Eagles Fall to Illinois State Redbirds in Home Opener

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — The Eastern Michigan University football team saw its 2012 home opener spoiled by the Illinois State University Redbirds here in a non-conference game Saturday, Sept. 8, 2012, in Rynearson Stadium.

The Eagles could not overcome three interceptions, two lost fumbles and nine penalties in the 31-14 loss.

Illinois State on the other hand, had just one interception and one lost fumble while not getting called for any penalties in the contest. The setback makes Eastern 0-2 on the young season while ISU improves to 2-0.

The Illinois State defense held the EMU offense to just 103 yards on 32 rushes, while the Redbirds gained 216 yards on the ground on 53 carries.

Eastern's passing offense was good for 145 yards and one score and ISU had 155 yards and one touchdown through the air.

Senior quarterback Alex Gillett (Green Springs, Ohio-Clyde) completed 11-of-25 passes for 145 yards and one touchdown. Gillett was also EMU's leading rusher with 49 yards on 13 carries, including a five-yard touchdown run.

EMU's other touchdown came on a 32-yard strike from Gillett to senior tight end Garrett Hoskins (Grand Rapids-Creston). EMU place-kicker Kody Fulkerson (Maysville, Ohio-Zanesville) booted both EMU PATs for the other points.

The ISU offense was led by Brown who completed 14-of-22 passes for 155 yards with one score. Tailback Darrelynn Dunn rushed 32 times for a game-high 129 yards and two touchdowns.

Illinois State took advantage of an EMU miscue early in the first quarter when the Eagles were flagged for a roughing the kicker personal foul.

The Redbirds made that penalty hurt for the Eagles as tailback Jonathon Miller raced 58 yards for an ISU touchdown just three plays later. Nick Aussieker added the PAT for a 7-0 Illinois State lead with 7:10 remaining in the first quarter.

The visitors took advantage of a muffed punt by EMU at its own 41-yard line and increased their lead to 10-0 with 1:19 left in the first quarter on a 26-yard field goal by Aussieker.

EMU managed to cut the deficit to three, 10-7, on a 32-yard pass reception by Hoskins on a throw from Gillett.

Eastern grabbed its first lead of the game with 3:10 left in the second quarter when Gillett ran a quarerback keeper four yards for a score. Fulkerson added the PAT for a 14-10 EMU advantage.

Illinois State opened the second-half scoring on a 22-yard pass from Brown to Donovan Harden. Aussieker added the PAT to give the Redbirds a 17-14 lead with 11:37 on the third-quarter clock.

The visitors increased their lead to 24-14 on their next offensive possession with Dunn bursting through the middle of the line for a four-yard touchdown run with 6:53 left in the third. Aussieker added the PAT.

Illinois State closed out the game's scoring on another four-yard touchdown run by Dunn with Aussieker adding the PAT for a 31-14 Redbird lead with 1:08 left in the game. That score would hold as a final.

The Eagles will stay in non-conference mode next weekend, Sept. 15, when they travel to West Lafayette, Ind. for a battle with the Big Ten Conference's Purdue University Boilermakers.

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Team Stats

Alex Gillett

Players Mentioned

Kody Fulkerson

Alex Gillett

Garrett Hoskins

Players Mentioned

Kody Fulkerson

Alex Gillett

Garrett Hoskins

Eastern Michigan Athletics