Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
Maryland
Despite a Strong Offensive Showing, Football Falls to Maryland
9/20/2008 4:09:00 PM | Football
Eagles post 453 yards of total offense while the Terrapins record 486 yards
Box score.
COLLEGE PARK, Md. — A pair of interceptions and a blocked punt proved costly for the Eastern Michigan University football team, as the Eagles dropped a 51-24 decision to the University of Maryland Saturday afternoon in non-conference action at Chevy Chase Bank Field at Byrd Stadium. The Eagles racked up 453 yards of total offense, but it all came for naught as Maryland was able to capitalize on the EMU miscues.
With the win Maryland ups its record to 3-1 on the year, while Eastern Michigan drops to 1-3.
Making his first start of the season due to an injury to junior Andy Schmitt (St. John's, Mich.-St. John's), sophomore quarterback Kyle McMahon (Rochester Hills, Mich.-Pontiac Notre Dame Prep) threw for a season-best 278 yards and two touchdowns. On the ground, McMahon also scampered for 29 yards on 10 attempts.
Junior wide out Jacory Stone (Cleveland, Ohio-Glenville) added nine catches for 76 yards and a touchdown, while sophomore tight end Josh LeDuc (Canton, Mich.-Canton) caught four balls for 59 yards and a score. On the ground, senior Terrence Blevins (Detroit, Mich.-Denby) racked up 61 yards and a touchdown on 10 attempts.
The Eagles found themselves in an early hole as the Terrapins blocked sophomore Patrick Treppa's (Livonia, Mich.-Stevenson) punt and returned it to the EMU 10-yard line. However, the Eastern defense stood up to challenge of the sudden change of field position, holding Maryland to just a field goal with 11:04 left in the first quarter.
On the ensuing EMU possession, McMahon was able to march the offense 75 yards in six plays down the field to the UM five-yard line. But on 1st-and-goal, a McMahon pass was intercepted in the end zone, halting the Eagles' scoring opportunity. Maryland would capitalize on that miscue, going 80-yards in just 10 plays for the score that was capped off by a one-yard touchdown plunge by Morgan Green. An Obi Egekeze PAT followed to make it 10-0 with 2:45 to play in the first quarter.
After another McMahon interception, UM's Green would sprint 20 yards for a touchdown to complete a five-play, 47-yard Maryland scoring drive. Another Egekeze PAT was true to push the deficit to 17, 17-0, with 11:41 remaining in the second quarter.
Despite playing from behind, EMU continued to be able to move the football. After starting on its own 20-yard line, McMahon marched the Green and White 73 yards to the UM seven-yard line, where Blevins was able to get EMU on the scoreboard, with his fifth touchdown of the year, a seven-yard touchdown rush with 5:08 left in the half. Sophomore Joe Carithers' (Dacula, Ga.-Dacula (Palomar J.C.)) PAT sailed through the uprights to make it 17-7.
But Maryland promptly answered with a 63-yard kickoff return to give the Terps great field position. On the very next play, quarterback Chris Turner found a streaking Darrius Heyward-Bay for a 32-yard touchdown strike with 4:49 showing on the clock.
A 13-yard touchdown reception by LeDuc from McMahon just before half pulled EMU even closer. The 80 yard, 11 play drive was capped with another Carithers' PAT try, making it 24-10 with :44 seconds left before the intermission.
Following the break the potent Terrapin offense tacked on another touchdown just 1:33 into the third quarter, as Turner hooked up with tight end Dan Gronkowski for the four-yard touchdown reception to make it 31-10. But the Eagles would again respond with a score of their own, as Carithers would knock through a 23-yard field goal to make it 31-17 with 7:15 showing on the third-quarter clock.
Maryland returned the favor with a 21-yard Egekeze field goal on the ensuing possession to run the score to 34-17 with 4:19 still left in the third period.
The defenses for both sides would then stiffen, as neither team was able to score until Maryland's Egekeze banged through a 33-yard field goal attempt with 11:46 to play in the fourth quarter.
On the following possession EMU continued to rack up the yardage, as McMahon drove the Eagles back into the red zone. The sophomore signal caller then found Stone in the corner on the end zone for a two-yard touchdown strike with 8:03 left. The PAT was good to make it 37-24.
After the Eagles' score the Terps decided to thrown a little trickery into the playbook, as wide receiver Danny Oquendo took a reverse handoff and then heaved the ball 43-yards down field to Isaiah Williams for the score. The PAT followed to make it 44-24 with 6:18 left.
UM would tack on a late rushing touchdown from quarterback Josh Portis to make it 51-24 with 1:20 remaining in regulation.
Head coach Jeff Genyk's crew return to action Saturday, Sept. 27, for a Mid-American Conference contest versus Northern Illinois University. Saturday's matchup is also EMU's annual homecoming game with kickoff set for noon at Rynearson Stadium. The game will also be broadcast nation wide by ESPN Regional Television, including WXYZ-TV (Channel 7) in Detroit.
