the West Division Offensive Player of the Week, which is just the latest of many accolades he has received this season.  With a perfect 4-0 conference record on the line, the Chippewas will hit the road for the second straight week to take on a Bowling Green squad that is fresh off a road victory over Ball State.  The Falcons are 2-1 and in third place in the East.

"We still have a lot of work left to do," said LeFevour, whose 70 percent completion rate ranks second in the nation only behind Arizona's Nick Foles (73.89).  "Even though we've had some big wins, you have to have that mentality to stay focused for the next one."

The mentality has worked well in big games for Central Michigan this season, especially during a 29-27 stunning road win against Big Ten foe Michigan State back on Sept. 12.  In that contest LeFevour was 33-of-46 passing for 328 yards and three touchdowns which was enough to break Byron Leftwich's conference record of 12,084 total career yards. 

"It means a lot to have that record," said LeFevour who is also the only player in Bowl Subdivision history to record 10,000 career passing yards along with 2,500 career rushing yards.  "There are a lot of other great players who deserve it and I know if Ben Roethlisberger had stayed for his senior year or if Leftwich had played more early on, it might be different.  So I take it for what it's worth, but it's a great feeling."

When the two teams kickoff on Saturday, it might be the only time all season that Bowling Green's cross town rival, Toledo, will be pulling for them to win as the Rockets are only one and one-half games out of first in the West Division.  For Central Michigan, however, it will be another opportunity for LeFevour to move up the record books and for the team to notch another conference victory, two things that have proven to be pretty consistent this season.

By Bryan D'Andrea