Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
0-3
Northwestern
2-1
Football Comes Up Short at Northwestern
9/16/2006 5:15:00 PM | Football
A pair of interceptions end the Eagles' come-back hopes
Box score.
EVANSTON, Ill. – The Eastern Michigan University football team came up short against Northwestern University, 14-6, in a non-conference game in front of 21,935 here at Ryan Field in Evanston, Ill.
Both teams stuggled to move the football all game long, but a pair of interceptions in the game's final six minutes were just too much for the Eagles to overcome. For the game, Northwestern tallied 266 yards of total offense compared to just 134 for the Eagles.
With the victory the Wildcats improve to 2-1, while the Eagles drop to 0-3 on the season.
Redshirt freshman quarterback Andy Schmitt completed 3-of-9 passes for 10 yards, while redshirt sophomore Tyler Jones completed 6-of-16 passes for 37 yards and two interceptions.
Junior Pierre Walker led the Eagles' rushing attack with 10 carries for 36 yards, while Schmitt had nine rushes for 35 yards. Defensively, senior Michael Richardson led Eastern with 12 tackles.
The Wildcats got on the scoreboard first on the initial drive of the game on a 15-play, 74-yard drive that was capped off by a six-yard touchdown run by quarterback Mike Kafka with 9:47 remaining in the first quarter. From that point on neither squad was able to muster much offense during the quarter until the Eagles got on the scoreboard with :09 seconds left in the period as senior placekicker Andrew Wellock turned in a 47-yard field goal to end an eight-play, 18-yard drive and pulled EMU within four points, 7-3.
Just before halftime the Eagles were able to pull even closer, as Wellock tacked on a 30-yard field goal with :26 seconds left in the second quarter to make it 7-6. The EMU scoring drive was set up thanks in part to an interception by Chris May at the Wildcats' 37-yard line.
Both sides struggled offensively during the first 30 minutes of football, as the two squads combined for just 11 first downs (EMU 3, NU 8) and 221 total yards (EMU 66, NU 155) in the first half.
Following intermission the Northwestern offense began to click while the defense was able to hold the Eagles in check. After another stalled drive by EMU, the Wildcats took over at its own 28-yard line and drove 72 yards in 13 plays before quarterback Andrew Brewer ran it in from one-yard out to push the NU advantage to seven, 14-6, with 7:23 remaining in the third period.
Eastern's best chance to score in the second half came midway through the fourth quarter, after forcing NU to punt from its own end zone EMU started the drive at the Wildcats' 48-yard line. Redshirt sophomore Tyler Jones hooked up with senior wide receiver Trumaine Riley on a 3rd-and-4 play to move the chains for the Eagles' first first-down of the half. But two plays later NU's Corey Wootton intercepted Jones' pass to give the ball back to the Wildcats with 6:05 remianing in the game.
The Eagles had one more shot after holding Northwestern to a 3-and-out situation and forced a punt with 2:52 left in the contest. But once again a turnover prooved costly, as redshirt freshman Andy Schmitt's pass on 3rd-and-6 at was intercepted by Deante Battle to seal the 14-6 Northwestern victory.
The Eagles return to Ypsilanti to open the home portion of the 2006 schedule Saturday, Sept. 23, against Mid-American Conference rival Central Michigan University. Game time is set for 3:30 p.m.
Team Stats
EMU 0, NU 7
NU - Kafka, Mike 6 yd run (Howells, Joel kick), 15 plays, 74 yards, TOP 5:41
EMU 3, NU 7
EMU - WELLOCK, Andrew 47 yd field goal 8 plays, 18 yards, TOP 3:50
EMU 6, NU 7
EMU - WELLOCK, Andrew 30 yd field goal 5 plays, 19 yards, TOP 1:58
EMU 6, NU 14
NU - Brewer, Andrew 1 yd run (Howells, Joel kick), 13 plays, 72 yards, TOP 5:40
