Central Michigan 25, Purdue 32

1234T
CMU (2-2)7301525
PUR (2-1)3771532

Final

12:00 PM ET, September 20, 2008
Ross-Ade Stadium
WEST LAFAYETTE, IN

Sheets' 46-yard TD run lifts Purdue by Central Michigan

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Team Stat Comparison
 
1st Downs2616
Total Yards440344
Passing291261
Rushing14983
Penalties7-573-30
3rd Down Conversions3-137-16
4th Down Conversions1-22-3
Turnovers22
Possession31:3128:29
Air/Ground Leaders
Central Michigan Passing
 C/ATTYDSTDINT
LeFevour25/4429122
Purdue Passing
 C/ATTYDSTDINT
Painter27/3626111
Central Michigan Rushing
 CARYDSTDLG
LeFevour24112127
Sneed921010
Purdue Rushing
 CARYDSTDLG
Sheets1791246
Siller1303
Central Michigan Receiving
 RECYDSTDLG
Bockheim474040
Sneed657217
Purdue Receiving
 RECYDSTDLG
Smith559031
Valentin157057
Scoring Summary
FIRST QUARTERCMUPUR
FG09:59Chris Summers 45 Yd 03
TD06:01Ontario Sneed 8 Yd Pass From Dan Lefevour (Andrew Aguila Kick) 73
SECOND QUARTERCMUPUR
FG05:49Andrew Aguila 32 Yd 103
TD01:27Kory Sheets 1 Yd Run (Chris Summers Kick) 1010
THIRD QUARTERCMUPUR
TD08:54Frank Duong 58 Yd Interception Return (Chris Summers Kick) 1017
FOURTH QUARTERCMUPUR
TD11:46Dan Lefevour 12 Yd Run (Andrew Aguila Kick) 1717
TD07:34Desmond Tardy 2 Yd Pass From Curtis Painter (Chris Summers Kick) 1724
TD01:18Ontario Sneed 6 Yd Pass From Dan Lefevour (Dan Lefevour Pass To Antonio Brown For Two-Point Conversion) 2524
TD01:00Kory Sheets 46 Yd Run (Curtis Painter Pass To Greg Orton For Two-Point Conversion) 2532
Associated Press

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- Kory Sheets broke loose for a 46-yard touchdown run with a minute left in the game to lift Purdue to a 32-25 victory over Central Michigan on Saturday.

Central Michigan (2-2) appeared set to pull off an upset after taking a 25-24 lead with 1:18 to go on a 6-yard touchdown pass by Dan LeFevour followed by a 2-point conversion pass to Antonio Brown.

But the Boilermakers (2-1) got a 39-yard kickoff return from Desmond Tardy and the Chippewas were hit with a 15-yard facemask penalty. On first down, Sheets took a handoff from Curtis Painter, made a cut that faked out several defenders and raced into the end zone. Painter followed with a 2-point conversion pass to Greg Orton.

Purdue's Dwight Mclean intercepted a pass by LeFevour with 27.7 seconds left to clinch the win for Purdue against a pesky Mid-American Conference opponent.

After LeFevour's 6-yard TD pass to Ontario Sneed brought Central Michigan within a point at 24-23, Chippewas coach Butch Jones opted to go for two points. The 2-point pass completion to Brown was reviewed before officials ruled it a catch, rather than a trap.

Sheets' game-winning TD gave him the school record for career touchdowns. His total of 43 surpassed Mike Alstott, who scored 42 from 1992-1995. Sheets finished with 91 yards on 17 carries.

The win also gave Purdue coach Joe Tiller the school record for career wins. His 85 victories tops the previous mark of 84 set by Jack Mollenkopf from 1956-1969.

It was the third meeting between the teams in 13 months. Purdue won 45-22 last September, then won again 51-48 in the Motor City Bowl.

Painter, who threw for a school record 546 yards in the Motor City Bowl win, passed for 261 yards and a touchdown Saturday. LeFevour passed for 291 yards and two touchdowns and ran 24 times for 112 yards and another score.

With the score tied at 10 in the third quarter, Purdue's Mike Neal hit LeFevour as he threw and forced the ball to pop into the air. Frank Duong intercepted the wobbly pass and raced 58 yards for a touchdown to give the Boilermakers a 17-10 lead.

LeFevour scored on a 12-yard run early in the fourth quarter to tie the score at 17.

Painter came up big on Purdue's next possession. On a third-and-10, he found Aaron Valentin on a slant pattern, and he broke away for a 57-yard gain. Painter found Tardy for a 2-yard touchdown with 7:34 left, and the Boilermakers took a 24-17 lead.

Purdue could have put the game away, but on a third-and-1 at the Purdue 49, Painter fumbled the snap, recovered and tried to drive for the first down. Central Michigan's LaVarus Williams stripped Painter, and Sean Murnane recovered to give the Chippewas another chance. That led to Sneed's touchdown.

College Football Scores

Other Scores:

Saturday, September 20th
Troy 10 Final
13 Ohio State 28
Temple 3 Final
16 Penn State 45
Florida Atlantic 3 Final
Minnesota 37
Iowa 20 Final
Pittsburgh 21
Central Michigan 25 Final
Purdue 32
Ohio 8 Final
Northwestern 16
Notre Dame 7 Final
Michigan State 23
Ball State 42 Final
Indiana 20