Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
Akron
Eagles Close Out 2009 Season with Friday Afternoon Tilt at Akron
11/23/2009 5:19:20 PM | Football, E-Gridiron Group
The Eagles stay in Ohio this Friday, Nov. 27, to play the University of Akron in a 2 p.m.
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EASTERN MICHIGAN at AKRON: Eastern Michigan University and the University of Akron will be meeting for the 28th time with Akron holding a 16-11 advantage. The Zips squeaked out a 42-35 win, Oct. 18, 2008, in Ypsilanti, Mich. The last time the Eagles traveled to Akron was Nov. 24, 2001, and the Zips held on for a 65-62 win in triple overtime at the Rubber Bowl. Akron opened InfoCision Stadium-Summa Field this season.
FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS: For the second straight week the Eagles will be playing on Friday. Last Friday, Nov. 20, Eastern traveled to Toledo, Ohio and the Eagles dropped a 47-21 decision. The Eagles stay in Ohio this Friday, Nov. 27, to play the University of Akron in a 2 p.m. contest in Akron's brand-new Infocision Stadium.
HATCHETT NEARS MILESTONE: Senior linebacker Andre Hatchett (Indianapolis, Ind.-Warren Central) has gone over the 100-tackle mark this season with 106 and is nearing 300 stops in his four-year career. Hatchett has played in 46 games for the Eagles, 35 as a starter, and has accumulated 132 solo tackles and 155 assisted tackles for a total of 287. Hatchett enters the Akron game, Nov. 27, ranked in a tie for 20th in the NCAA ranks with 9.64 tackles per game. He will be playing his final game for the Eagles at Akron, Nov. 27.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING: The EMU football team has a major presence on the national statistics scene heading into the season finale, Nov. 27, at Akron. As a team the Eagles are the fourth-ranked pass defense in the nation at 153.09 yards per game. Eastern fares even better on the Mid-American Conference front as a team, ranking first in pass defense and fourth in tackles-for-loss (8.09).
Individually, senior safety Chris May (Jupiter, Fla.-Dwyer) is fourth in interceptions at .60 per game while senior linebacker Andre Hatchett (Indianapolis, Ind.-Warren Central) is tied for 20th in tackles-per-game at 9.64and senior defensive lineman Brandon Downs (Springfield, Ohio-Kenton Ridge) is tied for 33rd in sacks at .68 per game.
EMU'S YOUTH MOVEMENT: In a recent nationwide poll conducted by athletic media relations offices, Eastern Michigan has started the second-most true freshmen of any school in the nation this season with eight rookies, including six who have at least two starts this season. EMU is tied for 17th nationally with the University of Georgia, the University of Michigan, Ohio State University, the University of South Carolina, Syracuse University, UCLA and Washington also having played a total of 10 true freshman. Texas A&M University and Tulane University lead the country in first-year rookies played with 18. In addition, Eastern Michigan is one of just 11 schools that has started a true freshman quarterback this season. Alex Gillett's (Green Springs, Ohio-Clyde) starts the last two weeks joined the Eagles with the likes of Akron, Army, Baylor, Kent State, Kentucky, Michigan, Nebraska, Rutgers, USC, Washington State and Wyoming with a rookie signal caller.
SENIOR CLOSE IT OUT: A total of 14 Eastern Michigan University seniors will close out their EMU careers at Akron Friday, Nov. 27.
