DETROIT — Central Michigan and Middle Tennessee State both came away from the Motor City Bowl convinced their programs will benefit from the experience.

Only one coach knows for sure that he'll be around to find out if that's true.

Led by interim coach Jeff Quinn, the Chippewas scored on their first two drives and added another score on defense early in the second half to beat the Blue Raiders 31-14 in the Motor City Bowl Tuesday night.

Quinn said the momentum generated by Central Michigan's first 10-win season since 1979 will help recruiting and will give a boost to returning players, who got a taste of success.

He acknowledged loving the experience of being a head coach just three weeks after Brian Kelly was wooed away by the Cincinnati Bearcats, but wasn't interested in lobbying for the job after leading the Chippewas to their first Division I-A bowl victory.

"Certainly, they made a statement and it's great to know they followed my lead," he said. "But it's really about them. They didn't win this game for Jeff Quinn."

Middle Tennessee State (7-6) played in a Division I-A bowl for the first time in its eighth season at college football's highest level.

"What Middle Tennessee did today, you can't put a price tag on it," first-year coach Rick Stockstill said. "It will help us short-term and long-term, and I'll forever be indebted to these guys."

Running back Eugene Gross, who scored in the second quarter to pull the Blue Raiders within a TD, said the program will be able to build on the breakthrough season.