Seniors say goodbyes in final game of collegiate careers

• Tweet
• 

The injury-plagued 2011 senior class capped off their final collegiate season Friday as the Central Michigan football team fell to Toledo 44-17.

As the experienced Chippewas lined the field at Kelly/Shorts Stadium, the announcer introduced each player, thanking them for their commitment to the program.

Many of those seniors were unfortunately in sweats and unable to take the field one last time.

“You can hang the word perseverance out there cause I think every single person on the senior class missed at least one game with an injury with the exception of John Carr and Brandon Fricke,” said head coach Dan Enos. “I’ve never seen anything like that in my life.”

In total, nine seniors missed time due to injury, three of them only appearing in six or less games.

Defensive co-captains John Williams and Mike Petrucci were each given the challenge of leading their team from the sidelines.

Williams suffered a season-ending injury in week four after recording 16 tackles through the first four games. He finishes his career with 94 tackles and four fumble recoveries.

Petrucci played in eight games at linebacker, recording 62 tackles. He recorded a career-high 13 tackles in his collegiate finale.

“Mike played very well,” Enos said Friday. “He’s a leader and a tough guy and does everything right. Not having him for several games this year hurt us and it was important for him to play well tonight and he did.”

Senior cornerback Taylor Bradley ended his season in week three when he tore his Achilles tendon against Western Michigan. He was replaced by John Carr, who recorded five tackles in his final game as a Chippewa.

“I wish we could have pulled it out, but I’ve got a lot of confidence in these kids and all the experience from this year will help them out next season,” Carr said, who recorded his first career interception, helping CMU beat Akron.

One of CMU’s most consistent weapons on offense this season was tight end David Blackburn, though an injury sidelined him against Toledo.

He recorded 34 receptions for 479 yards and five scores in his senior season, including a record day at Ball State in which he caught nine passes for 194 yards and two touchdowns.

“It was huge (not having Blackburn Friday) and we had some mental errors at tight end that hurt us,” Enos said. “He may not always show up on the stat sheet of having eight catches, but he did so many other things for us.”

Paris Cotton gave all he had for the Chippewas, down to the last whistle Friday, busting out a 48-yard run as the clock expired Friday. He finished the season with 409 yards on the ground and 166 through the air, despite dealing with an injury.

“That’s the CMU tradition since I’ve been here,” Cotton said. “Going all-out has been the norm and that was just another example of it.”

The senior ends his career with 1,894 rushing yards over four years at running back.

“I’m leaving here with a good taste in my mouth that the rest of the younger cast can turn this thing around,” Cotton said.

Offensive lineman Rocky Weaver holds the most starts (35) of any active Chippewas, missing the final four games of his senior season with a knee injury.

Enos allowed a couple of seniors take the field in their final collegiate game Friday.

Wide receiver Cedric Fraser caught a 22-yard pass early in the first quarter, appearing in his fourth game of the season. He finishes his career with 243 yards receiving.

Landon Carter got his third start of the season at fullback and quarterback Brandon Fricke came in for the final minute of the season, handing the ball off to Cotton.

The CMU football team says goodbye to wide receiver Jeremy Wilson, long snapper Brian Bennihoff and defensive ends Jason Chomic and Keshawn Fraser.