Eastern Michigan Athletics
Friday, November 26
Rynearson Stadium
Noon
Eastern Michigan University
vs
Northern Illinois
Photo by: EMU Athletics/Randy Mascharka
Eagles Close Out 2010 Season with Friday Afternoon Tilt
11/22/2010 6:08:37 PM | Football, E-Gridiron Group
The game is “Senior Day” with 14 EMU players to be honored in pre-game ceremonies marking their final Rynearson Stadium performances.
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THE TEAMS: The Eastern Michigan University football team will close out its 2010 season Friday, Nov. 26, when the Eagles host Northern Illinois University in a noon game inside Rynearson Stadium. The game is “Senior Day” with 14 EMU players to be honored in pre-game ceremonies marking their final Rynearson Stadium performances. The Eagles, 2-9 overall and 2-5 in the MAC, are coming off a 21-17 victory at Buffalo, Nov. 20. Northern Illinois is 9-2 overall and 7-0 in league play after a defeating Ball State, 59-21, to secure a spot in the 2010 Marathon MAC Championship game as the West Division Champions.
ALL-TIME VERSUS NORTHERN ILLINOIS: Eastern Michigan University and Northern Illinois University will be meeting for the 41st time in history when the two teams square off Friday, Nov. 26 in a Mid-American Conference West Division game. NIU holds a 24-14-2 advantage in the all-time series that dates back to 1927. NIU recorded a 50-6 victory last year, Nov. 5, 2009, in DeKalb, Ill.. Eastern's last win in the series came Sept. 15, 2007, by a 21-19 margin. Prior to that EMU victory, the Eagles had lost six in a row to the Huskies.
QUALITY UPPERCLASSMEN: Saturday's game with Northern Illinois University marks the final Rynearson Stadium appearance for 14 Eastern Michigan University seniors. That group of seniors has made its mark on the EMU football program as a total of 11 of those players have earned at least one start this season.
RUNNING TO DAYLIGHT: EMU senior tailback Dwayne Priest (Roanoke, Va.-Fleming-Fork Union Military Academy) turned in a career day to help lead the Eagles to a 21-17 win at Buffalo, Nov. 20. Priest, behind great blocking by his offensive line, ran for a personal-best 192 yards on 35 carries while also scoring three times, all on one-yard rushes. He also hauled in two passes for 13 yards.
SENIORS CLOSE IT OUT: A total of 14 seniors will be honored at the 2010 season finale in Rynearson Stadium Friday, Nov. 26, when the Eagles host Northern Illinois University in a Mid-American Conference West Division matchup.
PRIEST WINS AWARDS: Senior running back Dwayne Priest (Roanoke, Va.-Fleming-Fork Union Academy) won one national award and one league honor for his career-best 192 yards rushing in last weekend's 21-17 win at Buffalo, Nov. 20. Priest, who also scored a career-high three touchdowns, all one-yard efforts, in that win over the Bulls, was named Mid-American Conference West Division Offensive Player of the Week and also selected as Rivals.Com MAC Player of the Week for his efforts. He also won the MAC West Division award earlier this season after rushing for 142 yards and two touchdowns against Army game, Nov. 4.
HITTING THE 30s: A total of 14 current EMU players have participated in 30 or more games during their careers. The players, with total games and starts in parenthesis, are: Tyrone Burke (Syracuse, N.Y.-Corcoran-Milford Academy 43-13), Eric Davis (Southgate, Mich.-Anderson 41-37) Dan DeMaster (Macomb, Mich.-L'Anse Creuse Central 40-32), Ryan Downard (Lima, Ohio-Shawnee 34-31), Tim Fort (Southfield, Mich.-Southfield 40-18), Arrington Hicks (Orlando, Fla.-Edgewater 43-31), Josh LeDuc (Canton, Mich.-Plymouth 33-5), Brad Ohrman (Adrian, Mich.-Adrian 35-22), Tyler Palsrok (Vicksburg, Mich.-Vicksburg 33-6) Dwayne Priest (Roanoke, Va.-Fleming-Fork Union 42-21), Javon Reese (Fort Wayne, Ind.-Southside 34-16), Brandon Slater (Southfield, Mich.-Lathrup 35-29), Ben Thayer (Kalamazoo, Mich.-Hackett Catholic Central 47-23), and Corey Welch (Akron, Ohio-Green 34-3).
TOP HALF OF THE MAC: EMU finds itself in the top five in five team categories in the latest Mid-American Conference statistics report. The Eagles are third in two categories, including rushing offense (175.5), and time of possession (31.59 minute average), fourth in punting (36.3), and fifth in total offense (349.2 ypg), and third-down conversions (37.3 percent). The Eagles are also in a tie for sixth in sacks allowed (21 for 141).
CRANKING UP THE “O”: The EMU offense turned in a solid performance, Nov. 13, in a 45-30 setback at Western Michigan. Sophomore quarterback Alex Gillett (Green Springs, Ohio-Clyde) rushed 22 times for 159 yards and one touchdown, a career-best 32-yard run, and also passed for 214 yards and three touchdowns on 13-of-24 passing. His three-touchdown performance tied his single-game best of three set earlier this season against Ball State, Oct. 16.
TWO TURN IN FIRSTS: EMU wide receivers Tyrone Burke (Syracuse, N.Y.-Corcoran-Milford (Conn.) Academy) and Chaz Mitchell (Lexington, Ky.-Bryan Station) both turned in their first touchdown receptions of the season at Western Michigan Saturday, Nov. 13. Burke, who is currently third on the team in receptions with 19 for 182 yards, had two catches for 45 yards, including a touchdown grab of 40 yards against the Broncos. Mitchell had one catch against Western and he made it count for a 29-yard touchdown.
RECORD-SETTING EFFORT: EMU sophomore quarterback Alex Gillett (Green Springs, Ohio-Clyde) turned in a record-setting effort to lead the Eagles to their first win of the season, Oct. 16, in Muncie, Ind. against the Ball State University Cardinals. Gillett set EMU QB records for most rushes (35) and net rushing yards (189)while scoring two rushing touchdowns and also completing 10-of-18 passes for 225 yards and three touchdowns in EMU's 41-38 come-from-behind overtime win. Gillett scored on touchdown runs of six and two yards and threw touchdown passes of 73, 33 and 12 yards, with the last one a 12-yard TD throw to tight end Ben Thayer (Kalamazoo, Mich.-Hacket Catholic Central) in overtime to give EMU the 41-38 victory. Gillett's 35 rushes is the 17th best in EMU history and the most ever by a QB while his 189 net rushing yards is the 18th best effort in school history, and also the most ever by a QB. Gillett led EMU back from an early 21-0 deficit to gain the win, the Eagles' first of the season. He had 53 total offensive plays and 414 yards in total offense, the ninth best single-game effort in school history.
EVENING UP THE OT RESULTS: EMU's 41-38 overtime win at Ball State Saturday, Oct. 16, 2010, evens EMU's extra-session record at 4-4. The overtime game was the first for EMU since a 24-17 defeat at the hands of Central Michigan, Sept. 23, 2006. A complete list of EMU overtime efforts can be found on page seven of this release.
BREAKING INTO THE TOP 10: Sophomore tight end Garrett Hoskins (Grand Rapids, Mich.-Creston) turned in an acrobatic catch for a 73-yard touchdown reception from quarterback Alex Gillett (Green Springs, Ohio-Clyde) Saturday, Oct. 16, in a 41-38 overtime win at Ball State. That catch for Hoskins is tied for the 10th-longest in EMU history.
RETURN TO VIRGINIA: EMU senior running back Dwayne Priest (Roanoke, Va.-Fleming-Fork Union Military), and redshirt sophomore linebacker Steve Brown (Charlottesville, Va.-St. Anne's Belfield) both played their high school football in Virginia and had good outings in their return to the Old Dominion State Saturday, Oct. 23, when the Eagles played Virginia. Priest returned from a two-game absence because of injury to rush eight times for 38 yards. Brown started at middle linebacker and recorded four tackles.
FIRST FOR TWO: EMU senior tight end Ben Thayer (Kalamazoo, Mich.-Hacket Catholic Central) turned in the first two-touchdown reception day of his career when he had a 33-yard touchdown pass and a 12-yard TD strike, the last the game-winning score, in a 41-38 overtime win over Ball State Saturday, Oct. 16. Thayer has five career touchdown grabs.
BEST SINCE 2005: When senior tailback Dwayne Priest (Roanoke, Va.-Fleming-Fork Union Academy) and sophomore quarterback Alex Gillett (Green Springs, Ohio-Clyde) both ran for more than 100 yards in the 2010 season opener, Sept. 4, against Army, it was the first time that two EMU backs were over the century mark since the 2005 season when Tyler Jones and Anthony Sherrell both surpassed 100 yards. Priest ran 26 times for 142 yards and Gillett rushed 18 times for 126 in the Army game. Jones ran 12 times for 107 yards and Sherrell carried the rock 19 times for 107 yards, Oct. 22, 2005, at home against Miami.
Click Here to Watch the Game on All-Access.
Click Here to Listen to the Game.
Click Here for Live Stats.
THE TEAMS: The Eastern Michigan University football team will close out its 2010 season Friday, Nov. 26, when the Eagles host Northern Illinois University in a noon game inside Rynearson Stadium. The game is “Senior Day” with 14 EMU players to be honored in pre-game ceremonies marking their final Rynearson Stadium performances. The Eagles, 2-9 overall and 2-5 in the MAC, are coming off a 21-17 victory at Buffalo, Nov. 20. Northern Illinois is 9-2 overall and 7-0 in league play after a defeating Ball State, 59-21, to secure a spot in the 2010 Marathon MAC Championship game as the West Division Champions.
ALL-TIME VERSUS NORTHERN ILLINOIS: Eastern Michigan University and Northern Illinois University will be meeting for the 41st time in history when the two teams square off Friday, Nov. 26 in a Mid-American Conference West Division game. NIU holds a 24-14-2 advantage in the all-time series that dates back to 1927. NIU recorded a 50-6 victory last year, Nov. 5, 2009, in DeKalb, Ill.. Eastern's last win in the series came Sept. 15, 2007, by a 21-19 margin. Prior to that EMU victory, the Eagles had lost six in a row to the Huskies.
QUALITY UPPERCLASSMEN: Saturday's game with Northern Illinois University marks the final Rynearson Stadium appearance for 14 Eastern Michigan University seniors. That group of seniors has made its mark on the EMU football program as a total of 11 of those players have earned at least one start this season.
RUNNING TO DAYLIGHT: EMU senior tailback Dwayne Priest (Roanoke, Va.-Fleming-Fork Union Military Academy) turned in a career day to help lead the Eagles to a 21-17 win at Buffalo, Nov. 20. Priest, behind great blocking by his offensive line, ran for a personal-best 192 yards on 35 carries while also scoring three times, all on one-yard rushes. He also hauled in two passes for 13 yards.
SENIORS CLOSE IT OUT: A total of 14 seniors will be honored at the 2010 season finale in Rynearson Stadium Friday, Nov. 26, when the Eagles host Northern Illinois University in a Mid-American Conference West Division matchup.
PRIEST WINS AWARDS: Senior running back Dwayne Priest (Roanoke, Va.-Fleming-Fork Union Academy) won one national award and one league honor for his career-best 192 yards rushing in last weekend's 21-17 win at Buffalo, Nov. 20. Priest, who also scored a career-high three touchdowns, all one-yard efforts, in that win over the Bulls, was named Mid-American Conference West Division Offensive Player of the Week and also selected as Rivals.Com MAC Player of the Week for his efforts. He also won the MAC West Division award earlier this season after rushing for 142 yards and two touchdowns against Army game, Nov. 4.
HITTING THE 30s: A total of 14 current EMU players have participated in 30 or more games during their careers. The players, with total games and starts in parenthesis, are: Tyrone Burke (Syracuse, N.Y.-Corcoran-Milford Academy 43-13), Eric Davis (Southgate, Mich.-Anderson 41-37) Dan DeMaster (Macomb, Mich.-L'Anse Creuse Central 40-32), Ryan Downard (Lima, Ohio-Shawnee 34-31), Tim Fort (Southfield, Mich.-Southfield 40-18), Arrington Hicks (Orlando, Fla.-Edgewater 43-31), Josh LeDuc (Canton, Mich.-Plymouth 33-5), Brad Ohrman (Adrian, Mich.-Adrian 35-22), Tyler Palsrok (Vicksburg, Mich.-Vicksburg 33-6) Dwayne Priest (Roanoke, Va.-Fleming-Fork Union 42-21), Javon Reese (Fort Wayne, Ind.-Southside 34-16), Brandon Slater (Southfield, Mich.-Lathrup 35-29), Ben Thayer (Kalamazoo, Mich.-Hackett Catholic Central 47-23), and Corey Welch (Akron, Ohio-Green 34-3).
TOP HALF OF THE MAC: EMU finds itself in the top five in five team categories in the latest Mid-American Conference statistics report. The Eagles are third in two categories, including rushing offense (175.5), and time of possession (31.59 minute average), fourth in punting (36.3), and fifth in total offense (349.2 ypg), and third-down conversions (37.3 percent). The Eagles are also in a tie for sixth in sacks allowed (21 for 141).
CRANKING UP THE “O”: The EMU offense turned in a solid performance, Nov. 13, in a 45-30 setback at Western Michigan. Sophomore quarterback Alex Gillett (Green Springs, Ohio-Clyde) rushed 22 times for 159 yards and one touchdown, a career-best 32-yard run, and also passed for 214 yards and three touchdowns on 13-of-24 passing. His three-touchdown performance tied his single-game best of three set earlier this season against Ball State, Oct. 16.
TWO TURN IN FIRSTS: EMU wide receivers Tyrone Burke (Syracuse, N.Y.-Corcoran-Milford (Conn.) Academy) and Chaz Mitchell (Lexington, Ky.-Bryan Station) both turned in their first touchdown receptions of the season at Western Michigan Saturday, Nov. 13. Burke, who is currently third on the team in receptions with 19 for 182 yards, had two catches for 45 yards, including a touchdown grab of 40 yards against the Broncos. Mitchell had one catch against Western and he made it count for a 29-yard touchdown.
RECORD-SETTING EFFORT: EMU sophomore quarterback Alex Gillett (Green Springs, Ohio-Clyde) turned in a record-setting effort to lead the Eagles to their first win of the season, Oct. 16, in Muncie, Ind. against the Ball State University Cardinals. Gillett set EMU QB records for most rushes (35) and net rushing yards (189)while scoring two rushing touchdowns and also completing 10-of-18 passes for 225 yards and three touchdowns in EMU's 41-38 come-from-behind overtime win. Gillett scored on touchdown runs of six and two yards and threw touchdown passes of 73, 33 and 12 yards, with the last one a 12-yard TD throw to tight end Ben Thayer (Kalamazoo, Mich.-Hacket Catholic Central) in overtime to give EMU the 41-38 victory. Gillett's 35 rushes is the 17th best in EMU history and the most ever by a QB while his 189 net rushing yards is the 18th best effort in school history, and also the most ever by a QB. Gillett led EMU back from an early 21-0 deficit to gain the win, the Eagles' first of the season. He had 53 total offensive plays and 414 yards in total offense, the ninth best single-game effort in school history.
EVENING UP THE OT RESULTS: EMU's 41-38 overtime win at Ball State Saturday, Oct. 16, 2010, evens EMU's extra-session record at 4-4. The overtime game was the first for EMU since a 24-17 defeat at the hands of Central Michigan, Sept. 23, 2006. A complete list of EMU overtime efforts can be found on page seven of this release.
BREAKING INTO THE TOP 10: Sophomore tight end Garrett Hoskins (Grand Rapids, Mich.-Creston) turned in an acrobatic catch for a 73-yard touchdown reception from quarterback Alex Gillett (Green Springs, Ohio-Clyde) Saturday, Oct. 16, in a 41-38 overtime win at Ball State. That catch for Hoskins is tied for the 10th-longest in EMU history.
RETURN TO VIRGINIA: EMU senior running back Dwayne Priest (Roanoke, Va.-Fleming-Fork Union Military), and redshirt sophomore linebacker Steve Brown (Charlottesville, Va.-St. Anne's Belfield) both played their high school football in Virginia and had good outings in their return to the Old Dominion State Saturday, Oct. 23, when the Eagles played Virginia. Priest returned from a two-game absence because of injury to rush eight times for 38 yards. Brown started at middle linebacker and recorded four tackles.
FIRST FOR TWO: EMU senior tight end Ben Thayer (Kalamazoo, Mich.-Hacket Catholic Central) turned in the first two-touchdown reception day of his career when he had a 33-yard touchdown pass and a 12-yard TD strike, the last the game-winning score, in a 41-38 overtime win over Ball State Saturday, Oct. 16. Thayer has five career touchdown grabs.
BEST SINCE 2005: When senior tailback Dwayne Priest (Roanoke, Va.-Fleming-Fork Union Academy) and sophomore quarterback Alex Gillett (Green Springs, Ohio-Clyde) both ran for more than 100 yards in the 2010 season opener, Sept. 4, against Army, it was the first time that two EMU backs were over the century mark since the 2005 season when Tyler Jones and Anthony Sherrell both surpassed 100 yards. Priest ran 26 times for 142 yards and Gillett rushed 18 times for 126 in the Army game. Jones ran 12 times for 107 yards and Sherrell carried the rock 19 times for 107 yards, Oct. 22, 2005, at home against Miami.
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