EMU Heads to West Point to Battle Army on CBS Sports Network

TV: CBS Sports Network

WEST POINT, N.Y. (EMUEagles.com) -- The Eastern Michigan University football team will look to snap a four-game losing streak as it completes non-conference play, traveling to West Point, N.Y. to face the United States Military Academy (Army). The Eagles (1-4, 0-2 MAC) will look to take its second straight game against Army (2-4), while the Black Knights will look to avoid falling for the fourth time in the past five games.
The contest will be shown on CBS Sports Network with Ben Holden providing the play-by-play, Tom Bradley serving as the analyst, and Kristine Leahy with the sideline reports. WEMU (89.1 FM) will provide audio coverage of the game with Matt Shepard and Rob Rubick calling the action on the field.

PLAY ON!: On Oct. 1, 2013, the United States government shutdown due to budget disagreements in Congress. While there was speculation of canceling football games in which military academies competed, the Oct. 5 games (Air Force-Navy, Army-Boston College) went on as scheduled. EMU's trip to West Point to battle the Black Knights will still take place regardless of the government's ongoing situation.

ALL-TIME AGAINST ARMY: The Eagles and Black Knights will be meeting for the fifth time on the gridiron in the past six seasons. Army leads the all-time series, 4-1, including winning the first matchup, 57-17, Oct. 31, 1992. However, EMU earned the victory in the last meeting, a 48-38 win at Rynearson Stadium one year ago, Oct. 20, 2012.
The last three meetings occurred in Ypsilanti with the Black Knights scheduled to return to Rynearson Stadium in 2016 and 2018. Meanwhile, EMU will make the trip to New York again in 2015 and 2017.

BACK TO YPSILANTI AND #MACtion: After back-to-back road games in New York, the Eagles return to Ypsilanti to host Ohio University, Oct. 19, in a Mid-American Conference cross-divisional contest. The contest is Band Day, with 13 high school bands performing as one during a special halftime concert. Kickoff from Rynearson Stadium is set for 1 p.m. and fans are encouraged to wear white as the game will be a "White Out."
Additionally, the contest will also be an Eagles Unite game, where student-athletes from various EMU athletic teams will come out to support the football team. The athletes will wear their special Eagles Unite t-shirt and form a pregame tunnel from which the team will emerge onto the field. At halftime, they will return for a special on-field introduction as well as a celebratory photograph.

COMPETING VERSUS OUR MILITARY: The Eagles are 1-6 in program history facing two of the three service academies. Along with the 1-4 mark against Army, EMU is 0-2 versus the Navy Midshipmen. The Green and White have never faced the Falcons of the Air Force Academy.

75 YARDS TO THE HOUSE: Late in the fourth quarter against Buffalo, Oct. 5, junior running back Ryan Brumfield scampered 75 yards for a touchdown and EMU's longest play from scrimmage of the 2013 campaign. The previous longest play was 43-yard touchdown reception by Brumfield from quarterback Tyler Benz, Sept. 14, at Rutgers. The big run was not only the longest of the season for the Eagles, but it was also a career-long by Brumfield. His previous high was a 20-yard dash against Purdue, Sept. 15, 2012.
The Chester Springs, Pa. native carried the ball twice for a career-high 79 yards against the Bulls. Also, Brumfield found the end zone for the third consecutive game, bringing in the touchdown reception against Rutgers as well as a rushing score against Ball State, Sept. 22.

JONES TO THE END ZONE: Redshirt sophomore Jay Jones found the end zone in the Eagles' loss to Buffalo, Oct. 5, hauling in a 15-yard reception from quarterback Tyler Benz. The touchdown catch was the first of the year for Jones and the second of his EMU career. The Palm Coast, Fla. native recorded his first career touchdown reception against Central Michigan, Nov. 10, 2012, where he racked up career-highs in catches (4) and yards (61).

BE LIKE IKE: Defensively, linebacker Ike Spearman led the Eagles in tackles against Buffalo, Oct. 5, recording a career-high eight tackles. The sophomore is currently fifth on the team in tackles throughout the first five games of the season with 25 tackles, including 2.5 tackles for loss and 0.5 sacks.

ALLEN RETURNING TO THE TOP OF EMU HISTORY: After setting an EMU single season record in kickoff returns a year ago, junior Tyler Allen continues to move up the EMU career return charts. With 20 returns already this season, Allen now sits in sixth among the all-time great EMU returners with 66 total kickoff returns. Against Buffalo, Oct. 5, the Lansing, Mich. native passed Gary Patton for fifth on the all-time list.
Allen has returned kicks for a total of 1,437 yards, which ranks fifth all-time at EMU. Dontayo Gage (2006-09) is next on the list with 1,587 career kickoff yards, while Trumaine Riley (2003-06) holds the EMU standard with 2,541 career return yards.

LAST YEAR BENZ DROPPED FIVE SCORES ON BLACK KNIGHTS: In just his fourth start as an Eagle, quarterback Tyler Benz threw for five touchdown passes against Army, Oct. 20, 2012, good for the second most in the history of the program behind only Kainoa Akina's six-score performance at Akron, Nov. 24, 2001. Benz's four first-half touchdowns put him just one shy of Andy Schmitt, who threw for five in the opening half in a 56-52 win over rival Central Michigan, Nov. 28, 2008.
The Park Ridge, Ill. native also notched a career-high 385 yards of total offense with 369 (19-31-1) via the pass. He added five rushes for 16 yards in the contest. For his efforts, he was selected as the MAC West Division Offensive Player of the Week.

STOPPING THEM ON THIRD: The EMU defense has gotten very stingy on third downs this season. In three of its five games, the Green and White have held the opposition to a 23.3 percent conversion rate on third downs. When the Eagles took on Penn State, Sept. 7, they held the Nittany Lions to just one conversion on 10 tries, just a 10 percent conversion rate. Rutgers was also only able to convert a single first down, Sept. 14, against the EMU defense. The Scarlet Knights went 1-for-8 in third down attempts, which is just a 12.5 percent rate.

BRINGING THE BLITZ: Thanks in large part to Pat O'Conner, Kalanji Kashama and Hunter Matt, the Eagles have racked up 12 sacks through the first five contests. The total ranks 32nd nationally with an average of 2.4 quarterback-takedowns per contest. Clemson and Fresno State lead the nation with an average of 3.8 sacks per contest. In addition, EMU's 12 sacks already surpassed its total of seven from all of last season.

LAST TIME WE MET IN WEST POINT: EMU dropped a 17-13 decision to Army, Oct. 11, 2008, in non-conference action at Blaik Field in Michie Stadium. The Black Knights used their triple-option attack to rack up 341 yards on the ground to overcome a 13-7 halftime deficit. The Eagles had a pair of late fourth quarter drives in an attempt to rally for the win, but the Army defense stood up to the challenge to claim the victory.
Quarterback Andy Schmitt was 12-of-30 passing for a total of 138 yards. Wideout Jacory Stone added four catches for 17 yards to give him 101 career catches and 996 career receiving yards. Tight end Josh LeDuc also caught two passes for 40.
For Army, fullback Collin Mooney carried the ball 29 times for 299 yards while running back Wesley McMahand added three carries for 46 yards and a touchdown. Quarterback Chip Bowden ran the ball 12 times for 32 yards and a score while going 0-for-3 via the air. Army had zero passing yards in the entire game.

BIG PLAYS HURT EAGLES: Giving up lengthy plays have been devastating for the EMU football team all season long. Throughout the first five games of the season, the Eagles have allowed 40 plays over 20 yards with 14 of them resulting in touchdowns. Moreover, opposing teams have recorded nine touchdowns over 50 yards against EMU this season.

Eastern Michigan Athletics

EMU Heads to West Point to Battle Army on CBS Sports Network

Related News

Next Event

Related Videos