Seniors eye win in final game

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The end of the line is coming for the senior class.

No more workouts at Kelly/Shorts Stadium in the mid-summer heat. No more training sessions in the Indoor Athletic Complex days after games.

It comes down to one last game Friday when the Central Michigan football team travels to Toledo, Ohio, to play the University of Toledo at the Glass Bowl.

“I don’t think it really has (hit me) yet,” said senior linebacker Nick Bellore. “I don’t think it will for a while. We joke that it’s our last time doing this, last time doing that – it’s gone fast.”

For CMU, the season couldn’t have gone more awry. After starting 2-1, the team took a tumble, losing six consecutive games to fall to 2-7.

They have played competitively since then, beating rival Western Michigan and falling a two-point conversion shy of pulling off an upset at Navy.

Toledo comes into the game with something to play for. Bowl eligible at 7-4 and second in the Mid-American Conference West Division at 6-1, a win coupled with an NIU loss gives both teams a share of the MAC West title.

“We don’t look at it as being a spoiler, we just want to get a win and have our seniors end on a good note,” said CMU head coach Dan Enos. “We want to get some momentum going into the offseason and we really want to get a good win on the road. We’ve had some close contests and some things we’ve done on the road, but I think it’s really important we go on the road and win.”

It will be easier said than done, however, as the Rockets have won four of their last five games, including a 33-14 win against Bowling Green on Nov. 17.

They enter Friday ranked first in the MAC in turnover margin, forcing a league-leading 30 turnovers while only giving up the ball 19 times. They also rank second in sacks with 26.

Sophomore quarterback Austin Dantin took most the snaps under center this season, going 127-of-192 for 1,254 yards and seven touchdowns. But an injury suffered in Toledo’s 42-7 win against Eastern Michigan forced head coach Tim Beckman to play freshman Terrance Owens.

In five games, Owens is 58-of-104 for 808 yards and nine touchdowns, while only throwing two interceptions.

“I just want us to continue to play well,” Enos said. “I want to see us get a good win on the road, want us to be physical and play hard. When we run into some adversity on Friday, I want us to respond like we did in the last couple weeks.”

In addition to Bellore, linebacker Matt Berning, wide receiver Kito Poblah and running back Carl Volny are among 13 seniors that will play in their final game.

“Things haven’t gone nearly as planned, but as weird as it may sound, I’m more proud of this team more than any team I’ve played on just because we haven’t had guys quit,” Bellore said. “Everyone comes to work every day and that’s hard when we’re 3-8. A lot of teams would just pack it in and I don’t think we’ve done that, and that’s a testament to the character we have on this team.”

Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. The game can be heard on the CMU Sports Network and watched on ESPN3.com.