In Pictures: Central Michigan Chippewas vs. Toledo Rockets

It was a busy day at Kelly/Shorts Stadium on Friday afternoon, as Central Michigan (8-4, 6-2 MAC) hosted the Toledo Rockets (6-6, 3-5 MAC) for a Black Friday game to determine both the fate of the MAC West and the bowl fates of a handful of MAC teams sitting on the bowl bubble.

The game itself wasn’t terribly competitive, but it did result in CMU securing its first outright MAC West division title since 2009, with the Dan LeFevour/Antonio Brown era Chippewas.

It was also Senior Day for the Chippewas, who said goodbye to 14 players on Friday prior to kickoff. (We got pictures of 13; apologies to Sean Adesanya, as I wasn’t in the right position before the handshake.)

We patrolled on the field during pre-game ceremonies, the whole of the first quarter, the first drive of the second quarter, and the last five minutes of the fourth to bring you these 109 images of the action.

Enjoy!

Grid View

• Cameron Cole and Jim McElwain clasp hands during Senior Day ceremonies. James H. Jimenez
• Thaddeus Cornick and Jim McElwian shake hands during Senior Day ceremonies. James H. Jimenez
• D’Andre Dill and Jim McElwian shake hands during Senior Day ceremonies. James H. Jimenez
• Quinten Dormady and Jim McElwain shake hands and share a smile during Senior Day ceremonies.
• Steve Eipper and Jim McElwain shake hands during Senior Day ceremonies. James H. Jimenez
• Da’Quaun Jamison and Jim McElwain shake hands during pregame ceremonies. James H. Jimenez
• Senior players from the CMU football team await their turn to shake hands with the head coach. James H. Jimenez
• Tommy Lazzaro shakes hands with Jim McElwain during Senior Day ceremonies. James H. Jimenez
• Michael Oliver shakes hands with Jim McElwain during Senior Day ceremonies. James H. Jimenez
• Ryan Tice and Jim McElwain shake hands during Senior Day ceremonies. James H. Jimenez
• Oge Udeogu shakes hands and shares a laugh with Jim McElwain during Senior Day ceremonies. James H. Jimenez
• Clay Walderzak and Jim McElwian share a very business-like handshake during Senior Day ceremonies. James H. Jimenez
• Jonathan Ward and Jim McElwain share a handshake during Senior Day ceremonies. James H. Jimenez
• Michael Oliver poses with family during Senior Day ceremonies. James H. Jimenez
• Ryan Tice poses with family during Senior Day ceremonies.
• Central Michigan cheerleaders cheer during the fight song. James H. Jimenez
• Students participate in the alma mater hand claps. James H. Jimenez
• Students participate in the alma mater hand claps. James H. Jimenez
• Toledo cheerleaders pose for the National Anthem.
• Bryce Mitchell leads the Toledo Rockets out of the makeshift tunnel. James H. Jimenez
• The Toledo football walk out of the tunnel to arrive at Kelly/Shorts. James H. Jimenez
• Head coach Jason Candle watches intensely as the Rockets run onto the field. James H. Jimenez
• Ronnie Jones catches the kickoff and initiates his return vs. CMU. James H. Jimenez
• Ronnie Jones returns the opening kickoff.
• Reggie Gilliam goes into motion while Cater Bradley and Bryant Roback await the snap. James H. Jimenez
• Bryant Koback takes the snap while Carter Bradley continues the passing motion on the read option play. James H. Jimenez
• The offensive line sets up blocks as Bryant Koback runs off tackle for a gain. James H. Jimenez
• Carter Bradley reads the defense as Bryant Koback approaches the ball. James H. Jimenez
• Toledo and CMU prepare for the next snap. James H. Jimenez
• The CMU Marching Band reacts to the Toledo Rockets drive, as Carter Bradley calls for the snap. James H. Jimenez
• Carter Bradley looks to the sideline for the playcall, flanked by Reggie Gilliam and Shakif Seymour in the pistol formation. James H. Jimenez
• Drew Rosi awaits the snap on offense, looking to the sideline official to set. James H. Jimenez
• Carter Bradley and the Toledo offense set up in front of the CMU Marching Band. James H. Jimenez
• The Toledo Blue Crew looks on as Central Michigan drives down the field on offense. James H. Jimenez
• Luke Doerger and Yazeed Atariwa take instruction from an assistant coach on the sideline. James H. Jimenez
• Cross Wilkinson wears the headset and looks over some game notes during play. James H. Jimenez
• A CMU fan reacts to a Tyrone Scott score in the first quarter. James H. Jimenez
• CMU fans react to a Tyrone Scott touchdown in the first quarter. James H. Jimenez
• The CMU Color Guard dances as the fight song plays in the first quarter. James H. Jimenez
• CMU cheerleaders run with the big “Flying C” flags after the Tyrone Scott touchdown. James H. Jimenez
• IMG sideline reporter Adam Jaksa looks on as both teams take the field for a kickoff.
• CMU head coach Jim McElwain reacts to a kickoff scrum happening in front of the sideline. James H. Jimenez
• Toledo defenders hold up Willie Reid as Ronnie Jones attempts to slip through incoming gunners on a kickoff return. James H. Jimenez
• Tyden Ferris, Luke Goedeke and Oge Udeogu look up at the video board and react to a play. James H. Jimenez
• A fan poses for the camera. (She asked for a picture, and I couldn’t say no.) James H. Jimenez
• Robi Stuart and Devonni Reed share a tackle-for-loss on Bryant Koback. James H. Jimenez
• Carter Bradley sits up after a sack while Robi Stuart celebrates over him after getting the sack. James H. Jimenez
• Robi Stuart and his teammates gather around Carter Bradley after a sack. James H. Jimenez
• CMU and Toledo set up for a play late in the first quarter. James H. Jimenez
• Multiple Toledo defenders attempt to take down Jonathan Ward on a run for first down. James H. Jimenez
• Devonni Reed talks to a teammate about a defensive assignment while Da’Quaun Jamison looks on. James H. Jimenez
• A member of Jonathan Ward’s family holds up a sign and cheers during the first quarter of action. Central Michigan Chippewas, Central Michigan football
• Chris McDonald Jr. talks with the back judge after a play. James H. Jimenez
• Jordan Fisher lines up over the center and looks at Tommy Lazzaro, who awaits the snap. James H. Jimenez
• Tommy Lazzaro hands the ball to the back judge after scoring a touchdown to put CMU up 14-0 in the first quarter. James H. Jimenez
• Tommy Lazzaro and Hunter Buczkowski embrace in mid-air after a touchdown run, James H. Jimenez
• Steve Eipper lifts Tommy Lazzaro in the air to celebrate Lazzaro’s touchdown in the first quarter. James H. Jimenez
• CMU cheerleaders run with the small flags after a touchdown. James H. Jimenez
• The reverse side of the “Flying C” flags can be seen during the celebration of the touchdown run. James H. Jimenez
• Two fans hold up a sign to support their family member in the CMU Marching Band. James H. Jimenez
• Bernhard Raimann talks with teammates after a touchdown run in the first quarter. James H. Jimenez
• CMU assistant coaches talk with the quarterbacks on the bench. James H. Jimenez
• A view of Daniel Richardson’s Xenith helmet. Central Michigan football, Central Michigan Chippewas, CMU helmet
• A CMU assistant coach talks to Thaddeus Cornick during a pause in play. James H. Jimenez
• JaCorey Sullivan, Ben Maleszyk, Alec Muck and the rest of the CMU receivers receive instructions from their receivers coach. James H. Jimenez
• Tommy Lazzaro gets ready to go into the game. James H. Jimenez
• George Douglas picks up a water bottle after a key defensive series. James H. Jimenez
• Jacques Bristol warms up on an exercise bike and jokes with teammates on the sideline. James H. Jimenez
• Quinten Dormady attempts to evade Samuel Womack on a read option look. James H. Jimenez
• Kahlil Robinson waits for the play to begin as Quinten Dormady scans the defense prior to the snap. James H. Jimenez
• Action shot of Tommy Lazzaro shooting the gap on a touchdown run in the second quarter. James H. Jimenez
• Tommy Lazzaro trots into the endzone on a touchdown run early in the second quarter to push the score to 21-0. James H. Jimenez
• Bernhard Raimann greets Tommy Lazzaro in the endzone after his touchdown run, with Steve Eipper coming over to celebrate as well.
• Tommy Lazzaro embraces teammates Steve Eipper and Jonathan Ward after scoring his second touchdown of the day. James H. Jimenez
• Fans dressed as Santa and Mrs. Claus pose for the camera during the second quarter. James H. Jimenez
• Toledo cheerleaders dance during play late in the fourth quarter. James H. Jimenez
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• Carter Bradley has a conversation with Bryant Roback after a failed possession.
• Members of the Toledo Blue Crew dance along with cheerleaders during play late in the fourth quarter. James H. Jimenez
• Members of the Toledo Blue Crew dance along with cheerleaders during play late in the fourth quarter. James H. Jimenez
• George Douglas and Devonni Reed interact after a successful defensive stop late in the fourth quarter. James H. Jimenez
• George Douglas interacts with the crowd late in the late fourth quarter. James H. Jimenez
• Jim McElwain, with a wet jacket, smiles at the video board as CMU wraps up the game. James H. Jimenez
• Ice cubes lie on the playing field after Jim McElwain is dunked in Gatorade. James H. Jimenez
• Jim McElwain and two assistant coaches share a laugh as the clock winds down prior to the end of the CMU/Toledo game. James H. Jimenez
• The CMU football team runs onto the field after the clock strikes zero to celebrate. James H. Jimenez
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• Kalil Pimpleton is all smiles as he embraces Jim McElwain. Jason Candle is walking over to shake hands as well. James H. Jimenez
• Tico Brown puts a finger in the air to signify that CMU is #1 in post-game festivities. James H. Jimenez
• Branden Barker (49), Mark Pattrio (13) and Devonni Reed (5) celebrate as the CMU football team sprints to the CMU Marching Band. James H. Jimenez
• Jonathan Ward, Michael Oliver and Da’Quaun Jamison lead CMU in the traditional performance of the fight song post-victory. James H. Jimenez
• CMU cheerleaders sing along to the fight song during post-game victory celebrations. James H. Jimenez
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• Tyrone Scott poses for pictures with loved ones post-game. James H. Jimenez
• D’Andre Dill interacts with family post-game. James H. Jimenez
• Troy Hairston and Chuck Jones interact with their respective family members post-game. James H. Jimenez
• Kalil Pimpleton poses for pictures post-game. James H. Jimenez
• Kalil Pimpleton embraces CMU director of player personnel Albert Karschnia during post-game celebrations. James H. Jimenez
• Various members of the CMU football team pose for a photo in the endzone during post-game celebrations. James H. Jimenez