Football Returns to Action Saturday at Buffalo

BUFFALO, N.Y. (EMUEagles.com) -- Following an off week, the Eastern Michigan University football team returns to action at the University at Buffalo, Oct. 5. Game time is scheduled for 12:05 p.m. at UB Stadium in Buffalo, N.Y.
The Eagles enter the contest with a 1-3 (0-1 MAC) record, meanwhile, the Bulls are 2-2 (0-0 MAC) after rolling past the University of Connecticut, 41-12, Sept. 28.
The contest will be shown on ESPN+ with Michael Reghi providing the play-by-play and former EMU Assistant Coach Doug Graber serving as the analyst. WEMU (89.1 FM) will provide audio coverage of the game with Matt Shepard and Rob Rubick calling the action on the field.

EMU-UB GAME TO AIR IN 15 MARKETS: Saturday's game will be carried on ESPN-Plus and ESPN Game Plan. The game will be carried in 15 markets, mostly in the Midwest and East. In Detroit, the game will be carried on WXYZ (ABC) and it can also be seen online on ESPN3.

ALL-TIME VERSUS BUFFALO: The Green and White have had success against the Bulls in the past, winning the previous five meetings between the two programs. In those five games, EMU has outscored UB, 150-102. However, three of the five contests have been decided by four points or less.

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 15 returns already this season, Allen now sits in sixth among the all-time great EMU returners with 61 total kickoff returns. The Lansing, Mich. native is just three returns away from passing Gary Patton for fifth on the all-time list.
Allen has returned kicks for a total of 1,388 yards, which ranks fifth all-time at EMU. Corey Welch (2008-11) is next on the list with 1,400 career kickoff yards, while Trumaine Riley (2003-06) holds the EMU standard with 2,541 career return yards.

STOPPING THEM ON THIRD: The EMU defense has gotten very stingy on third downs as of late. In the last three games, the Green and White have held their 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.

GROUND AND POUND: In the 51-20 setback against Ball State, Sept. 21, Eastern found success on the ground, rushing for 204 yards, including 126 yards from Bronson Hill. The junior running back eclipsed the century mark for the fifth time in his career, helping the Eagles reach the 200-yard rushing plateau for the 16th time under Head Coach Ron English.

CREEAR CREATING TURNOVERS: While playing defense, Willie Creear has helped give the ball back to the EMU offense in his first season donning the Green and White. The junior defensive back intercepted a pass against Howard, Aug. 31, while also recovering a fumble against Ball State, Sept. 21. Both turnovers occurred late in the fourth quarter of the respective contests.

SENIOR RETURNS TO THE SECONDARY: After missing the first three games due to injury, senior Ja'Ron Gillespie returned to the field for the Ball State game, Sept. 21. The veteran defensive back recorded four tackles and added a breakup against the Cardinals.

MOVING THE BALL: The EMU offense moved the ball and racked up yardage versus Ball State, Sept. 21. Tyler Benz threw for 212 yards while combining with three EMU running backs for 204 yards on the ground. The 416 total yards of offense against the Cardinals was the eighth-most yards the Eagles have gained during Ron English's tenure.

BENZ IN THE END ZONE: Quarterback Tyler Benz has found a receiver in the end zone in 11 of his 13 starts. The only games the redshirt junior quarterback did not throw a touchdown pass was the Oct. 27, 2012, matchup at Bowling Green and earlier this season at Penn State, Sept. 7.

RUSSELL FILLING THE SHOES: With Tyler Benz losing his favorite target from a year ago in All-MAC Second Team tight end Garrett Hoskins, the Eagles were left wondering who will fill the void. Through four games this season, EMU may have found its guy at the same position. Junior tight end Tyreese Russell is currently leading EMU in catches (23) and yards (230) through four games in 2013. The Chicago, Ill. native recorded career highs against Rutgers, Sept. 14, hauling in nine catches for 84 yards.

REDZONE WARRIORS: Eastern Michigan has done damage when entering the opposition's redzone territory this season. In its eight times coming within 20 yards of their opponent's endzone, the Eagles have scored touchdowns in six of those trips, good for 75 percent efficiency.

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 four contests. The total ranks 16th nationally with an average of 3.00 quarterback-takedowns per contest. Northern Illinois leads the nation with an average of 4.67 sacks per contest. In addition, EMU's 12 sacks already surpassed its total of seven from all of last season.

THREE-AND-OUT: The EMU defense has forced 14 three-and-outs through the first four contests. EMU recorded a season-best five defensive three-and-outs against Penn State, Sept. 7.

LAST TIME WE MET IN BUFFALO: In the last meeting between EMU and UB in Buffalo, Dwayne Priest carried the ball 35 times for 192 yards and three touchdowns as the Eagles downed the Bulls, 21-17, Nov. 20, 2010. Eastern rolled up 272 yards on the ground, despite coming into the contest averaging just 167.0 yards per game. Leading 21-17 with 1:14 to play, Buffalo had one last gasp remaining in the contest. UB moved the ball up to the EMU 39-yard line. Then with five seconds to play, quarterback Jerry Davis escaped the EMU pressure and heaved a pass towards the end zone that landed harmlessly at the end line to give Eastern the hard-fought victory.

KICKING WOES HAUNT EAGLES: EMU has seen its fair share of kicking woes throughout the first four games of the 2013 football season. In each contest, the Eagles have missed either an extra-point or a field goal. The Green and White missed point after attempts in its two home games while missing field goals in the two road matchups.

ARMY AWAITS: After facing Buffalo, EMU will remain in New York for a meeting against Army to close out the non-conference slate. The contest between Eagles and Black Knights will be the fifth matchup on the gridiron between the two in the last six years. Last year, EMU recorded its first win of the 2012 campaign with a 48-38 victory over Army at Rynearson Stadium, Oct. 20, 2012.

Eastern Michigan Athletics

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