Eastern Michigan Athletics
EMU Travels to No. 22 Ball State
10/20/2008 12:58:20 PM | Football, E-Gridiron Group
Game time set for noon at Scheumann Stadium in Muncie, Ind.
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2008 SEASON: The 2008 season is the 117th for the Eastern Michigan University football team. The first year of intercollegiate football in Ypsilanti was 1891 when the team posted an 0-2 record. EMU has fielded a team every year since 1891 with one exception, when the 1944 season was canceled because of World War II.
HOLTZCLAW TOPS IN THE NATION: EMU senior linebacker Daniel Holtzclaw (Enid, Okla.-Enid) has recorded 406 career tackles, the top total for an active player in the BCS ranks. Holtzclaw has started all 43 games over the past four years. Holtzclaw’s 406 tackles make him third on the EMU career tackles list. He now trails only career leader Reese McCaskill (1992-95), who leads the way with 450, and Scott Russell (1988-2001), who recorded 423 during his career.
EAGLES MEET RANKED TEAM: Ball State University enters Saturday’s, Oct. 25, Mid-American Conference West Division battle with EMU as the 22nd ranked team in the nation in the USA Today Coaches’ Poll. The Cardinals will be the first ranked team the Eagles have squared off against this season and the first since they met the No. 14th ranked University of Michigan Wolverines, Sept. 17, 2005. EMU lost that game in Ann Arbor, 55-0.
EAGLES IN FIFTH YEAR UNDER GENYK: Head coach Jeff Genyk is in his fifth season as the Eagles’ head coach. Eastern returned 38 lettermen from the 2007 season, including seven starters to an offense that scored 290 points, the fifth most points scored in a season and the most since 2004 when the Green and White totaled 328 points. EMU returned even more experience on the defensive side of the ball as 19 lettermen, including eight starters are back on defense.
EMU VS. BALL STATE: Eastern Michigan and Ball State are meeting for the 50th time and BSU holds a 27-20-2 advantage in the series that began in 1936. Ball State has won the last three and before that the Eagles had won the previous two.
LAST TIME VERSUS BALL STATE: The return of the players and many of the coaches from the 1987 Mid-American Conference and California Bowl champions wasn’t enough for the Eastern Michigan University football team as it fell to a visiting Ball State team, 38-16, here Saturday afternoon, Sept. 8, 2007, in Rynearson Stadium. The day marked the 20th anniversary of the 1987 team and more than 75 players and coaches were on hand for the MAC opener.It was a disappointing ending for those returning players and coaches as well as the current EMU squad as the Eagles were limited to just 262 yards in total offense to 459 for the Cardinals. Despite the loss the Eagles had two highlight plays during the game. The first came as redshirt sophomore quarterback Andy Schmitt (St. Johns’, Mich.-St. Johns) connected with sophomore wide receiver DeAnthony White (Kennesaw, Ga.-Kell) on a 67-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter. The second huge play came in the fourth quarter as kick return specialist Dontayo Gage (Pontiac, Mich.-Northern) set a Rynearson Stadium record with a 90-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. that return broke the stadium record of 88 yards by Craig Thompson against Temple (Sept. 9, 1993).
BACK HOME IN INDIANA: The EMU football team will head to Ball State Saturday, Oct. 25, with four Indiana products on the 2008 roster. Junior linebacker Andre Hatchett (Indianapolis, Ind.-Warren Central) has earned two letters for the Eagles and is expected to start against the Cardinals. Freshman defensive lineman Javon Reese (Ft. Wayne, Ind.-Southside) will be a reserve player. The other two Hoosier State products, quarterback Alex Beierwalter (Chesterton, Ind.-Chesterton) and offensive lineman Mark VanDenburgh (Chesterton, Ind.-Chesterton), are being red-shirted as freshmen, but both are expected to be part of the travel roster.
FIRST SCORE: True freshman wide receiver Marvon Sanders (Ypsilanti, Mich.-Ypsilanti) turned in the first touchdown of his career last weekend, Oct. 18, at home against Akron when he hauled in a 19-yard Andy Schmitt (St. Johns, Mich.-St. Johns) strike for a score.
TURNING ON BOTH THE "O" AND "D": Sophomore tight end Josh LeDuc (Canton, Mich.-Plymouth) made big plays on both the offensive and defensive fronts last weekend, Oct. 18, against a visiting University of Akron team. LeDuc caught two passes for 27 yards, including a six-yard scoring dart from quarterback Andy Schmitt (St. Johns, Mich.-St. Johns) to give the Eagles a late lead in the game. LeDuc then came back with a huge block of an Akron field goal with just 30 seconds left that looked like it would preserve a win for the Eagles. Unfortunately, the blocked field goal was returned by Akron for a first down and ultimately the game-winning score.
OFFENSIVE PRODUCTION: EMU turned in 440 yards in total offense last weekend, Oct. 18, against Akron, the third-best production of the season. The Eagles’ 35 points scored was also second best this season. The Eagles managed three touchdowns through the air and two on the ground.
STONE HITS CENTURY AND GRAND MARKS: EMU junior wide receiver Jacory Stone (Cleveland, Ohio-Glenville) came up with a career-high 109 yards on seven receptions last weekend, Oct. 18, against Akron to give him 108 career receptions for 1,105 career receiver yards. A total of 23 EMU receivers have reached the 1,000-yard career mark.
BLEVINS FOR NINE: Senior tailback Terrence Blevins (Detroit, Mich.-Denby) continues to make his mark in the red zone, leading the Eagles in scoring with nine rushing touchdowns. He scored two last weekend, Oct. 18, against Akron.
