College Football
BOXSCORE | RECAP
Central Michigan 24, Western Kentucky 21
When: 7:30 PM ET, Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Where: Ford Field, Detroit, Michigan
Temperature: Dome
Head Official: David Epperley
Attendance: 23310

Central Michigan 24, Western Kentucky 21: Ryan Radcliff connected with Cody Wilson for an 11-yard touchdown with 5:11 to play as the Chippewas rallied past the Hilltoppers to win the Little Caesars Bowl in Detroit.

Radcliff finished with 253 yards passing and three touchdowns, leading Central Michigan (7-6) to its fourth consecutive victory. Western Kentucky (7-6) passed up a potential game-tying field goal from the Central Michigan 19 on fourth-and-2 with 51 seconds left, and Kawaun Jakes’ pass to Jack Doyle fell incomplete.

Trailing 21-17, the Chippewas appeared to take the lead on Zurlon Tipton’s 1-yard touchdown run on fourth-and-goal with 9:21 remaining. But Western Kentucky challenged the play, and officials ruled Tipton’s knee touched just shy of the goal line.

The Chippewas forced a three-and-out, deflected the ensuing punt and took possession at the Hilltoppers’ 27. Three plays later, Radcliff found Wilson on a corner route for the winning score. Radcliff hit Andrew Flory for touchdowns of 69 and 29 yards in the first quarter.

The Hilltoppers took their first lead at 21-17 on Kadeem Jones’ plunge into the end zone from 1 yard out with 1:24 left in the third quarter. Jones lost control of the ball, but after video review the officials ruled Jones broke the plane before losing possession.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Western Kentucky’s Antonio Andrews, who led the country with 2,977 all-purpose yards coming in, finished with 3,161 total yards. Andrews fell 89 yards short of breaking Barry Sanders’ NCAA record for most yards in a season. … Western Kentucky defensive coordinator and interim coach Lance Guidry directed the Hilltoppers before Bobby Petrino takes over the Western Kentucky program. … Radcliff finished 83 yards shy of reaching 10,000 passing yards for his career.
Top Game Performances
Rushing
Western Kentucky   Central Michigan
Antonio Andrews Player Zurlon Tipton
27 Attempts 23
119 Yards 101
4.4 Avg Yards 4.4
0 Touchdowns 0
0 Long 0
Receiving
Western Kentucky   Central Michigan
Rico Brown Player Andrew Flory
1 Receptions 3
70 Yards 105
70.0 Avg Yards 35.0
0 Touchdowns 2
0 Long 0
Team Stats Summary
 
  Yards Scoring Defense
Team Tot Rus Pas TD FG INT Sck FF
Western Kentucky 327 128 199 3 0 0 1.0 2
Central Michigan 399 146 253 3 1 0 1.0 2