Chippewas Hold Youth Clinic, Spring Game

MOUNT PLEASANT - Central Michigan's football team opened the gates to Kelly/Shorts Stadium Friday for the public and the media for the 2011 spring football game.

The Chippewas started the festivities by hosting a youth clinic at 5:30 p.m. Players signed autographs in the Indoor Athletic Complex and held six different skill stations for the kids on the field. Approximately 225 youths were in attendance.

Several former Chippewas returned to Kelly/Shorts Stadium for Friday's spring game, including current NFL players Dan LeFevour , Frank Zombo and Joe Staley who met with the local media prior to the spring game.

After some position and individual drills, the offense (maroon) took on the defense (white) in a scrimmage format.

"As a coaching staff, we like this format," said Central Michigan head coach Dan Enos . "We got a lot of situations in. We had a chance to look at our kicking game live, had a chance to work our base packages, our red zone and our third down.

"Like any other spring game, there was the good, the bad and the ugly," Enos added. "At times I did not think we tackled very well on defense, but also saw some running backs make some people miss. We still have to get better in a lot of areas, but overall I loved our team's attitude and it was a good night."

In the first session of the scrimmage, two maroon running backs broke long runs for touchdowns. Senior Paris Cotton broke a 51-yard run and redshirt freshman Austin White answered with a 48-yard run.

In the second session, sophomore Connor Odykirk blocked a punt and junior Steve Winston forced and recovered a fumble for the white team. Sophomore running back Zurlon Tipton added a score for the maroon team with a 9-yard run.

Junior quarterback Ryan Radcliff threw two touchdown passes in the third session. Sophomore Jordan McConnell caught a 12-yard pass and junior Cody Wilson caught a 5-yard slant pass. Sophomore kicker David Harman ended the third session with a 30-yard field goal in addition to his five extra points.

In a punt scenario before the fifth session, Cotton returned a punt 65 yards to add another score for the maroon team.

At the end of the fifth session, Harman lined up for a 25-yard field goal attempt. Junior Lorenzo White tackled holder Cody Wilson after a botched snap to prevent the maroon team from converting on fourth down.

The spring game concluded with Harman making three-of-five field goal attempts with a long of 34 yards in wet, blustery conditions.

Friday's spring game was the 15th and final spring practice date for the Chippewas in 2011.