Football Has a Date With WMU for Homecoming

Football vs. Western Michigan
Date	Saturday, Oct. 21 \| 2 p.m.
Venue	Ypsilanti, Mich. \| Rynearson Stadium (30,200)
Preview Info	EMU Notes \| Press Conference Vide o . \| Teleconference Audio.
Live Stats	Fan Stats \| Media Stats
Watch	ESPN3
Listen	WEMU (89.1 WEMU-FM) \| TuneIn Radio
Twitter	@EMUFB \| @EMUAthletics
Tickets	Order Tickets Online or call 734.487.3669 \| Bag Policy
Homecoming	Complete Schedule.

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University football team, coming off its fourth straight one possession loss, returns home Saturday, Oct. 21, for a Homecoming date with Mid-American Conference rival Western Michigan University. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. inside Rynearson Stadium.
   After 28 days away from "The Factory", the Eagles (2-4, 0-2 MAC) look to get back on track following a 28-27 loss at Army West Point, Oct. 14. Meanwhile, the Broncos (4-3, 2-1 MAC) were clipped at home by Akron, 14-13, in a game that was delayed a day due to excessive rain, Oct. 15.
   The contest will be broadcast on ESPN3. with Dan Gutkowski on the play-by-play and Marcus Ray providing the analysis. WEMU (89.1 FM) will provide audio coverage of the game with Chad Bush and Rob Rubick calling the action on the field.

97th HOMECOMING: This weekend marks the 97th EMU Homecoming after it was created in 1920. Overall, it is the 90th Homecoming contest, after the game was added to the festivities during the 1926 season. EMU has celebrated Homecoming every year since with the exception of 1943 and 1944 during World War II. EMU is 45-42-2 all-time on Homecoming, but has not tasted victory in the game since 2014, a 37-27 win over Buffalo.

BATTLE FOR THE MICHIGAN MAC TROPHY: Saturday marks the beginning of the battle for the Michigan MAC Trophy, an annual trophy that goes to the football regular season series winner between Central Michigan, Western Michigan, and Eastern Michigan. WMU has won the last three Michigan MAC Trophies, while EMU last captured it in 2012.

COMING DOWN TO THE WIRE: In EMU's last 19 games, dating back to the start of the 2016 season, 13 of them have come down to final scores of just seven points or less. Of the 13 games, EMU has come away victorious in just under half of them (6-7). In 2017, five of EMU's six games have been of the one-score variety, with EMU winning just one (16-13 over Rutgers). Further complicating it, EMU's last four opponents have a combined .769 winning percentage with 20 wins.

LOCKED IN ON D: EMU opponents have combined to score a total of just 119 points, for an average of 19.8 points per contest. It marks the fewest points the Eagles have given up through the first six games of a season since 1989 when they surrendered 104 points en route to a 5-0-1 start to the year. The Green and White posted wins against Kent State (30-7), Youngstown State (14-3), Ohio (30-25), Western Michigan (21-20), and Toledo (31-14), while also tying Colorado State (35-35).

TURNING THE OFFENSE UP A NOTCH: Despite the tight loss, EMU saw an uptick in their offensive performance against Army, Oct. 14. In the game, EMU put up its most points on the season (27), while totaling its second-most yards (364), and most since the season opener against Charlotte. In addition, the 135 rushing yards were the most for EMU on the year.

TEACHING AN OLD DOG NEW TRICKS: In the game against Army, Oct. 14, Brogan Roback accomplished something he had failed to do in his four seasons prior. The fifth-year passed for four touchdowns, marking a new career-high. It was the first four-TD pass game for the Eagles since Alex Gillett did so twice in 2011. In addition, on the first TD strike, Roback surpassed Walter Church for second on the all-time passing TD list. He now needs seven to pass Charlie Batch for the all-time program record.

ELECTRIC ERIKSEN: Junior Ian Eriksen rushed for 107 yards on 20 carries against Army, Oct. 14. It was the first 100-yard rushing game of the season for the Eagles, as well as the third 100-yard output of Eriksen's career. Also in that game, Eriksen eclipsed the 1,000-yard milestone for his Eagle career.

WELL, I MEAN…THEY'RE NOT THE AIR FORCE: The EMU defense held Army without a single reception in the game, Oct. 14, as the Black Knights went 0-for-5 through the air. They were not all bad passes, as EMU had three pass breakups on the five attempts. This was just the second time since 1965 EMU has held an opponent without a reception, the other time was also against Army, Oct. 11, 2008.

SUFFOCATING DEFENSE: Eastern Michigan's defense has not only been one of the best units in the conference, but also the country in almost every facet of the game. Heading into week seven, the Eagles rank in the top-50 nationally in eight major defensive categories:

DYNAMIC DUO: The defensive end duo of Jeremiah Harris and Maxx Crosby have been the leaders of the high sack and tackle for loss movement thus far for the Eagles in 2017. On the season, Crosby is EMU's sack leader with 4.0, while also totaling 7.5 tackles for loss, including one in each game, while Harris has a team-high 8.0 TFL's and 3.5 sacks. Harris' numbers are good for sixth in the MAC and 67th in the nation in sacks, as well as fourth in the MAC and 30th in the country for TFLs. Crosby ranks fourth in the conference and 44th in the NCAA in sacks, while also raking sixth in the MAC and 39th in the nation in TFL's.

ALL-TIME AGAINST THE BRONCOS: The Eagles and Broncos have met a total of 52 times in their respective histories, with WMU leading the tally, 32-18-2. WMU has bested EMU in the last three matchups, with EMU's last win coming in 2013, a 35-32 overtime triumph at home. The two schools have met on Homecoming five times prior to this weekend, with EMU holding a 3-2 record in those games.

1987 TEAM RETURNS FOR 30TH ANNIVERSARY: Posting one of the most successful regular seasons in Eastern Michigan football history, the 1987 Hurons under the direction of Head Coach Jim Harkema were picked third in the preseason polls. Dubbed the "Road Warriors", EMU would pile up double-digit school records on the way to a 9-2 regular-season record and a Mid-American Conference best 7-1 mark to capture the school's first-ever MAC championship.
   As a reward, Eastern was selected to represent the MAC in the California Bowl in Fresco, Calif. The team faced tough odds to defeat the Spartans of San Jose State, as EMU entered the contest as 17-point underdogs. However, the "Road Warriors" overcame the odds as they knocked off SJSU, 30-27. The EMU offense ground out 212 yards rushing, including 130 yards from game MVP Gary Patton. The EMU defense also rose to the occasion, holding San Jose State to just 81 yards rushing.

GOLDEN REUNION FOR 1967 TEAM: Lead by first-year Head Coach Dan Boisture, the Hurons raced out to a 6-0 start to the season, including three shutouts. With captains Ron Arnold and Bob Edelbrock providing leadership, EMU steamrolled opponents by an average of more than 20 points per game. The squad finished the year with a 6-3 record while playing as an independent. Quarterback John Vaccarelli led the team with 754 yards of total offense, while E-Club Hall of Famer Ivory Hood notched 111 tackles on defense.

ROBACK RISING: Senior quarterback Brogan Roback has put up standout numbers in his four seasons in the Green and White, placing him near the top of the EMU record books in four major categories. For his career, he ranks second in completions (637) and passing touchdowns (47), and third in passing yards (7,272) and total offense (7,508). Beyond just EMU, Roback is among the FBS leaders in active total offense and passing yards, ranking 17th among current players in passing yards, and 18th in total offense.

DEUCES WILD: In just his second season in the program senior wideout Sergio Bailey II sits 12th on the all-time receiving yardage list with 1,386, while he is also tied for 14th on the all-time receptions list (97) and tied for sixth on the career TD catches list (11). In the game against Army, Oct. 14, Bailey II had the first two-touchdown game of his EMU career, while he finished just one yard shy of 100-yards receiving.

BECK ON THE STOP: Senior Jason Beck, who transitioned from safety to linebacker this season, has racked up 303 tackles in his career, making him just the 16th EMU player to reach the 300-tackle milestone, and placing him 15th all-time at EMU. In terms of the national scale, Beck's 303 stops is 10th amongst active FBS players.

BEHIND ENEMY LINES: The Green and White have made a living feasting on the opposition behind the line of scrimmage this season. Through six games, the Eagles have registered 40 tackles for loss and 16 sacks. In 2016, the Eagles totaled 60.0 tackles for loss and 21.0 sacks in 13 games. On its current pace of about seven tackles for loss per game, EMU is set to rack up the third-most TFL all-time and most since 1999. Additionally, if Eastern is able to maintain its average of about three sacks per contest it could break the program record of 31 set back in 1998.

SPREADING THE LOVE: In the first six games of the season, senior quarterback Brogan Roback has spread the ball around to a multitude of targets, having completed passes to at least eight different in five of the first six games. The veteran found 10 different receivers against Charlotte, eight different receivers against Rutgers, 12 different targets against Ohio, eight against Kentucky, and then nine against Toledo. The streak of eight or more was broken after finding just six targets against Army, Oct. 14.
   With the average of nine different receivers per game, EMU ranks fifth in the country in different wideouts with a catch per game.

PAULIE RACKING UP THE POINTS: In just his second season as the primary place kicker for EMU, Paulie Fricano has racked up 131 career points, which is good for 13th on the all-time EMU scoring list. Former Eagle kicker Andrew Wellock is the program leader with 299 career points.

PUNTING ODDITIES: Currently, Eastern Michigan has had four different players record a punt this season, the most of any team in the country. Ivan Oraha has been EMU's most utilized option, totaling 16 punts for 553 yards, while Jake Julien has also recorded double-digit punts (12). The Eagles' top punter is starting QB Brogan Roback, who leads the team with 46.89 yards per boot (9 punts for 422 yards, long of 66 yards), is the only quarterback in the nation to also lead their team in punting. Meanwhile, place kicker Paulie Fricano registered the first punt of his career against Toledo, Oct. 7.

HE CAN DO IT ALL, FOLKS: Delving further into Brogran Roback's punting statistics, the veteran has nine "pooch" style punts for an average of 46.89 yards this season, including a team-long of 66 yards, four of 50 yards, and three that were downed inside the 20.

FORCED FUMBLE FIEND: With a strip sack in the game against Kentucky, Sept. 30, Jeremiah Harris totaled the fifth forced fumble of his career. The five forced fumbles is currently good for 23rd among active FBS players.

ON THE HORIZON: Eastern Michigan says goodbye to weekend games and hello to midweek football with a Thursday, Oct. 26, contest at Northern Illinois University. Game time is set for 7 p.m. ET (6 p.m. CT) from Huskie Stadium.

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Players Mentioned

Sergio Bailey II

Jason Beck

Maxx Crosby

Ian Eriksen

Paulie Fricano

Jeremiah Harris

Jake Julien

Ivan Oraha

Brogan Roback

Eastern Michigan Athletics