Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
Temple
Football Has a Date With Temple for Homecoming
9/28/2009 3:40:53 PM | Football, E-Gridiron Group
Eagles open the Mid-American Conference season with Homecoming game, Oct. 3
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EMU VS. TEMPLE: Temple and Eastern Michigan will be meeting for the fifth time in history when the two teams square off Saturday, Oct. 3, in Rynearson Stadium. The teams opened the series in Ypsilanti in 1993 when the Owls recorded a 28-24 win over the Eagles, Oct. 9. Temple returned to Ypsilanti in 1996 and won another nail-biter, 31-28, Aug. 31. Eastern then headed to Philadelphia, Pa. for a pair of games. Temple won a shootout, 49-40, in a game played Sept. 23, 2000 at Franklin Field and last year the Owls edged the Eagles, 55-52, Nov. 22, at Lincoln Financial Field.
EAGLES SET TO OPEN 34th MAC SEASON: The Eastern Michigan University football team is set to open its 34th Mid-American Conference season Saturday, Oct. 3, in a 1 p.m. home game against the Temple University Owls. The game is EMU's annual Homcoming
EMU BACK IN ACTION AFTER BYE WEEK: The Eagles return to action this weekend, Oct. 3, after being sidelined with a bye week, Sept. 26. This weekend's opponent, Temple, played last Saturday, recording their first Mid-American Conference win of the season, beating a visiting Buffalo team, 37-13.
CHRIS MAY EARNS NATIONAL AWARD: Senior defensive back Chris May (Jupiter, Fla.-Dwyer) was named an Honorable Mention Defensive Back of the Week by the website collegefootballperformance.com for his outstanding effort in the Eagles' loss at Michigan Saturday, Sept. 19. May had two interceptions in the game, with 23 yards in returns to go along with two solo tackles.
EAGLES TOP THE NATION: The Eagles enter the Temple game, Oct. 3, as the No. 1 ranked pass defense in the nation at 78 yards per contest.
82nd HOMECOMING TILT NEXT: When EMU hosts Temple University Saturday, Oct. 3, it will be the 82nd Homecoming game in school history. The tradition started in 1926 when then-Michigan Normal College downed Kalamazoo College, 19-0, on Nov. 29. The Green and White are 43-36-2 in homecoming games, including winning three of the last four contests. The Eagles beat Western Michigan, 19-2, Oct. 27, 2007, Toledo, 17-13, Oct. 21, 2006 and Kent State, 27-20, Oct. 1, 2005 before losing last year to Northern Ill., 37-0.
GILLETT GETS THE CALL: True freshman quarterback Alex Gillett (Green Springs, Ohio-Clyde) was called on for his first-ever collegiate effort in the Michigan game, Sept. 19. Gillett responded with a big third-down run for 13 yards in the first quarter. He then came on late in place of starting quarterback Andy Schmitt (St. Johns, Mich.-St. Johns) who left with an injury. Gillete ran six times for 36 yards and was 2-for-4 passing for nine yards.
STONE STOPPED: Senior wide receiver Jacory Stone (Cleveland, Ohio-Glenville) saw his consecutive streak for pass receptions end at 15 games after he was held without a catch in the Sept. 19 game at Michigan. Stone entered that game with 163 catches for 1,662 yards and eight touchdowns in 38 games for the Eagles.
PRIEST IMPRESSIVE ON THE GROUND: Junior running back Dwayne Priest (Roanoke, Va.-Fleming-Fork Union Military Academy) came up with a big effort at Michigan, Sept. 19, with 91 yards gained on 27 carries and a five-yard touchdown run. Priest added one reception for nine yards against the Wolverines. In his previous appearance in the Big House, Oct. 6, 2007, Priest was held to 38 yards on nine rushes. Priest is moving near the 1,000-yard career rushing mark with 955 yards gained on 218 carries to go along with eight rushing touchdowns during his 26-game EMU career. He has started all three outings this year and has rushed for 301 yards on 63 carries.
BACK TO FORM: EMU senior place-kicker Zach Johnson (Springboro, Ohio-Springboro) continues to be one of the bright spots of the kicking game for the Eagles through the first three games this season. Johnson was one of the top punters in the nation in both 2006 and 2007 and was a semifinalist for the Ray Guy Award as the nation's top punter, in 2006. He had a sub-par 2008 while dealing with injury. He opened 2009 with a bang, however, kicking six times for 281 total yards and a 46.8 yard average and has continued that first-game outing with two strong showings in two consecutive weekends in Big Ten stadiums. At Northwestern, Sept. 12, Johnson had four punts for a 40.0 yard averaged with a long of 53 and three of the four inside the 20-yard line. In the Michigan game, Sept. 19, Johnson had seven punts for a 42.4 yard average with a long of 54 and two inside the 20.
