Football Drops a Heartbreaker to Northwestern, 27-24

Box score.

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EVANSTON, Ill. (EMUEagles.com) – A dramatic fourth quarter comeback by the Eastern Michigan University football team fell just short here Saturday afternoon, Sept. 12, versus Northwestern University in non-conference action at Ryan Field.

After trailing 21-0, the Eagles responded in a big way to tie the contest at 24 on a two-yard touchdown scamper by senior tailback Terrence Blevins (Detroit, Mich.-Denby) with 2:40 to play.

The Wildcats then marched downfield to the EMU 25-yard line with just under one minute left in the game.Back-to-back Northwestern penalties moved the ball back to mid field with 43 seconds left. Then with 11 ticks left on the clock, Stefan Demos drilled a 49-yard field goal for Northwestern for the go ahead tally to make it 27-24. Eastern's last ditch heave after the ensuing kickoff was intercepted as Northwestern escaped with the hard-fought victory as time ran out.

Eastern Michigan's 25-game losing skid against the Big Ten Conference nearly came to an end, as the Eagles fall to 0-2 on the young season. Meanwhile, the 'Cats remain perfect at 2-0 and 3-0 all-time versus the Green and White.

Senior quarterback Andy Schmitt (St. Johns, Mich.-St. Johns) led the Eagles offensively, going 20-for-28 for 148 yards via the air and a score. Junior Dwayne Priest (Roanoke, Va.-William Fleming-Fork Union Academy) led the Eagles' rushing attack with 17 carries for 127 yards and a touchdown while Blevins added nine rushes for 29 yards and a score. Defensively, Marty Cardwell (Flint, Mich.-Carman-Ainsworth) and Andre' Hatchett (Indianapolis, Ind.-Warren Central) both had 12 stops.

For Northwestern, Stephen Simmons carried the ball 13 times for 73 yards and two touchdowns while Jacob Schmidt added 13 carries for 61yards. Quarterback Mike Kafka ran the ball five times for 21 yards while going 14-for-24 via the air.

Trailing 21-0 after Schimitt's pass was returned for a touchdown with 9:08 to play in the second half, Eastern was finally able to get on the board with 3:32 to play when junior place-kicker Joe Carithers (Dacula, Ga.-Dacula) knocked through a 33-yard field goal to make it 21-3. The drive was set up via a fumble recovery by junior Arrington Hicks (Orlando, Fla.-Edgewater) at the 12-yard line of Northwestern.

Following the intermission, Eastern was able to keep the momentum rolling in its favor. After a defensive stand, Priest's one-yard touchdown dash with 4:33 left in the third sealed the 12-play, 88-yard drive that took 6:46 off the clock. Carithers' extra point pulled the Green and White within 11, 21-10.

Northwestern would answer with a scoring drive of its own as Demos drilled a 20-yard field goal to make it 24-10 with 12:57 to go.

A lucky bounce off the foot of senior punter Zach Johnson (Springboro, Ohio-Springboro) gave the football back to the Eagles at the Wildcats' 35-yard line following a EMU stalled drive. Johnson's spiraling punt bounced off the back of a Northwestern player and into the hands of Cardwell with12:57 to play. Schmitt made the turnover hurt, finding a streaking Jacory Stone (Cleveland, Ohio-Glenville) for a 25-yard touchdown pass. The PAT cut the deficit to seven, 24-17, with 9:55 left.

Things got even tighter with 7:04 to play when Ryan Downard (Lima, Ohio-Shawnee) picked off Kafka's pass at the six-yard line as the Wildcats were attempting a score. The Lima, Ohio native returned it 15-yards to the 21-yard line. Priest would follow with a big run of his own, a 35-yard dash inside Northwestern territory at the 44. Six plays later Blevins waltzed in from two yards out to cap the 79-yard drive. Carithers' PAT knotted the contest at 24 with 2:40 showing on the scoreboard.

However, the Wildcats marched down to the EMU 25-yard line with just under one minute left in the game. Back-to-back penalties by Northwestern moved the ball back to midfield with 43 seconds left. Then with 11 ticks left on the clock, Stefan Demos drilled the 49-yard field goal for the go ahead tally to make it 27-24.

To open the game the Eagles received solid field position via a 29-yard kickoff return by senior Johnny Sears (Fresno, Calif.-Edison). EMU took advantage, marching 28 yards on 10 plays, however, the drive would stall at the 'Cats 31 yard line. Carithers would be called upon to try for the first points of the contest but his 48-yard attempt fell short of the goal post.

Northwestern would make the miscue pay immediately, as Kafka would guide the offensive 68 yards in12 plays that was capped with a one-yard touchdown scamper from Stephen Simmons. Stefan Demos added the extra point to make it 7-0 with 6:38 to play in the first quarter.

Following another failed EMU drive, Johnson made life difficult for NU with his punt being downed at the one-yard line. Unphased by the field position, Northwestern methodically strung together a 13-play, 99-yard drive that covered more than four minutes. Simmons broke off a 14-yard run to paydirt to complete the drive and up the Wildcat edge to 14-0 with 12:33 left in the half.

Johnson was again able to pin the 'Cats deep with another punt that rolled out of bounds at the two-yard line. A quick three-and-out gave the ball back to the Eagles at the NU 40-yard line with 9:41 showing on the clock. But again the great field position would be for naught, as Schmitt's pass was intercepted by Ben Johnson and returned 70 yards for the score to make it 21-0 in favor of Northwestern.

Eastern Michigan continues non-conference action Saturday, Sept. 19, against Washtenaw County rival the University of Michigan. Kickoff is scheduled for noon at Michigan Stadium. WEMU (89.1 FM) and WCHB (1200 AM) will carry the game on the radio with the Big Ten Network broadcasting on the television-side.

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Team Stats

Andy Schmitt

Players Mentioned

Terrence Blevins

Joe Carithers

Ryan Downard

Andre’ Hatchett

Arrington Hicks

Zach Johnson

Dwayne Priest

Andy Schmitt

Johnny Sears

Jacory Stone

Players Mentioned

Terrence Blevins

Joe Carithers

Ryan Downard

Andre’ Hatchett

Arrington Hicks

Zach Johnson

Dwayne Priest

Andy Schmitt

Johnny Sears

Jacory Stone

Eastern Michigan Athletics