Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
2-5 , 0-3
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Western Michigan
5-3 , 3-1
EMU Football Suffers OT Setback to Western Michigan, 20-17
10/21/2017 6:09:00 PM | Football
It was the fifth-straight one-possession for EMU this season
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YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) - The Eastern Michigan University football team dropped another heartbreaking overtime game in a 20-17 defeat to Mid-American Conference rival Western Michigan University, Saturday, Oct. 21, at "The Factory" inside Rynearson Stadium. It was the fifth-straight one-possession defeat for the Eagles (2-5, 0-3 MAC) this season, including the second loss that came in overtime.
The biggest positive for EMU was the offense seeing its best yardage production of the season, as they set season-highs in total offensive (461), passing (308), and rushing (153).
Leading the ground attack was junior Ian Eriksen (Clarkston, Mich.-Clarkston) who tallied a total of 93 yards on 24 carries. Sophomore Breck Turner (Norwalk, Ohio-Norwalk) chipped in another 39, while also notching his first rushing touchdown of the season and the fifth of his career.
In the passing game, senior Brogan Roback (Maumee, Ohio-Toledo St. John's Jesuit) went 28-for-44 for a season-high 308 yards and one touchdown. It was the ninth-career 300+ passing effort for the veteran. For the sixth time in seven games, Roback targeted eight-plus wideouts, completing passes to 10-different players.
Senior Antoine Porter (San Francisco, Calif.-Mission (City College of SF)) had a career day, finishing with a career-best 10 catches for 93 yards. It was the first 10-catch performance for EMU since 2015. Junior Eddie Daugherty (Mentor, Ohio-Mentor) had his best game of the season, tallying three receptions for 72 yards, while senior Jaron Johnson (Moreno Valley, Calif.-Rancho Verde (Mt. San Jacinto College)) notched the first touchdown catch of his EMU career.
Defensively, senior Jason Beck (Indianapolis, Ind.-Arsenal Technical) and sophomore Brody Hoying (Coldwater, Ohio-Coldwater) led the charge with a career-high 13 and 12 tackles each, while sophomore Maxx Crosby (Colleyville, Texas-Colleyville Heritage) tacked on a career-best tying seven tackles to go along with the lone sack of the game, as well as a QB hurry.
The game started with back-to-back empty possessions that resulted in punts, which set the tone for most of the first half. The Eagles' second drive started with a pair of passes to seniors Sergio Bailey II (San Diego, Calif.-Olympian (Grossmont College)) and Johnnie Niupalau (San Mateo, Calif.-Calif.-San Mateo (College of San Mateo)), setting themselves up in Western's territory. After a few rushes from Eriksen to move to the 34, EMU's drive stalled setting up a fourth and 12 from the 28. The Eagles gambled, but it did not pay off, resulting in a turnover on downs.
After another round of back-to-back empty possessions, the Broncos (5-3, 3-1 MAC) were able to breakthrough to begin the second quarter. The Broncos capped a five-play, 35-yard drive with a 36-yard field goal for the first points of the game at the 12:44 mark of the second frame.
On the ensuing drive, EMU looked at a three-and-out but the Eagles shocked Rynearson Stadium with a fake punt executed to perfection. A direct snap to junior Kyle Rachwal (Lapeer, Mich.-Lapeer East) resulted in a 27-yard gain and a fresh set of downs. The Green and White continued to show a variety of play selections with a screen and reverse on back-to-back plays for consecutive first downs to get down to the WMU 21, but a fumble halted all momentum and a chance at getting on the board.
Coming off the turnover, EMU's defense kept the Broncos in their half of the field, ultimately forcing a fumble of their own. On a WMU rush, junior Justin Moody (Richmond, Va.-Monacan) punched the ball out, and it was recovered by junior Jeremiah Harris (Lambertville, Mich.-Bedford Senior) at Eastern's 47, giving the Eagles a short field.
Capitalizing on Western's error, Roback got the Eagles into Bronco territory with an 11-yard pass to Bailey. After a trio of plays resulted in fourth-and-three, Roback this time converted in the clutch, finding Johnson on a short pass, which he ran in for a 35-yard touchdown reception, giving EMU the 7-3 lead with just over six minutes until the half.
A promising six-play Western Michigan drive was ultimately halted, setting the Eagles up on its nine with 3:43 until halftime. On the third play from scrimmage, a long Roback pass was picked off by WMU, giving them possession at their own 27 right before the half. Western used the momentum to get themselves in the red-zone after three plays. The Broncos then regained the lead two plays later on an 11-yard pass to go into half-time with a 10-7 advantage.
The opening drive of the second half for WMU ended with a punt that pinned EMU at its own 11-yard line. After eight plays, the Eagles were able to break into Bronco territory when Roback tossed a 32-yard reception to A. Porter. Another pass to Porter got the Green and White within 25 yards of the goal line, but the drive was stalled and EMU settled for a 43-yard field goal from sophomore Paulie Fricano (Rochester, N.Y.-Churchville-Chili) to tie the game at 10.
The Broncos answered right back on the following drive, going 75 yards in eight plays, capped off by a seven-yard rush to put WMU back on top, 17-10, midway through the third quarter.
EMU's next drive looked promising as the Eagles continued to make strides up the field. Turner converted a third-and-short with a 12-yard rush, then ran two more times for 12 yards combined and another first down. Then, on a pair of long passes to A. Porter and Daugherty, Eastern set up shop at Western's 14. The drive came to an end, however, after Eastern lost its second fumble of the game.
WMU came back on its next drive with some quick strikes to get around midfield, but, following the quarter break, it was unable to keep the momentum, forcing its fifth punt of the game, giving EMU possession at its own eight.
Opening the drive, Roback completed a 21-yard pass to Daugherty. That, combined with a personal foul, moved Eastern to the 44 yard line. Back-to-back rushes by Eriksen for 32 yards advanced them further into WMU territory, but a pair of broken plays set up fourth-and-11 from the 24.
Eastern decided to gamble on the fourth and long, and the risk paid off as Roback threw another long pass to Daugherty, this time for a 29-yard gain, making it first and goal from the three. On the next play, Turner rushed the final three yards for his first touchdown of the season to tie the game back up at 17 each.
After an empty Western possession, Eastern thought they took the lead on an 82-yard reception from Roback to sophomore Mathew Sexton (Clinton, Mich.-Clinton), but a pair of Eagle penalties pushed EMU back to a first-and-19 on its own nine yard line. The Eagles were able to gain a first down on a 29-yard pass to sophomore Bryce Kemp (Baxter,Iowa-Baxter Community School), but three-straight incomplete passes forced a punt with six minutes to go in regulation.
The defense continued to shine, forcing the second Bronco fumble of the game on the following possession. As the WMU running back ran up the middle, he tripped on the turf and coughed up the ball, which was recovered by Hoying, setting the Eagles up on WMU's 41. Despite the short field, Eastern went backward, losing 18 yards in two plays to move them out of field goal range, and forcing a punt.
Western chewed up the last three minute of the clock, taking nine plays to put them within field-goal range. With three seconds left on the clock, the Broncos' 27-yard field goal attempt veered right, sending the game into overtime.
The Green and White won the coin toss and elected to start on defense. The Broncos took the lead on their opening drive after a 21-yard field goal attempt split the posts.
Looking for the win, the Eagles were in prime condition after two defensive penalties placed the ball at the eight. After a six-yard rush from Eriksen made it second-and-goal, WMU stepped up on the goal line, forcing a 24-yard field goal try, which was missed wide right, sealing the heartbreaking overtime defeat.
Eastern Michigan faces a short week as it travels to DeKalb, Ill. Thursday, Oct. 26, for a midweek MACtion showdown with Northern Illinois University. Kickoff between the Eagles and the Huskies is set for 7 p.m. ET.
Team Stats
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WMU 3, EMU 0
WMU - GRANT, Josh 36 yd field goal 5 plays, 35 yards, TOP 1:52
WMU 3, EMU 7
EMU - JOHNSON, Jaron 35 yd pass from ROBACK, Brogan (FRICANO, Paulie kick) 5 plays, 53 yards, TOP 1:59
WMU 10, EMU 7
WMU - WATSON, Keishaw 11 yd pass from WASSINK, Jon (GRANT, Josh kick) 5 plays, 73 yards, TOP 2:07
WMU 10, EMU 10
EMU - FRICANO, Paulie 43 yd field goal 11 plays, 64 yards, TOP 3:37
WMU 17, EMU 10
WMU - FRANKLIN, Jarvi 7 yd run (GRANT, Josh kick), 8 plays, 75 yards, TOP 2:52
WMU 17, EMU 17
EMU - TURNER, Breck 3 yd run (FRICANO, Paulie kick), 7 plays, 92 yards, TOP 2:51
WMU 20, EMU 17
WMU - GRANT, Josh 21 yd field goal 6 plays, 21 yards, TOP 0:00
