Eagles Lose Heartbreaker On Bizarre Play

Box score.

Photo Gallery.

Click Here for EMU Head Coach Jeff Genyk's Postgame Comments.

Click Here for EMU Tight End Josh LeDuc's Postgame Comments.

Click Here for Akron Head Coach J.D. Brookhart's Postgame Comments.

Click Here for Akron Players Postgame Comments.

YPSILANTI, Mich. — One of the most bizarre plays in Eastern Michigan University football history cost the Eagles a chance at victory here Saturday afternoon, Oct. 18, in Rynearson Stadium in a Mid-American Conference game against a visiting University of Akron squad.

The Eagles came from behind to take a 35-34 lead with 03:49 left when junior quarterback Andy Schmitt (St. Johns, Mich.-St. Johns) found sophomore tight end Josh LeDuc (Canton, Mich.-Plymouth) for a six-yard touchdown pass. Joe Carithers (Dacula, Ga.-Dacula-Palomar (Calif,) J.C.) added the tie-breaking PAT kick to give Eastern a shot at the win.

Akron then drove to the EMU nine-yard line and faced fourth and two yards to go with just 00:30 left on the clock. The Zips elected to kick a field goal, but a 26-yard field goal by Igor Iveljic was blocked by LeDuc.

The blocked kick bounced back to Akron holder Andy Hildreth and he ran for a four-yard gain, recording the first down, giving Akron possession at the five-yard line.

The Zips did not waste that sudden turnaround, however, scoring the game-winning touchdown with just 14 ticks left. Dennis Kennedy rushed for the four-yard touchdown and also scored on a two-point conversion run to make the final, 42-35.

EMU received the ensuing kickoff and ran off one play before losing the ball on a fumble as the final gun sounded.

With the win, the Zips even their overall record at 4-4 and 2-2 in MAC action. The Eagles fall to 2-6 and 1-3, respectively.

Schmitt led the Eagles with 22 completions in 34 pass attempts for 258 yard including three touchdowns. Junior wide receiver Jacory Stone (Cleveland, Ohio-Glenville) caught a career-high 109 receiving yards on seven catches. The three touchdown passes were evenly spread out as Tyler Jones (Belleville, Mich.-Belleville), Marvon Sanders (Ypsilanti, Mich.-Ypsilanti) and LeDuc each had a receiving score. Senior running back Terrence Blevins (Detroit, Mich.-Denby) led the ground attack, going 91 yards on 21 rushes.

For Akron, Kennedy carried the ball 25 times for a career-high 277 yards. Signal caller Chris Jacquemain went 11-of-19, passing for 208 yards.

Akron was the first to jump on the score board with a 53-yard drive that resulted in a 26-yard field goal by Iveljic with 12:08 showing on the first-quarter clock.

The Zips marched 61 yards down the field in four plays to open the second quarter. Jacquemain found Andre Jones for a 16-yard touchdown pass. Followed by an Iveljic PAT, giving Akron a 10-0 lead with 13:48 remaining in the half.

The Eagles were quick to respond as signal caller Schmitt directed Eastern to a seven-play, 56-yard drive of its own. Schmitt completed two passes to Stone totaling 43 yards in the drive, culminating on a three-yard scamper by Blevins and a PAT by Joe Carithers (Dacula, Ga.-Dacula-Palomar (Calif,) J.C.), cut the Eagle deficit to three, 10-7.

Akron bounced back, as the Eagles failed to recover an on-side kick, giving the Zips the ball on the EMU 45-yard line. Jacquemain found Jones again, going 45 yards in one play into the end zone to put the visitors up 17-7, with 9:21 remaining in the half.

The Green and White ate up nearly five minutes of playing time on its next score. Blevins carried the ball five times for 39 yards, before a five-yard pass by Schmitt to receiver Jones and a PAT by Carithers added seven for the Eagles to make it 17-14 with 4:17 showing on the second-quarter clock.

UA took advantage of a 29-yard return by Jalil Carter on its next drive, to place the Zips near midfield and set up a 33-yard rush by Kennedy. A PAT by Iveljic would make it 24-14 Akron entering halftime.

Following intermission, head coach Jeff Genyk's crew cracked into the scoring column. Schmitt found Sanders on two consecutive passes for 16 total yards. Following a three yard loss by Blevins, Schmitt connected on a nine-yard throw to Tyrone Burke (Syracuse, N.Y.-Corcoran), then a 24 yarder to Jones and finally a 21 yard completion to LeDuc put the Eagles on the Akron two-yard line. Blevins carried the ball in two plays for one yard a piece to cut the Akron lead to three once again, 24-21, with 9:06 remaining in the third.

Akron was quick to respond, going 72 yards in just under a minute on a 10-yard scurry by Kennedy to give the visitors the 10-point edge, 31-21.

Following an EMU punt, the Zips took a 70-yard drive into the fourth quarter, ending in an Iveljic field goal, putting UA up 34-21.

After another EMU punt, the Zips set up another Iveljic field goal attempt, this time a 29 yarder that missed, as it went wide left.

The Eagles continued to cut the Akron lead, this time to six, as Sanders sprinted into the end zone on a 19-yard pass from Schmitt and Carithers kicked another successful PAT.

The Zips turned the ball over on their next play, as Jacquemain was sacked for seven yards by Brad Ohrman (Adrian, Mich.-Adrian) and the Akron quarterback fumbled the ball. Andre Hatchett (Indianapolis, Ind.-Warren Central) recovered it, going 15 yards into the opposite direction, to set up EMU's next drive.

On the Akron 11-yard line, Blevins rushed for one yard, then followed it up with another four yarder before LeDuc caught a pass from Schmitt, carrying it in for the score. Carithers added the extra point to give the Eagles their first lead of the game, 35-34.

The Eagles will travel to Muncie, Ind., to take on MAC East leader Ball State University, Oct. 25. Kick off is set for noon.

Next Event

Team Stats

Andy Schmitt

Players Mentioned

Terrence Blevins

Tyrone Burke

Tyler Jones

Josh LeDuc

Marvon Sanders

Andy Schmitt

Jacory Stone

Players Mentioned

Terrence Blevins

Tyrone Burke

Tyler Jones

Josh LeDuc

Marvon Sanders

Andy Schmitt

Jacory Stone

Eastern Michigan Athletics