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Central Michigan tops Northern Illinois 45-31

Nov 27, 2009 - 9:27 PM MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich.(AP) -- Dan LeFevour threw for 255 yards and three touchdowns in the final home game of his record-setting career, leading Central Michigan to a 45-31 victory against Northern Illinois on Friday.

The Chippewas (10-2, 8-0 Mid-American Conference), who wrapped up the MAC West title last week, head to the conference championship game to face Ohio University at Ford Field in Detroit next Friday. CMU finished unbeaten in conference play for the first time in school history.

Bryan Anderson caught three passes for Central Michigan to set an NCAA all-divisions record with at least one reception in 52 straight games. The previous record of 51 was held by Tauren Henderson of Texas Tech and Michael Larkin of Miami of Ohio.

Bryan Schroeder rushed for 128 yards and two touchdowns on nine carries for Central Michigan and also had a 13-yard touchdown reception on a screen pass from LeFevour in the first quarter to open the scoring.

After exchanging field goals, Central Michigan extended its lead over the Huskies (7-5, 5-3) to 17-3 when LeFevour found Kito Poblah for a 16-yard touchdown pass.

LeFevour, who in his four seasons as a starter at CMU has rewritten the school record book, finished 27 of 41 in his final game at Kelly/Shorts Stadium.

Northern Illinois scored its first touchdown of the game with 5:12 left in the first half when Landon Cox scored on a 32-yard touchdown pass from Chandler Harnish to cut the score to 17-10.

But the Chippewas answered with a 78-yard, 13-play drive, capped by Schroeder's 5-yard TD run to make it 24-10 at halftime.

The second half opened with Schroeder scoring on an 80-yard touchdown run on the first play from scrimmage. The run was the longest of Schroeder's career and gave him a new career high in rushing yards for a game.

LeFevour threw his third touchdown pass to Anderson for 16 yards in the third quarter to put the Chippewas ahead 38-10.

The touchdown pass was the 99th of LeFevour's career, one behind Marshall's Chad Pennington for the MAC record of 100.

Northern Illinois scored two touchdowns in the fourth quarter, with Patrick George intercepting Central Michigan backup quarterback Ryan Radcliff and returning it 80 yards for a touchdown.

Chad Spann added a 6-yard touchdown run to make it 38-24.

CMU senior defensive end Frank Zombo capped the scoring for CMU with 27-yard interception return.

Harnish added a 7-yard touchdown pass to Marcus Lewis and finished 17 of 28 for 206 yards.

Spann rushed for 76 yards on 15 carries.