Western Kentucky Hilltoppers vs Central Michigan Chippewas Match Player Stats On Dec 26, 2012

SportsDirect Inc. staff
Dec 26, 2012

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.