Dan LeFevour leads No. 25 Central Michigan to 44-31 2 OT win over Troy in GMAC Bowl

LeFevour leads C. Michigan to 44-41 win over Troy

MOBILE, Ala. — Dan LeFevour put on one last show, Andrew Aguila kicked five field goals, including the 37-yard game-winner in double overtime, and No. 25 Central Michigan beat Troy 44-41 in the GMAC Bowl on Wednesday night.

LeFevour had 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 on the day he moved into second place in the Football Bowl Subdivision’s career total yards list.

“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.”

Vince Agnew blocked Michael Taylor’s 31-yard field-goal attempt to start the second overtime and Central Michigan played it conservative before Aguila set a GMAC record with his fifth field goal.

The Trojans (9-4) led much of the game behind DuJuan Harris’ three touchdowns. But after taking a 31-19 lead midway through the fourth quarter, they gave up a 95-yard kickoff return to Antonio Brown, then allowed LeFevour to complete 8 of 11 passes for 90 yards before finding Bryan Anderson for a 4-yard score.

The drive was in stark contrast to the rest of the game. The Chippewas and LeFevour were sluggish and plagued by small mistakes that kept Aguila busy. He hit from 28, 35, 44 and 42 yards in regulation, keeping Central Michigan in it until LeFevour rallied the team from 12 points down.

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

“I think Dan was a little uncomfortable most of the game, but he found a way to scramble and made plays,” Troy coach Larry Blankney said. “That’s a tribute to him and their offensive unit.”

The game was expected to be an offensive duel between LeFevour and Troy’s Levi Brown, but Brown had a definite advantage early.

He completed 31 of 56 passes for 386 yards and became the 41st quarterback to pass for 4,000 yards in a single season. The senior opened the scoring with a 9-yard pass to Harris and was sharp on third down as the Trojans converted 13 of 20.

Harris rushed for 112 yards and scored rushing touchdowns of 6 and 1 yards. The last score midway through the fourth quarter appeared to put the Trojans out of reach, but Brown had different plans.

He took the ensuing kickoff up the right side and raced nearly untouched to the end zone to cut the lead to 31-26. He also scored on a 7-yard touchdown run and finished with 403 all-purpose yards (178 receiving on 13 catches, 203 on kickoff returns and 22 rushing).

“This is the moment people remember,” LeFevour said. “For a lot of seniors, this will be the last time they play football. We wanted to end it the right way.”