Quarterback Play Will Determine Winner of MAC Championship Game

Central Michigan (10-2, 8-0) looks to run the table in the Mid-American Conference with a win against East Division Champions Ohio (9-3, 7-1) in the MAC Championship game.

Both the Chippewas and Bobcats have been streaking of late, each winning their last three games, all against conference opponents.

Ohio won the East Division defeating Temple (9-3, 7-1) last week to win the MAC East title for the first time since 2006. Quarterback Theo Scott’s five touchdowns (3 pass, 2 rush) were all the Bobcats needed in the 35-17 victory.

Central Michigan won their last two MAC Championship games (2006 and 2007) and senior quarterback Dan LeFevour was the catalyst in both Chippewa victories.

I’m sure winning a third MAC Conference title would be nice, but when LeFevour looks back on his career as a Chippewa no feat would be more greater than breaking the Football Bowl Subdivision record for most total touchdowns.

Currently tied with Graham Harrell (Texas Tech) and Colt Brennan (Hawaii) with 146 touchdowns (99 passing, 46 rushing, 1 receiving), LeFevour needs one touchdown to become the all-time leader in total touchdowns.

With that being said, the winner of the 2009 MAC Championship game will be decided by which teams quarterback out plays the other.

Coming off his five touchdown performance against Temple, junior quarterback Theo Scott looks to improve on his 324 yard passing day against corner Josh Gordy and the MAC’s seventh-ranked pass defense.

There is no quarterback in the Mid-American Conference I would take over Scott other than the 2009 Vern Smith Leadership Award winner, an award presented to the conference’s top football player, and MAC Offensive Player of the Year Dan LeFevour.

LeFevour is the conference career leader in total offensive yards (15,140), attempts (1,669), completions (1,110), passing yards (12,255) and is tied for second in touchdown passes (99).

As the most underrated quarterback in college football, LeFevour will have to prove one more time why he should have been at least considered for the Heisman.

LeFevour with 39 touchdowns this season leads the most potent offense in the MAC scoring a conference best 34 points per game against the fifth-best overall defense in the conference.

In order for Scott and the Bobcats to pull out a victory Friday night they must score touchdowns when they reach the red zone. The Bobcats are eighth in the MAC in the red zone scoring on 29-of-the-40 attempts (17 TD, 12 FG) and facing the conferences second-best red zone defense will prove to be tough.

It will also be more difficult for Scott in the red zone due to an ankle injury, which could hamper his mobility, but Ohio needs him to play as well as he has in the past two weeks to pull off the upset.

While the Bobcats struggle in the red zone, the Chippewas take advantage of their red zone opportunities scoring on 50-of-the-54 attempts (43 TD, 7 FG) and they will face the second-worst red zone defense in the MAC.

It’s hard to go against the experience of LeFevour and all the gaudy stats he has produced in his career, but Theo Scott is an electrifying player and if he has time to operate he will frustrate defenses.

When it comes down to it Central Michigan’s defense is better than Ohio’s and their offense is better as well. This along with the experience of LeFevour in MAC Championship Games has me going Chippewa.

Key Stat- Ohio is 9-0 this season when quarterback Theo Scott scores multiple touchdowns.  

Injury Update-