Central Michigan Wins Motor City Bowl

DETROIT (AP) _ Central Michigan and Middle Tennessee State both came away from the Motor City Bowl convinced their programs will benefit from the experience. <br/><br/>Only one coach knows for sure that

Wednesday, December 27th 2006, 6:25 am

By: News On 6

DETROIT (AP) _ Central Michigan and Middle Tennessee State both came away from the Motor City Bowl convinced their programs will benefit from the experience.

Only one coach knows for sure that he'll be around to find out if that's true.

Led by interim coach Jeff Quinn, the Chippewas scored on their first two drives and added another score on defense early in the second half to beat the Blue Raiders 31-14 in the Motor City Bowl on Tuesday night.

Quinn said the momentum generated by Central Michigan's first 10-win season since 1979 will help recruiting and will give a boost to returning players, who got a taste of success.

He acknowledged loving the experience of being a head coach just three weeks after Brian Kelly was wooed away by the Cincinnati Bearcats, but wasn't interested in lobbying for the job after leading the Chippewas to their first Division I-A bowl victory.

``Certainly, they made a statement and it's great to know they followed my lead,'' he said. ``But it's really about them. They didn't win this game for Jeff Quinn.''

Middle Tennessee State (7-6) played in a Division I-A bowl for the first time in its eighth season at college football's highest level.

``What Middle Tennessee did today, you can't put a price tag on it,'' first-year coach Rick Stockstill said. ``It will help us short-term and long-term, and I'll forever be indebted to these guys.''

Running back Eugene Gross, who scored in the second quarter to pull the Blue Raiders within a TD, said the program will be able to build on the breakthrough season.

``We made a big step to get the experience of a bowl game,'' he said. ``It's the beginning of something special.''

Central Michigan (10-4) was effective enough at the start of each half to make sure its season ended on a winning note after losing its previous two bowl appearances _ the 1994 Las Vegas and 1990 California Raisin Bowls.

Ontario Sneed scored twice early and Doug Kress returned an interception for a TD on the first possession of the third quarter.

``You don't always win games in the fourth quarter,'' Quinn said. ``You can win in the first quarter.''

Central Michigan quarterback Dan LeFevour, who had a TD pass and ran for a score, was the MVP. Defensive end Dan Bazuin won the lineman of the game award after making eight tackles, including two sacks, deflecting a pass and helping set up the defensive score with pressure.

Kress' 56-yard return put the Mid-American Conference champions ahead by three TDs early in the third.

``That hurt,'' Middle Tennessee State quarterback Clint Marks said.

The Blue Raiders held Central Michigan to minus-6 yards on its first two drives in the second half, then DeMarco McNair's 6-yard run made it 28-14 early in the fourth quarter.

Central Michigan botched a field goal attempt on the ensuing possession, giving the Sun Belt Conference co-champions hope until McNair was stuffed at the line on a fourth-and-1 from their 29 with 5 1/2 minutes left.

That stop set up Rick Albreski's 43-yard field goal to make it 31-14.

``We had our chances and we fought till the end,'' Stockstill said. ``As a coach, that's all you can ask.''

Bazuin, an NFL prospect, left the game with a knee injury in the first half, but returned after halftime.

``I wasn't too scared,'' he insisted. ``I was glad I was able to run off the field, come back and help win the game for the Chippewas.''