EMU Makes it Six Wins by Beating Buffalo, 30-17

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YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — The Eastern Michigan University football team turned in its first six-win season since 1995, turning in a 30-17 victory over a visiting University at Buffalo team here Saturday, Nov. 12, in a Mid-American Conference cross-divisional game in Rynearson Stadium.

The win not only gave Head Coach Ron English's team a 6-4 overall record, and a 4-2 MAC mark, but more importantly it kept EMU's hopes alive to not only be bowl eligible but also to have a chance at winning the MAC West Division title. Eastern needs seven wins because it has two FCS wins this season and only one counts for bowl eligibility.

After a low-scoring first half the offenses were unleashed in the final 30 minutes with EMU out-pointing Buffalo, 21-14 to preserve the victory.

Eagles' quarterback Alex Gillett (Green, Springs, Ohio-Clyde) turned in another outstanding performance, tying his own single-game record with four touchdown passes. He completed 10-of-15 passes for 234 yards and also led the Green and White in rushing with 89 yards on 19 carries.

True freshman Demarius Reed (Chicago, Ill-Simeon Academy) was the recipient of two Gillett passes and both went for touchdowns, the first a 67-yard reception and the second an 11-yard aerial.

Junior tight end Garrett Hoskins (Grand Rapids, Mich.-Creston) also caught two Gillett throws, both for touchdowns, the first a 2-yard pass and the second a 34-yard TD.

The Eagle defense came up with another solid effort, turning in five sacks and 10 tackles-for-loss while limiting the Bulls to just 252 yards on 64 plays.

Buffalo, now 2-8 overall and 1-5 in the MAC, was led by tailback Branden Oliver who gained 133 yards on 18 rushes, including two touchdown runs. Buffalo quarterback Chazz Anderson completed 18-of-31 passes for 137 yards.

EMU sophomore place-kicker Kody Fulkerson (Zanesville, Ohio-Maysville) gave the Eagles a 3-0 lead on a 39-yard field goal at the 7:04 mark of the first quarter. That kick was the 13th play of the Eagles' first offensive possession of the game.

Hoskins caught a 2-yard pass from Gillett at the 11:50 mark of the second quarter, but a Fulkerson PAT was blocked, giving the Eagles a 9-0 lead.

Buffalo got on the board just before the end of the first half when Patrick Clarke connected on a 43-yard field goal with just four ticks on the clock to make it 9-3 at intermission.

After stopping EMU on its first possession of the second half, the visitors rallied to take their first lead of the day on a 3-yard run by Oliver with Clarke adding the PAT to make it 10-9 in favor of the Bulls.

The Eagles wasted little time retaliating, scoring on their next offensive possession when Gillett found Reed for a 67-yard touchdown pass. Fulkerson added the PAT for a 16-10 EMU lead with 8:00 left in the third.

That touchdown reception by Reed tied for the ninth-best scoring pass play in Rynearson Stadium history.

Buffalo once again had an answer, with Oliver racing 68 yards down the right sideline for a touchdown. Clarke added the PAT for a 17-16 Buffalo advantage.

Not to be out-done, the Eagles roared right back on their next offensive drive, with Gillett finding Reed on a fade pattern in the left corner of the end zone for an 11-yard touchdown. Fulkerson's PAT make it EMU 23, Buffalo 17, with 2:24 left in the third.

The EMU offense provided some more thrills on its next possession, with Gillett finding tight end Hoskins for a 34-yard touchdown with Fulkerson once again adding the PAT for a 30-17 EMU lead with 14:11 left in the fourth.

The EMU defense would remain stout the rest of the way to preserve the 30-17 victory.

The Eagles will now head to Kent, Ohio Saturday, Nov. 19, for a Mid-American Conference cross-divisional game against the Kent State University Golden Flashes before closing out the season at Northern Illinois, Nov. 25.

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Team Stats

Alex Gillett

Players Mentioned

Kody Fulkerson

Alex Gillett

Garrett Hoskins

Demarius Reed

Players Mentioned

Kody Fulkerson

Alex Gillett

Garrett Hoskins

Demarius Reed

Eastern Michigan Athletics