Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
0-12 , 0-8
Akron
3-9 , 2-6
EMU Drops 2009 Season Finale at Akron
11/27/2009 5:17:00 PM | Football, E-Gridiron Group
Loss leaves Eagles winless for just the ninth time in 118-year history
Box score.
AKRON, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) — The Eastern Michigan University football team saw its chances for its first win of the 2009 season fall short in a 28-21 defeat to the University of Akron here here Friday, Nov. 27, at Infocision Stadium Summa Field, in a Mid-American Conference cross-divisional game.
The game was the season finale for both teams with EMU closing with an 0-12 overall record and an 0-8 MAC mark while Akron completes its season with a 3-9 overall record and a 2-6 league mark. The winless season was just the ninth in EMU's 118-year football history.
Freshman quarterback Alex Gillett (Green Springs, Ohio-Clyde) led the Eagles in both rushing and receiving, carrying the ball 19 times for 102 yards and a touchdown, while completing 16-of-30 passes for 148 yards and two interceptions. Junior tailback Dwayne Priest (Roanoke, Va.-Fleming-Fork Union Military Academy) scampered for two touchdowns on 18 attempts for 36 yards.
Akron quarterback Patrick Nicely completed 11-of-18 passes for 117 yards and two picks. Alex Allen ran for two touchdowns and 50 yards on 14 carries to go with a score and 49 yards from Deshan Miller.
Akron jumped on the board early, scoring on a two-yard run by tailback Alex Allen on its first drive. Branko Rogovac added the PAT kick at the 8:19 mark of the first quarter.
Eastern came back to tie the game at 7-all, capping a 10-play, 52-yard drive with a one-yard touchdown run by Priest. Joe Carithers (Dacula, Ga.-Dacula) added the PAT boot with 2:52 left in the first.
Akron quickly moved back ahead, scoring on an eight-yard touchdown run by Allen with Rogovac adding the PAT with 1:32 left in the first.
The EMU offense responded once again with Gillett scampering off left tackle for a 27-yard touchdown run at the 12:20 mark of the second quarter. Carithers made the PAT boot to even the score at 14.
Redshirt sophomore safety Martavius Cardwell (Flint, Mich.-Carman/Ainsworth) picked off an Akron pass to give the Eagles a chance at a first-half lead, giving EMU the ball at the Akron 45-yard line with 2:49 on the clock in the second quarter.
Instead of taking advantage of that break, the Eagles saw Zips' defensive back Miguel Graham record an interception of his own, racing down the right sideline for a 62-yard touchdown for the home squad, giving Akron a 21-14 lead with 1:59 left in the first half. Carithers had a chance to get the Eagles on the board just before the half ended, but a 41-yard field goal attempt fell short.
Akron opened the second half by taking a 28-14 lead on a 29-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Nicely to Miller.
Eastern would pull within seven, 28-21, with 1:53 to play, when on 3rd-and-goal Priest rumbled in for a yard out. However, the ensuing EMU onside kick would be recovered by Akron to seal the victory.
Team Stats
EMU 0, AKRON 7
AKRON - ALLEN, Alex 2 yd run (ROGOVIC, Branko kick), 7 plays, 71 yards, TOP 2:41
EMU 7, AKRON 7
EMU - PRIEST, Dwayne 1 yd run (CARITHERS, Joe kick), 10 plays, 52 yards, TOP 5:16
EMU 7, AKRON 14
AKRON - ALLEN, Alex 8 yd run (ROGOVIC, Branko kick), 3 plays, 38 yards, TOP 1:10
EMU 14, AKRON 14
EMU - GILLETT, Alex 27 yd run (CARITHERS, Joe kick), 8 plays, 62 yards, TOP 4:05
EMU 14, AKRON 21
AKRON - GRAHAM, Miguel 62 yd interception (ROGOVIC, Branko kick)
EMU 14, AKRON 28
AKRON - MILLER, Dashan 29 yd run (ROGOVIC, Branko kick), 5 plays, 50 yards, TOP 1:57
EMU 21, AKRON 28
EMU - PRIEST, Dwayne 1 yd run (CARITHERS, Joe kick), 13 plays, 55 yards, TOP 4:07
