Spring Practice #12: Spring Game This Friday

MOUNT PLEASANT - Central Michigan University held its 12th spring football practice Saturday morning at a sun-splashed Kelly/Shorts Stadium. The two-hour session included 45 minutes of situational 11-on-11 drills, including an extensive red-zone period.

The first portion of the red zone period featured a 7-on-7 format with the ball snapped from the 20-yard line for each play. The defense held the offense out of the end zone on eight of the first nine snaps, with a Kyle Smith pass breakup in the end zone and a John Carr interception at the goal line spurring the effort.

The offense rebounded with five straight completions, including touchdown throws from A.J. Westendorp to Tim Phillips and Ryan Radcliff to Cedric Fraser .

Zurlon Tipton scored a pair of touchdowns in the second red zone segment, which was 11-on-11 and allowed the offense to advance the ball. On the first snap, Tipton bounced a run outside around the left end and scored on an 18-yard run. After the offense stalled and missed a field goal on its second series, Tipton turned a third-and-10 screen pass into a 17-yard touchdown on the third series.

David Harman closed the practice by converting 6-of-8 field goals from a variety of distances and field locations. He connected on a long of 47 yards and just pushed right a 49-yarder from the right hash.

Central Michigan is back on the practice field Tuesday morning. The Chippewas also practice Thursday prior to Friday's spring game at Kelly/Shorts Stadium.

Spring Game April 15: CMU's spring game will kick off at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, April 15. For the third straight year, the CMU football team will sign autographs and host a youth skills clinic prior to the game. Both the clinic and spring game are free.