Detroit, MI -- (Sports Network) - Chris Summers kicked a 40-yard field goal as time expired to lift Purdue past Central Michigan, 51-48, in the 11th annual Motor City Bowl at Ford Field.

Curtis Painter completed 35-of-54 passes for a school record 546 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions for the Boilermakers (8-5), who won their first bowl game in their last four appearances in postseason play.

Dustin Keller led the aerial attack with seven catches for 150 yards and a score while Kory Sheets ran for a pair of touchdowns for Purdue, which also beat Central Michigan, 45-22, at West Lafayette back in early September.

Greg Orton had nine receptions for 136 yards and a touchdown and Jake Standeford had eight grabs for 112 yards with a score in the victory.

Dan LeFevour threw four touchdowns and ran for two more for the Chippewas (8-6), who captured the Motor City Bowl last year with a 31-14 victory over Middle Tennessee. LeFevour ended 17-of-34 passing with 292 yards and also racked up 114 yards on the ground.

"It was a heck of a college football game. It may go down as one of the best bowl games, at least that I've ever been a part of," said CMU coach Butch Jones, who is reportedly a candidate to take over the head coaching position at West Virginia.

Bryan Anderson was LeFevour's favorite target, catching seven passes for 129 yards with three touchdowns for CMU, which came back from a 21-point deficit at the half.

After blowing a 21-point lead in the third quarter, Purdue regained its lead with 8:19 to play in the fourth frame after Jaycen Taylor took the ball on a draw play and after a 13-yard run, dove for the right pylon for a touchdown to make it 48-41.

The Boilermakers then forced the Chippewas to punt on their ensuing possession and after getting the ball back, ate up the clock and punted the ball back to CMU with just 2:15 remaining.

With no timeouts left, LeFevour still managed to tie the game for his team with 1:09 to go after lofting a 20-yard touchdown pass down the left sideline to Anderson.

Not to be outdone, Painter quickly moved Purdue inside Central Michigan territory after a pass to Orton. After an incomplete pass, two more completions put the Boilermakers at the 20-yard line. Painter then took a three-yard loss to put his kicker between the hash marks, setting up Summers' game-winning kick.

"I wasn't as nervous as I had been in the past," Summers admitted. "I knew if I stuck with the fundamentals, I would be all right."

After CMU took an early lead, the Boilermakers jumped in front 7-3 with 6:19 remaining in the opening quarter after Sheets powered his way into the end zone from one-yard out.

With 2:54 to play in the first quarter, the Boilermakers extended their lead to 14-3 as Painter found Orton open down the left sideline for a 29-yard touchdown reception.

The Chippewas pulled within 14-6 with just 23 seconds left in the first quarter after Andrew Aguila kicked a 47-yard field goal.

Purdue quickly responded to Central Michigan's three points as on the first play from scrimmage following Aguila's field goal, Keller had a 62-yard catch- and-run TD reception to make it 21-6 heading into the second quarter.

After two field goals in the second stanza by Summers made it a 21-point contest, the Chippewas pulled within 27-13 after LeFevour connected with Anderson for a 49-yard TD pass.

The Boilermakers went into the locker room up 21 points as Sheets rushed into the end zone from two yards out on a 4th-and-goal in the final seconds of the second stanza.

CMU opened the third quarter with a touchdown, but Purdue quickly made it 41-20 on Standeford's 19-yard TD catch.

A resilient Chippewas squad continued to claw and fight back and pulled within 14 points after LeFevour found Anderson wide open in the end zone with 10:19 left in the third.

LeFevour then used his feet rather than his arm to pull CMU even closer as his nine-yard TD scamper with 5:02 on the third quarter clock made it 41-34.

After recovering a fumble deep inside Purdue territory, the Chippewas completed their comeback and tied the game late in the third quarter after LeFevour danced into the end zone for a four-yard score.

Game Notes:

Purdue improved to 8-7 all-time in bowl games...The Boilermakers have won all four meetings with Central Michigan...Painter's passing yards were a Motor City Bowl record...Purdue ended with 587 total yards of offense while the Chippewas had 435...The Boilermakers defense notched six sacks.