MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. (AP) -Dan LeFevour completed 18 of 27 passes for 172 yards and rushed for another 42 yards as Central Michigan rolled past Northern Illinois Saturday 35-10.
Northern Illinois amassed 522 offensive yards, but committed five turnovers, failed on two fourth-down attempts and missed a 21-yard field goal.
The conference win for the Chippewas (2-3, 2-0 Mid-American) was the first over the Huskies since 1997, ending a nine-game losing streak to Northern Illinois (1-4, 0-2).
Central Michigan jumped out to an early 14-0 lead after LeFevour caught a 32-yard touchdown pass from receiver Duane Brooks. The Huskies countered by scoring their lone touchdown on a 92-yard pass from Dan Nicholson to Matt Simon just 18 seconds later.
But Antonio Brown took the ensuing kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown, pushing the Central Michigan's lead back to 14 points. Brown also caught seven passes for 74 yards, while Justin Hoskins rushed for 93 yards on 14 carries.
The Chippewas pushed their lead to 28-7 early in the second quarter after the Huskies fumbled the following kickoff. Five plays later, LeFevour scored on a 2-yard run.
Defensively, Red Keith had 10 tackles, forced a fumble and had an interception to lead the Chippewa defense.
Nicholson was 21 of 41 passing for 293 yards for the Huskies, while Simon caught nine passes for 205 yards. Running back Justin Anderson had 157 yards rushing.
