Football faces new scenario since last meeting against Ohio

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The scenario was quite different the last time the Central Michigan football team took on the Ohio Bobcats.

Instead of looking to end a disappointing season on a high point, the Chippewas were one win away from a Mid-American Conference title – and they got it.

Dan LeFevour threw for 255 yards, two scores and CMU won 20-10 against OU.

Now, junior quarterback Ryan Radcliff finds himself leading a 3-7 team coming off a 24-21 loss at the hands of Kent State, just itching to play a full four quarters of football.

“We’re a resilient team,” said head coach Dan Enos. “We’ve been in a lot of these games and I hate to say we’re getting used to it because we’re not, it hurts.”

Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Kelly/Shorts Stadium. The Chippewas return home after a three-game road streak, still bogged down with injuries.

Junior wideout Cody Wilson (lower-body injury) will miss his second consecutive game, forcing the team’s young receiver core to continue to shine.

Freshman Titus Davis is coming off a 10-catch, 192-yard performance Friday and freshman Courtney Williams added 47 yards on six receptions.

“Cody is great and over the summer he taught me a lot when we’d come out here and throw and he would help me with my routes,” Davis said. “Without him, it’s been a big loss — he’s a great player and a great teammate.”

With Davis’ big game last week, his 577 receiving yards ranks first on the team, with Wilson’s 522 yards coming in second. Davis and Williams are tied for second in touchdowns, scoring (four) behind tight end Davis Blackburn’s five.

“Titus Davis is very good,” Enos said. “He had a huge game and we see him get better every week and that’s credit to coach (Taylor) Stubblefield. They’re working on the little things and we’re seeing those things show up in games.”

The offensive line that has been key this season continues to be dealt bad news.

Junior Eric Fisher joins senior Rocky Weaver on the list of linemen out for the season after suffering a knee injury against Kent State.

“(Weaver and Fisher) are great guys, great O-linemen and we look up to them as leaders,” Davis said. “It was hard to lose them, but we’ve had guys step in and do a good job.”

Defensively, Enos expects senior Mike Petrucci to be back in the lineup at linebacker after missing the last four games. The defensive captain’s return is much needed for a young team lacking leadership on the field.

“(Petrucci’s) a great leader on the field and we’ve really missed him,” said cornerback John Carr. “The young guys have played well, but him coming back out there will really help us out.”

If Petrucci is cleared to play, the linebacker core will finally be back in full swing for the first time since week two against Kentucky, just in time for a strong Ohio team.

The Bobcats come into Mount Pleasant with a scoring offense ranked third in the MAC (32.2 ppg) and a defense ranked second (21.6 ppg).

“Their quarterback is playing very well right now and progressing as the year goes on,” Enos said.

Offensively, quarterback Tyler Tettleton will be at the helm, leading an upperclassman-laden team. Senior running back Donte Harden averages 99.7 yards on the ground and senior receiver LaVon Brazill averages 81.6 receiving.

When it comes to defending a quality receiver like Brazill, Carr said he enjoys the challenge.

“It’s not football unless you go up against someone who’s good and you always want to see how you compare against someone else,” he said. “It’s going to be a fun day.”

CMU has won four straight against the Bobcats and lead the all-time series 21-4-2.