Eastern Michigan Athletics
Saturday, September 8
Rynearson Stadium
1 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
vs
Illinois State
Photo by: Scott Olmstead
Football Returns to Rynearson Stadium to Host Illinois State
9/3/2012 10:30:00 AM | Football, E-Gridiron Group
Saturday, Sept. 8, 2012 » 1:06 p.m. » Rynearson Stadium (30,200) » Ypsilanti, Mich.
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YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- The Eastern Michigan University football team returns home to the friendly confines of Rynearson Stadium Saturday, Sept. 8, to open the home portion of the 2012 schedule. The non-conference affair pits the Eagles against Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) foe Illinois State University. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:06 p.m.
The contest will be televised regionally on Comcast SportsNet Chicago with Kurt Pegler providing the play-by-play and Boomer Grigsby serving as the analyst. WEMU (89.1 FM) will provide audio coverage of the game with Matt Shepard and Brian Nemerovski calling the action on the field.
ALL-TIME AGAINST THE REDBIRDS: The Eagles and Redbirds will be renewing a rivalry that has been dormant since the 1981 campaign. The series record is tied at 12-12-6. EMU and ISU first met during the 1935 season, when the teams locked up in a scoreless tie in Normal, Ill., Oct. 26. The Eagles will be looking to snap the Redbird's four-game winning streak in the series which included a 28-7 decision at Hancock Stadium, Oct. 19, 1981.
EMU's last win in the rivalry occurred Nov. 12, 1977, when the then-Hurons notched a 41-28 victory at Rynearson Stadium.
WINNING STREAK: The Eagles have posted an 8-3 record against Football Championship Subdivision opponents since the 2001 campaign. However, EMU is currently riding a four-game winning streak that includes a 38-15 decision over Howard, Sept. 22, 2007, a 52-0 victory over Indiana State, Aug. 28, 2008, a 41-9 win against Howard, Sept. 4, 2011, and a 14-7 decision against Alabama State, Sept. 10, 2011.
SIX PACK AT HOME: For the second consecutive season and only the third time since the 2003 campaign, the Eagles will host six home games in the confines of Rynearson Stadium. EMU hosted six games during the 2004 campaign, but one of the contests was held at Ford Field in Detroit, Mich. as part of the inaugural Collegiate Clash against Central Michigan University.
NEW BLOOD: A total of 13 players saw their first-ever action for EMU during the 2012 season opener, Aug. 30, on the road against Ball State. Seven of those players; Kirkland Bryant, Dustin Creel, Mitchell Dawkins, Darius Jackson, Quincy Jones, Pat O'Connor and Arron Pipkins are true freshmen and one; Omar McFarlane is a redshirt freshman.
Others seeing their first action included: Donald Coleman, Devin Henderson, Sean Kurtz, Travis Linser and Cy Maughmer.
PALI ON THE STOP: Senior Bryan Pali's 2012 debut was an impressive one, as he turned in a team-high 17 tackles (5 solo, 12 assists) against Ball State, Aug. 30. He also added 0.5 tackles-for-loss in EMU's 37-26 setback to the Cardinals.
The 17 tackles were the most by an Eagle since Martavius Cardwell finished with 17 stops at Northern Illinois, Nov. 14, 2009.
GILLETT CONTINUES TO MAKE A MOVE UPWARDS: Senior quarterback Alex Gillett has played in 34 games for the Eagles, earning 28 starts, and has made significant advancement in several EMU career categories. Gillett has rushed 454 times for 2,067 yards and 111 touchdowns and has completed 319-of-598 passes for 4,091 yards and 33 touchdowns in those 34 games. He has recorded 1,052 total offensive plays (rush and pass) for 6,158 total offensive yards.
He is currently ranked fourth all-time in total offensive yards and is just the sixth player in school history to reach 4,000 total offensive yard. His 319 career completions is good for the seventh spot while his 4,091 career passing yards is eighth in EMU history. Additionally, his 33 career touchdown passes is tied with Bob Middlekauff and Andy Schmitt for fourth in EMU history.
GILLETT EXCELS VERSUS BALL STATE: The past three seasons senior Alex Gillett has saved some of his best performances for the Cardinals of Ball State. In three games, he has racked up 1,008 total yards and 13 touchdowns. In the Eagles' 41-38 overtime win in Muncie, Oct. 16, 2010, Gillett ran for 189 yards and two scores while throwing for 225 yards and three touchdowns. Last year the Clyde, Ohio native rushed for 126 yards against BSU, to go along with 196 yards via the air and a career-best four touchdown passes, Nov. 5, 2011. He followed it up with 272 total years (191 passing, 81 rushing) and four scores in the 2012 season opener, Aug. 30.
KARUTZ BOOTS IT DEEP: Senior Jay Karutz punted seven times for an average of 44.9 yards per kick at Ball State, Aug. 30. Three of those punts finished inside the 20-yard line, with his long of the day traveling a career-best 64 yards.
OTHER RECEIVING HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE SEASON OPENER: Junior Donald Scott recorded his third career touchdown reception and his first since 2010 at Ohio State, Sept. 25....Senior Garrett Hoskins picked up his sixth career touchdown reception...”True” freshman Mitchell Dawkins hauled in his first career touchdown reception with 10:02 left in the 4th quarter.
LEAGUE TILT KICKED OFF 2012: The Aug. 30 contest marked the 12th Mid-American Conference season-opening game in school history. Previously, the last MAC game to start the season was 2006 when EMU also made the trek to BSU.
Overall, the EMU-BSU contest was one of just four games around the nation to feature conference foes squaring off during the season's opening week. Other league pairings include South Carolina/Vanderbilt, Miami (Fla.)/Boston College and Georgia Tech/Virginia Tech.
OPENING UP: EMU is 54-59-8 (47.9%) all-time on opening day. The BSU game, Aug. 30, marked the fourth time in the last 11 years that the Eagles opened a season on the road.
REDBIRD CONNECTIONS: EMU Defensive Graduate Assistant Bo Flowers played for Illinois State and Head Coach Brock Spack during the 2010 season. A transfer from the University of Illinois, Flowers was named to the Missouri Valley Football Conference All-Newcomer Team.
ON THE HORIZON: Following the ISU game, Eastern Michigan travels to Purdue University, Sept. 15, for a non-conference game. Game time is scheduled for noon at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind.
Purdue and Eastern Michigan have met just once before, a 49-3 Boilermaker win at Ross-Ade Stadium, Sept. 7, 1991. In that contest, the Eagles fell behind 21-0 before Jim Langeloh kicked a 43-yard field goal to get the Green and White on the scoreboard. EMU turned the ball over five times on the day and managed just 206 yards of offense (80 rushing, 126 passing), meanwhile PU notched 289 yards on the ground and 78 via the air without a turnover.
Live Stats - Fan-Based. Media.
Watch the Game.
Listen to the Game.
Eagle Nation Insider Podcast.
Fan Guide.
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- The Eastern Michigan University football team returns home to the friendly confines of Rynearson Stadium Saturday, Sept. 8, to open the home portion of the 2012 schedule. The non-conference affair pits the Eagles against Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) foe Illinois State University. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:06 p.m.
The contest will be televised regionally on Comcast SportsNet Chicago with Kurt Pegler providing the play-by-play and Boomer Grigsby serving as the analyst. WEMU (89.1 FM) will provide audio coverage of the game with Matt Shepard and Brian Nemerovski calling the action on the field.
ALL-TIME AGAINST THE REDBIRDS: The Eagles and Redbirds will be renewing a rivalry that has been dormant since the 1981 campaign. The series record is tied at 12-12-6. EMU and ISU first met during the 1935 season, when the teams locked up in a scoreless tie in Normal, Ill., Oct. 26. The Eagles will be looking to snap the Redbird's four-game winning streak in the series which included a 28-7 decision at Hancock Stadium, Oct. 19, 1981.
EMU's last win in the rivalry occurred Nov. 12, 1977, when the then-Hurons notched a 41-28 victory at Rynearson Stadium.
WINNING STREAK: The Eagles have posted an 8-3 record against Football Championship Subdivision opponents since the 2001 campaign. However, EMU is currently riding a four-game winning streak that includes a 38-15 decision over Howard, Sept. 22, 2007, a 52-0 victory over Indiana State, Aug. 28, 2008, a 41-9 win against Howard, Sept. 4, 2011, and a 14-7 decision against Alabama State, Sept. 10, 2011.
SIX PACK AT HOME: For the second consecutive season and only the third time since the 2003 campaign, the Eagles will host six home games in the confines of Rynearson Stadium. EMU hosted six games during the 2004 campaign, but one of the contests was held at Ford Field in Detroit, Mich. as part of the inaugural Collegiate Clash against Central Michigan University.
NEW BLOOD: A total of 13 players saw their first-ever action for EMU during the 2012 season opener, Aug. 30, on the road against Ball State. Seven of those players; Kirkland Bryant, Dustin Creel, Mitchell Dawkins, Darius Jackson, Quincy Jones, Pat O'Connor and Arron Pipkins are true freshmen and one; Omar McFarlane is a redshirt freshman.
Others seeing their first action included: Donald Coleman, Devin Henderson, Sean Kurtz, Travis Linser and Cy Maughmer.
PALI ON THE STOP: Senior Bryan Pali's 2012 debut was an impressive one, as he turned in a team-high 17 tackles (5 solo, 12 assists) against Ball State, Aug. 30. He also added 0.5 tackles-for-loss in EMU's 37-26 setback to the Cardinals.
The 17 tackles were the most by an Eagle since Martavius Cardwell finished with 17 stops at Northern Illinois, Nov. 14, 2009.
GILLETT CONTINUES TO MAKE A MOVE UPWARDS: Senior quarterback Alex Gillett has played in 34 games for the Eagles, earning 28 starts, and has made significant advancement in several EMU career categories. Gillett has rushed 454 times for 2,067 yards and 111 touchdowns and has completed 319-of-598 passes for 4,091 yards and 33 touchdowns in those 34 games. He has recorded 1,052 total offensive plays (rush and pass) for 6,158 total offensive yards.
He is currently ranked fourth all-time in total offensive yards and is just the sixth player in school history to reach 4,000 total offensive yard. His 319 career completions is good for the seventh spot while his 4,091 career passing yards is eighth in EMU history. Additionally, his 33 career touchdown passes is tied with Bob Middlekauff and Andy Schmitt for fourth in EMU history.
GILLETT EXCELS VERSUS BALL STATE: The past three seasons senior Alex Gillett has saved some of his best performances for the Cardinals of Ball State. In three games, he has racked up 1,008 total yards and 13 touchdowns. In the Eagles' 41-38 overtime win in Muncie, Oct. 16, 2010, Gillett ran for 189 yards and two scores while throwing for 225 yards and three touchdowns. Last year the Clyde, Ohio native rushed for 126 yards against BSU, to go along with 196 yards via the air and a career-best four touchdown passes, Nov. 5, 2011. He followed it up with 272 total years (191 passing, 81 rushing) and four scores in the 2012 season opener, Aug. 30.
KARUTZ BOOTS IT DEEP: Senior Jay Karutz punted seven times for an average of 44.9 yards per kick at Ball State, Aug. 30. Three of those punts finished inside the 20-yard line, with his long of the day traveling a career-best 64 yards.
OTHER RECEIVING HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE SEASON OPENER: Junior Donald Scott recorded his third career touchdown reception and his first since 2010 at Ohio State, Sept. 25....Senior Garrett Hoskins picked up his sixth career touchdown reception...”True” freshman Mitchell Dawkins hauled in his first career touchdown reception with 10:02 left in the 4th quarter.
LEAGUE TILT KICKED OFF 2012: The Aug. 30 contest marked the 12th Mid-American Conference season-opening game in school history. Previously, the last MAC game to start the season was 2006 when EMU also made the trek to BSU.
Overall, the EMU-BSU contest was one of just four games around the nation to feature conference foes squaring off during the season's opening week. Other league pairings include South Carolina/Vanderbilt, Miami (Fla.)/Boston College and Georgia Tech/Virginia Tech.
OPENING UP: EMU is 54-59-8 (47.9%) all-time on opening day. The BSU game, Aug. 30, marked the fourth time in the last 11 years that the Eagles opened a season on the road.
REDBIRD CONNECTIONS: EMU Defensive Graduate Assistant Bo Flowers played for Illinois State and Head Coach Brock Spack during the 2010 season. A transfer from the University of Illinois, Flowers was named to the Missouri Valley Football Conference All-Newcomer Team.
ON THE HORIZON: Following the ISU game, Eastern Michigan travels to Purdue University, Sept. 15, for a non-conference game. Game time is scheduled for noon at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind.
Purdue and Eastern Michigan have met just once before, a 49-3 Boilermaker win at Ross-Ade Stadium, Sept. 7, 1991. In that contest, the Eagles fell behind 21-0 before Jim Langeloh kicked a 43-yard field goal to get the Green and White on the scoreboard. EMU turned the ball over five times on the day and managed just 206 yards of offense (80 rushing, 126 passing), meanwhile PU notched 289 yards on the ground and 78 via the air without a turnover.
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