Blake Serpa stood on the Central Michigan sidelines as a redshirt freshman last season.

It was extra special for the 2011 Kaneland graduate to be on the Chippewa sidelines this past October when he watched the team he is a member of upset the college that is only 15 miles from his hometown, Northern Illinois, 48-41.

“It was pretty cool, especially since I know a couple players on the team.” Serpa said, “We were also the only team in the conference to beat NIU, who then went on to become MAC champions, so that’s an accomplishment for the team as a whole.”