LIFE CENTRAL MICHIGAN
FRIday, nov. 21, 2014 | MOUNT PLEASANT, MICH. | ISSUE NO. 39 VOL. 96
Clash for the Cannon
#BEATWESTERN
By Taylor DesOrmeau | Senior Reporter
N
o moment of the 2014 Central Michigan University football season has been more anticipated than the one that has now finally arrived. The Central Michigan University vs. Western Michigan University football game is a passionate battle for the Victory Cannon Trophy and a year’s worth of bragging rights.
Aside from CMU (7-4, 5-2 MAC) playing its biggest rival, senior wide receiver Titus Davis and senior linebacker Justin Cherocci have Broncos for brothers. In addition, both WMU sophomore Corey Davis and redshirt sophomore Lucas Cherocci have the same numbers and positions as their older brothers. “(We’ve) been talking a little bit (this week),” Justin Cherocci said. “But then we had to stop talking. It was just getting intense.” For Cherocci, the rivalry goes beyond sibling competition. “This is the game I’ve had circled,” Cherocci said. “I’ve got a little personal vendetta with them, so we’re going to be ready. It’s going to be a dogfight. We are not losing.” Titus Davis is having another record-breaking year as a Chippewa, his younger brother has more receptions and yards and has the same number of touchdowns as his maroon and gold-clad older brother. “It has been an emotional time for me,” Davis said. “To be able to end my final game at Kelly/Shorts (Stadium) with a win over (WMU) would mean everything.” The team that wins Saturday is guaranteed to finish above the other in the Mid-American Conference West Division standings and would likely be invited to a more prestigious bowl game. CMU and WMU come into the game with 14 combined wins. This will be the third time the two teams have 14 or more wins between them heading into a game against each other. The last time that happened was in
1980. “We want to keep the lion in the cage and play with controlled rage,” said Head Coach Dan Enos. The Broncos come to Mount Pleasant on a five-game winning streak with an average margin of victory of 22.4 points per game. “It doesn’t really matter in these types of games,” Enos said. “You can throw it out the window when 1:04 (p.m.) hits and that ball gets teed off. It’s going to be
very intense.” With Toledo’s win over Bowling Green University on Wednesday, the Chippewas are mathematically out of the MAC West race. A loss for WMU Saturday would also eliminate the Broncos from the MAC West title game. “Anytime you play Western Michigan it’s going to be a dogfight,” said senior offensive
C entral v s. W estern 2 0 1 4 w When: 1 p.m. Saturday, Kelly-Shorts Stadium, Mt. Pleasant
w Series: WMU leads 45-372 all-time w Last year: CMU won 27-22
w Records: WMU 7-3 (5-1 MAC); CMU 7-4 (5-2 MAC)
w Online: ESPN3.com
w Coaches: WMU: P.J. Fleck (8-14, 2nd year); CMU: Dan Enos (26-34, 5th year)
For the full history of the CMU vs. WMU football rivalry, see page 2.
tackle Andy Phillips. “There just happens to be a little bit more on the line than usual.” Adding fuel to the game, both teams feature a hard-nosed running back looking to bounce back from injury. WMU freshman Jarvion Frank-
lin, who is second in the nation with 22 rushing scores and seventh in yardage with 1,356 yards, suffered an ankle injury last week against Eastern Michigan University but is expected to play Saturday. CMU senior rusher Thomas Rawls has not played an entire game since the Nov. 18 loss against Ball State. Enos went to Rawls three times for 16 yards last week against Miami (Ohio) before being taken out as a “precautionary” measure. “I played a few plays and it was great to be out there and get the feel of game action,” Rawls said. Rawls averages 171.17 rushing yards per game in his six full games this year.