EMU Offense Rolls in 48-38 Win Over Army

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — A high-powered Eastern Michigan University offense led the Eagles to a 48-38 non-conference football win over a visiting Army team here Saturday, Oct. 20, on Band Day in Rynearson Stadium.

For the Eagles it was their first win of the season against six losses while also their first over a non-conference NCAA FBS school since a 31-10 win over Louisiana-Lafayette, Sept. 10, 2005.

EMU piled up 577 yards in total offense, 369 though the air and 208 on the ground.

EMU redshirt sophomore quarterback Tyler Benz (Park Ridge, Ill.-Maine Township South) threw for five touchdowns to tie for second in the EMU single-game record book with Andy Schmitt and his 369 passing yards is the 18th best in school history. Benz completed 19-of-31 passes.

EMU sophomore running back Bronson Hill (Grand Rapids, Mich.-Catholic Central) rushed for 185 yards on 26 carries with one touchdown while senior tight end Garrett Hoskins (Grand Rapids, Mich.-Creston) hauled in seven passes for 158 yard and a score.

Army, now 1-6 overall, was led by quarterback Trent Steelman who rushed 16 times for 212 yards with two touchdowns. Army recorded 478 yards in total offense.

The EMU offense exploded for two quick scores to post a 14-0 lead in the first quarter, both on touchdown throws from Benz.

The first touchdown of the game came on EMU's first possession with Javonti Greene (West Palm Beach, Fla.-Royal Palm Beach) hauling in a 39-yard strike from Benz. Dylan Mulder (Saline, Mich.-Saline) added the PAT kick with 13:34 showing on the clock.

Eastern added seven more points at the 9:30 mark of the first when Benz connected with Hoskins for a one-yard reception with Mulder adding the PAT.

Army then came back with 10 unanswered points of its own, the first a 42-yard field goal by Daniel Grochowski with 5:44 left in the first quarter followed by a 55-yared run by Malcolm Brown with just 58 ticks left in the first quarter. Grochowski added the PAT kick.

The Eagles halted that Army run, with Hill snatching a 41-yard touchdown pass from Benz with 11:33 left in the second quarter.

Not to be denied, Steelman used a great fake to race 73 yards for right tackle for a touchdown run to cut the EMU lead to 21-17, with 10:49 remaining in the second quarter.

The Army defense then came up with a big play to halt a potential EMU score, picking off a Benz pass on their own one-yard line and returning it 65 yards to the EMU 34.

The EMU defense then had a big play of its own, with safety Alex Bellfy (Brooklyn, Mich.-Jackson Lumen Christi) recovering a Steelman fumble caused by Mycal Swaim (Chico, Calif.-Pleasant Valley-Butte C.C.) on the Eastern seven-yard line.

Benz made up for his own red-zone mistake, directing an offensive drive of 93 yards in 11 plays, culminating on a one-yard touchdown pass from Benz to tight end Christian Menet (Reading, Pa.-Exeter Township) on a fourth-and-goal call with just 13 seconds remaining in the first half. Mulder's PAT kick made it 28-17 at the half.

The Eagles opened the third-quarter scoring on a 34-yard field goal by Mulder at the 5:45 mark for a 31-17 EMU advantage.

The Black Knights responded just 11 seconds later on a 75-yard Steelman run from scrimmage for a touchdown. Grochowski's PAT kick cut EMU's lead to seven, 31-24.

Eastern answered that touchdown with one of its own, this time on an 11-yard pass from Benz to Ryan Brumfield (Chester Springs, Pa.-Owen J. Robert) at the 14:21 mark of the fourth quarter. Mulder's PAT kick made it EMU 38, Army 24.

The Eagles' Hill raced 42 yards for another touchdown with 11:59 and Mulder's PAT kick gave the home squad a 45-24 lead.

Army would cut the deficit to 14, 45-31, with 7:18 left in the game on a nine-yard Trenton Turrentine run.

Eastern closed out its scoring on a 23-yard Mulder field goal with 4:26 remaining in the game.

Army finished its scoring on a 35-yard pass from second-string quarterback A.J. Schurr to Anthony Stephens with just 2:10 left in the game.
The visitors would then take advantage of an on-sides kick to get the ball back but EMU would stop that threat on four straight stops to finish the game with a 48-38 victory.

EMU will now hit the road for a pair of Mid-American Conference cross-divisonal games, playing at Bowling Green, Oct. 27, and at #25 Ohio, Nov. 1.

Next Event

Team Stats

Tyler Benz

Players Mentioned

Alex Bellfy

Tyler Benz

Ryan Brumfield

Javonti Greene

Bronson Hill

Garrett Hoskins

Christian Menet

Dylan Mulder

Mycal Swaim

Players Mentioned

Alex Bellfy

Tyler Benz

Ryan Brumfield

Javonti Greene

Bronson Hill

Garrett Hoskins

Christian Menet

Dylan Mulder

Mycal Swaim

Eastern Michigan Athletics