# 2009 Central Michigan Chippewas football team

The 2009 Central Michigan Chippewas football team represented Central Michigan University during the 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Central Michigan competed as a member of the Mid-American Conference (MAC) West Division. The team was coached by Butch Jones and played their home games in Kelly/Shorts Stadium. The Chippewas finished the regular season 10–2 and 8–0 in conference play, beat Ohio in the 2009 MAC Championship Game to win the MAC title and were invited to the GMAC Bowl where they defeated Sun Belt Champion Troy 44–41 in double overtime.
At the end of the season, Jones departed Central Michigan to become the head football coach at the University of Cincinnati. Steve Stripling, the defensive ends coach, became interim head coach and coached the GMAC bowl.

## Before the season
### Recruiting

College recruiting information (2009) :
| Name | Hometown | High school / college | Height | Weight | 40$^‡$ | Commit date |
| Justice Akuezue DE | Ann Arbor, MI | Huron HS | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 204 lb (93 kg) | 4.5 | Jul 30, 2008 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 40 |||||||
| Deja Alexander WR | Jacksonville, FL | First Coast HS | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 185 lb (84 kg) | - | Jan 20, 2009 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 40 |||||||
| Shamari Benton DB | Birmingham, MI | Brother Rice HS | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 194 lb (88 kg) | 4.4 | Oct 19, 2008 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 77 |||||||
| Galen Clemons LB | Northampton, PA | Northampton Area SHS | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 243 lb (110 kg) | 4.7 | Feb 3, 2009 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 40 |||||||
| Jon Czerwienski OL | Roseville, MI | Fraser HS | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 265 lb (120 kg) | - | Jul 27, 2008 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 40 |||||||
| Leron Eaddy DB | Clarksville, MD | River Hill HS | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | 185 lb (84 kg) | 4.57 | Jul 1, 2008 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 77 |||||||
| Jeff Fantuzzi OL | Macomb, MI | Dakota HS | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 276 lb (125 kg) | 5.1 | Jul 29, 2008 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 80 |||||||
| Adam Fenton LB | Birmingham, MI | Ernest W. Seaholm HS | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 204 lb (93 kg) | 4.7 | Jul 7, 2008 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 72 |||||||
| Eric Fisher OL | Rochester Hills, MI | Stoney Creek HS | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) | 260 lb (120 kg) | - | Jul 29, 2008 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 40 |||||||
| Jarrett Fleming WR | South Bend, IN | Washington HS | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 215 lb (98 kg) | - | Jul 28, 2008 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 74 |||||||
| Bobby James TE | Hobart, IN | Hobart HS | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 235 lb (107 kg) | 4.65 | Jul 23, 2008 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 77 |||||||
| Jason Johnson DB | Durand, MI | Durand Area HS | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 176 lb (80 kg) | - | Jul 11, 2008 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 65 |||||||
| Aaron Kaczmarski DE | Merrillville, IN | Merrillville HS | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) | 245 lb (111 kg) | - | Jun 27, 2008 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 40 |||||||
| Ronnie Kennedy ATH | Lauderhill, FL | Plantation HS | 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m) | 147 lb (67 kg) | - | Jan 29, 2009 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 76 |||||||
| Dominic Mainello OL | Covington, KY | Beechwood HS | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 245 lb (111 kg) | 4.9 | Jul 29, 2008 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 40 |||||||
| Aaron McCord DT | Detroit, MI | Crockett Vocational Tech | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 270 lb (120 kg) | - | Jul 29, 2008 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 74 |||||||
| Davon Muse RB | Baltimore, MD | Paul Laurence Dunbar HS | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) | 160 lb (73 kg) | - | Jan 22, 2009 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 40 |||||||
| Cody Pettit DE | Hamler, OH | Patrick Henry HS | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 235 lb (107 kg) | 4.88 | Jul 17, 2008 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 74 |||||||
| Tim Phillips ATH | Louisville, KY | Trinity HS | 5 ft 5 in (1.65 m) | 168 lb (76 kg) | 4.45 | Jul 11, 2008 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 40 |||||||
| Evan Ray DB | Detroit, MI | Finney HS | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 190 lb (86 kg) | 4.5 | Aug 25, 2008 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 40 |||||||
| Malek Redd RB | Clarksville, MD | River Hill HS | 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) | 164 lb (74 kg) | - | Jun 25, 2008 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 71 |||||||
| Caesar Rodriguez DE | Miami, FL | Christopher Columbus HS | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 208 lb (94 kg) | 4.8 | Jan 20, 2009 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 73 |||||||
| Adam Schneid OL | Avon Lake, OH | Avon Lake HS | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 258 lb (117 kg) | 5.22 | Jul 10, 2008 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 67 |||||||
| Will Schwarz LB | Troy, MI | Troy HS | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 212 lb (96 kg) | - | Aug 19, 2008 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 73 |||||||
| D.J. Scott ATH | Frederick, MD | Gov Thomas Johnson HS | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) | 164 lb (74 kg) | 4.47 | Jul 28, 2008 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 72 |||||||
| Alex Smith LB | Barrington, IL | Barrington HS | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 225 lb (102 kg) | - | Oct 23, 2008 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 71 |||||||
| Zurlon Tipton RB | Sterling Heights, MI | Parkway Christian | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 195 lb (88 kg) | 4.48 | Jul 28, 2008 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 40 |||||||
| A.J. Westendorp QB | Holland, MI | Holland Christian HS | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 208 lb (94 kg) | 4.72 | Feb 2, 2009 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 40 |||||||
| Cody Wilson WR | Rochester Hills, MI | Rochester Adams HS | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | 165 lb (75 kg) | - | Jun 18, 2008 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 40 |||||||
| Kyle Zelinsky LB | Bartlett, IL | Bartlett HS | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 220 lb (100 kg) | - | Dec 20, 2008 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 76 |||||||
| Overall recruiting rankings: |||||||
| ‡ Refers to 40 yard dash Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height, weight and 40 time. In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale. Sources: "Central Michigan Commit List for 2009". Rivals.com. Retrieved August 21, 2009. "Scout.com: Football Recruiting". Scout.com. Retrieved August 21, 2009. "Central Michigan Football Recruiting 2009". ESPN.com. Retrieved August 21, 2009. "Scout.com Team Recruiting Rankings". Scout.com. Retrieved August 21, 2009. "2009 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved August 21, 2009. |||||||

## Schedule

| Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| September 5 | 10:00 p.m. | at Arizona* | | Arizona StadiumTucson, AZ | | L 6–19 | 51,683 |
| September 12 | 12:00 p.m. | at Michigan State* | | Spartan StadiumEast Lansing, MI | ESPN2 | W 29–27 | 76,221 |
| September 19 | 3:30 p.m. | Alcorn State* | | Kelly/Shorts StadiumMount Pleasant, MI | | W 48–0 | 18,323 |
| September 26 | 3:30 p.m. | Akron | | Kelly/Shorts StadiumMount Pleasant, MI | FSO | W 48–21 | 20,032 |
| October 3 | 3:30 p.m. | at Buffalo | | UB StadiumBuffalo, NY | | W 20–13 | 18,092 |
| October 10 | 12:00 p.m. | Eastern Michigan | | Kelly/Shorts StadiumMount Pleasant, MI (rivalry) | ESPN Plus | W 56–8 | 26,730 |
| October 17 | 3:30 p.m. | at Western Michigan | | Waldo StadiumKalamazoo, MI (rivalry) | FSD+ | W 34–23 | 27,896 |
| October 24 | 12:00 p.m. | at Bowling Green | | Doyt Perry StadiumBowling Green, OH | ESPN Plus | W 24–10 | 10,042 |
| October 31 | 3:30 p.m. | at Boston College* | | Alumni StadiumChestnut Hill, MA | ESPNU | L 10–31 | 34,128 |
| November 11 | 8:00 p.m. | Toledo | | Kelly/Shorts StadiumMount Pleasant, MI | ESPN2 | W 56–28 | 18,310 |
| November 18 | 8:00 p.m. | at Ball State | | Scheumann StadiumMuncie, IN | ESPN2 | W 35–3 | 5,736 |
| November 27 | 1:00 p.m. | Northern Illinois | | Kelly/Shorts StadiumMount Pleasant, MI | ESPNU | W 45–31 | 15,113 |
| December 4 | 8:00 p.m. | vs. Ohio | | Ford FieldDetroit, MI (MAC Championship Game) | ESPN2 | W 20–10 | 23,714 |
| January 6 | 7:00 p.m. | vs. Troy* | No. 25 | Ladd–Peebles StadiumMobile, AL (GMAC Bowl) | ESPN | W 44–41 $^{2OT}$ | 34,486 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecomingRankings from AP Poll released prior to the gameAll times are in Eastern time ||||||||

## Rankings

Ranking movements Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking — = Not ranked RV = Received votes :
| | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week |
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | Final |
| AP | — | — | — | — | — | — | RV | RV | RV | RV | — | — | RV | RV | 25 | 23 |
| Coaches | — | — | — | — | — | RV | RV | RV | RV | RV | RV | RV | RV | RV | RV | 24 |
| Harris | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Not released |
| BCS | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Not released |

## Game summaries
### Arizona

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Chippewas | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 6 |
| Wildcats | 6 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 19 |
Scoring summary
1st quarter
* 07:17 ARIZ Zendejas 36-yard field goal 3-0 ARIZ
* 00:00 ARIZ Zendejas 37-yard field goal 6-0 ARIZ
2nd quarter
* 08:20 ARIZ Grigsby 3-yard run (Zendejas kick) 13-0 ARIZ
3rd quarter
* 00:38 ARIZ Zendejas 37-yard field goal 16-0 ARIZ
4th quarter
* 12:21 CMU LeFevour 5-yard run (LeFevour rush failed) 16-6 ARIZ
* 08:45 ARIZ Zendejas 35-yard field goal 19-6 ARIZ

### Michigan State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Chippewas | 3 | 10 | 0 | 16 | 29 |
| Spartans | 10 | 7 | 3 | 7 | 27 |
Scoring summary
1st quarter
* 13:00 MSU Ray 1 Yd Run (Swenson Kick) 7-0 MSU
* 09:24 CMU Aguila 49 Yd field goal 7-3 MSU
* 03:13 MSU Swenson 39 Yd field goal 10-3 MSU
2nd quarter
* 13:16 CMU Aguila 31 Yd field goal 10-6 MSU
* 05:49 CMU Brown 6 Yd Pass From LeFevour (Aguila Kick) 13-10 CMU
* 04:16 MSU Gantt 16 Yd Pass From Nichol (Swenson Kick) 17-13 MSU
3rd quarter
* 02:33 MSU Swenson 32 Yd field goal 20-13 MSU
4th quarter
* 14:24 CMU Poblah 12 Yd Pass From LeFevour (Aguila Kick) 20-20
* 07:33 MSU Cunningham 7 Yd Pass From Cousins (Swenson Kick) 27-20 MSU
* 00:32 CMU Cotton 11 Yd Pass From LeFevour (Two-Point Conversion Failed) 27-26 MSU
* 00:03 CMU Aguila 42 Yd field goal 29-27 CMU

### Alcorn State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Braves | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Chippewas | 10 | 24 | 14 | 0 | 48 |
Scoring summary
1st quarter
* 07:36 CMU Aguila 23-yard field goal CMU 3-0
* 05:56 CMU Brown 55-yard punt return (Aguila kick) CMU 10-0
2nd quarter
* 14:51 CMU LeFevour 10-yard run (Aguila kick) CMU 17-0
* 11:54 CMU Phillips 2-yard run (Aguila kick) CMU 24-0
* 09:12 CMU LeFevour 1-yard run (Aguila kick) CMU 31-0
* 05:06 CMU Aguila 32-yard field goal CMU 34-0
3rd quarter
* 14:00 CMU Volny 5-yard run (Aguila kick) CMU 41-0
* 00:59 CMU Volny 2-yard run (Hartmann kick) CMU 48-0
4th quarter

### Akron

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Zips | 0 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 21 |
| Chippewas | 13 | 21 | 7 | 7 | 48 |
Scoring summary
1st quarter
* 7:11 CMU Wilson 27-yard pass from LeFevour (Aguila kick) 0-7 CMU
* 5:21 CMU Poblah 4-yard pass from LeFevour (Aguila kick failed) 0-13 CMU
2nd quarter
* 14:39 CMU LeFevour 1-yard run (Aguila kick) 0-20 CMU
* 9:59 AKRON Rodgers 10-yard run (Iveljic kick) 7-20 CMU
* 6:47 CMU LeFevour 2-yard run (Aguila kick) 7-27 CMU
* 1:02 CMU Brown 9-yard pass from LeFevour (Aguila kick) 7-34 CMU
3rd quarter
* 8:42 AKRON Rodgers 1-yard run (Iveljic kick) 14-34 CMU
* 3:40 CMU Brown 13-yard pass from LeFevour (Aguila kick) 14-41 CMU
4th quarter
* 9:42 CMU Cotton 3-yard run (Aguila kick) 14-48 CMU
* 6:19 AKRON Tuzze 9-yard run (Iveljic kick) 21-48 CMU

### Buffalo

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Chippewas | 7 | 6 | 7 | 0 | 20 |
| Bulls | 0 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 13 |

### Eastern Michigan

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Eagles | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 8 |
| Chippewas | 14 | 21 | 14 | 7 | 56 |
Scoring summary
1st quarter
* 08:51 CMU Brown 70-yard pass from LeFevour (Aguila kick) 0-7 CMU
* 03:58 CMU LeFevour 1-yard run (Aguila kick) 0-14 CMU
2nd quarter
* 12:33 CMU LeFevour 1-yard run (Aguila kick) 0-21 CMU
* 02:51 CMU Brown 75-yard punt return (Aguila kick) 0-28 CMU
* 00:18 CMU Schroeder 11-yard pass from LeFevour (Aguila kick) 0-35 CMU
3rd quarter
* 12:50 CMU Poblah 25-yard pass from LeFevour (Aguila kick) 0-42 CMU
* 01:57 CMU LeFevour 5-yard run (Aguila kick) 0-49 CMU
4th quarter
* 11:25 EMU Welch 1-yard run (Gillett rush) 8-49 CMU
* 07:36 CMU Volny 3-yard run (Aguila kick) 8-56 CMU

### Western Michigan

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Chippewas | 10 | 17 | 0 | 7 | 34 |
| Broncos | 3 | 10 | 3 | 7 | 23 |

### Bowling Green

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Chippewas | 7 | 7 | 3 | 7 | 24 |
| Falcons | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
Scoring summary
1st quarter
* 11:04 CMU Brown 4-yard run (Aguila kick) 7-0 CMU
2nd quarter
* 11:26 BGSU Barnes 24-yard pass from Sheehan (Norsic kick) 7-7
* 9:16 CMU Brown 29-yard pass from LeFevour (Aguila kick) 14-7 CMU
* 0:06 BGSU Norsic 40-yard field goal 14-10 CMU
3rd quarter
* 11:34 CMU Aguila 38-yard field goal 17-10 CMU
4th quarter
* 10:02 CMU Anderson 9-yard pass from LeFevour (Aguila kick) 24-10 CMU

### Boston College

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Chippewas | 0 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 10 |
| Eagles | 0 | 7 | 17 | 7 | 31 |
Scoring summary
2nd quarter
* 6:09 CMU Aguila 34-yard field goal 3-0 CMU
* 0:50 BC Harris 3-yard run (Aponavicius kick) 3-7 BC
3rd quarter
* 12:03 BC Gunnell 41-yard pass from Shinskie (Aponavicius kick) 3-14 BC
* 6:35 BC Harris 3-yard run (Aponavicius kick) 3-21 BC
* 1:44 BC Aponavicius 18-yard field goal 3-24 BC
4th quarter
* 5:00 BC Kuechly 28-yard interception return (Aponavicius kick) 3-31 BC
* 0:35 CMU Radcliff 11-yard run (Aguila kick) 10-31 BC

### Toledo

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Rockets | 7 | 7 | 0 | 14 | 28 |
| Chippewas | 7 | 28 | 14 | 7 | 56 |

### Ball State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Chippewas | 7 | 14 | 14 | 0 | 35 |
| Cardinals | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |

### Northern Illinois

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Huskies | 0 | 10 | 0 | 21 | 31 |
| Chippewas | 10 | 14 | 14 | 7 | 45 |

### Ohio

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Bobcats | 7 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 10 |
| Chippewas | 10 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 20 |

### Troy

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | 2OT | Total |
| Chippewas | 3 | 6 | 10 | 15 | 7 | 3 | 44 |
| Trojans | 7 | 3 | 14 | 10 | 7 | 0 | 41 |
This was the first ever meeting between these two teams.