Central Michigan 24, Western Kentucky 21: Chippewas take Little Caesars Pizza Bowl
Ryan Radcliff was 19-for-29 for 253 yards and three touchdowns as Central Michigan defeated Western Kentucky, 24-21, in the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl tonight at Ford Field.
It looked as if the Chippewas retook the lead when, on fourth-and-goal from the 1, Zurlon Tipton scored on a pitch play. But after replay, Tipton's knee was down, leaving CMU less than a yard short.
But CMU (7-6) forced a three-and-out and blocked Hendrix Brakefield's punt, which eventually stopped at the WKU 27-yard line.
Three plays later, Radcliff floated a pass to the back-right corner of the end zone for Wilson, who hauled it in for an 11-yard touchdown with 5:11 remaining.
WKU drove to the CMU 19-yard line with \less than two minutes to play, but went for it on fourth-and-2. However, Kawaun Jakes' pass for Jack Doyle was incomplete, turning it over on downs.
Andrew Flory caught two of Radcliff's touchdowns and had three catches for 105 yards. Wilson had 10 grabs for 101 yards. Tipton had 23 carries for 101 yards.
Kawaun Jakes was 14-for-24 for 199 yards and a touchdown. Antonio Andrews had 27 rushes for 119 yards.
The Hilltoppers (7-6) took the lead in the third quarter after 16-play, 80-yard drive that took 9 minutes, 23 seconds ended with Kadeem Jones' 1-yard TD run.
On the game's opening possession, Radcliff hit Flory for a 69-yard touchdown pass. But not even two minutes later, WKU tied the game on Jakes' 6-yard run. Later in the first, Radcliff found Flory again, this time for a 29-yard scoring pass.
In the second quarter, David Harman tied a Pizza Bowl record with a 50-yard field
goal. But the Hilltoppers answered with a six-play, 75-yard drive that ended with a
Jakes throwing in to the back of the end zone where Doyle made a leaping, one-
hand catch for 6 yards. CMU led, 17-14, at halftime.