Eastern Michigan Athletics
Thursday, October 26
DeKalb, Ill.
7 p.m. ET
Eastern Michigan University
2-6 , 0-4
27
at
30
Northern Illinois
6-2 , 4-0
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
OT
F
Eastern Michigan
0
14
3
7
3
27
Northern Illinois
0
7
3
14
6
30
Photo by: David Naprstek
Eagles Spurned in Overtime Loss to Huskies
10/26/2017 11:24:00 PM | Football
Brogan Roback passed Charlie Batch in career passing yards
Photo Gallery
Postgame Audio.
Game Highlights.
DEKALB, Ill. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University football team dropped yet another gut wrenching affair in overtime, this time a 30-27 OT defeat to Northern Illinois University Thursday night, Oct. 26, at Huskie Stadium. It was the third overtime loss of the season for EMU (2-6, 0-4 MAC), as well as the sixth straight loss of seven points-or-less.
It is the first time in program history Eastern has played in three overtime games. The Eagles have lost their last six contests by a combined 23 points.
Offensively, Eastern continued the trend of moving the ball well, finishing with 403 yards to outgain the Huskies (6-2, 4-0 MAC) by 11 yards. 307 yards came through the air, while 96 more came on the ground. Senior Brogan Roback (Maumee, Ohio-Toledo St. John's Jesuit) led the offense, completing 22 passes for 262 yards and a score. In doing so, he passed E-Club Hall of Famer Charlie Batch for second on the all-time passing yardage list.
Roback completed passes to 12 different targets to tie a season high. Senior Sergio Bailey II (San Diego, Calif.-Olympian (Grossmont College)) was the leading receiver, as he finished with three catches for 94 yards and a 68-yard touchdown. Fellow senior Johnnie Niupalau (San Mateo, Calif.-San Mateo (College of San Mateo)) caught a team-high four balls for 57 yards. On the ground, junior Ian Eriksen (Clarkston, Mich.-Clarkston) paced EMU with 18 carries for 81 yards.
The third offensive touchdown of the game came on a trick play, in which sophomore wide receiver Isaac Holder (Tampa, Fla.-Sickles) found fellow sophomore Bryce Kemp (Baxter, Iowa-Baxter Community School) for a 45-yard trick play score.
Defensively, EMU was still stout, forcing a season-high 11 NIU punts. The Green and White also limited the Huskies to just three third down conversions on 16 attempts, as well as 0-for-1 on fourth down. Senior Jason Beck (Indianapolis, Ind.-Arsenal Technical) led EMU in tackles with seven stops, including five solo, while junior Kyle Rachwal (Lapeer, Mich.-Lapeer East) added four more tackles, as well as two forced fumbles, one of which was recovered by EMU. Eastern also got a score on a special teams play, blocking a punt for a score for the first time since 2014.
On the first three drives for each team to begin the game, both teams combined for just 74 yards and three first downs as the two top defenses in the conference lived up to their billing. The Eagles held the Huskies to just 30 total yards in the span. Meanwhile, EMU did most of its offensive damage through the air, as Roback completed passes to nine different receivers.
Eastern began its fourth drive with three minutes on the clock, and started to gain some momentum. A pair of nine-yard passes to seniors Jaron Johnson (Moreno Valley, Calif.-Rancho Verde (Mt. San Jacinto College)) and Dan Buschman (Brighton, Mich.-Brighton) moved the chains twice, and advanced the Eagles to their own 39 yard line as the first quarter came to a close.
The Eagles carried the momentum into the second quarter with long passes to senior Antoine Porter (San Francisco, Calif.-Mission (City College of SF)) and sophomore Mathew Sexton (Clinton, Mich.-Clinton) to get to the NIU 35. From there though, the drive stalled, forcing yet another punt. On the ensuing NIU drive, the Huskies needed just three plays to get on the board, capped by a 69-yard touchdown pass down the middle, to make it 7-0 early in the second quarter.
EMU needed just one play on its next drive to even the score, as Roback found Bailey II over the middle for a 68-yard pass and catch. It was the longest offensive touchdown of the season, as well as the longest reception of Bailey's career. It was also his 12th career score, moving him into a tie for fifth on the all-time EMU list.
After the two long touchdown strikes, both defenses settled back in, with back-to-back short drives from each team for a combined 20 yards, keeping it tight at the midway point of the quarter. NIU's drive was a mere two yards, thanks in part to a nine-yard sack from senior Ike Spearman (Saint John, Ind.-Lake Central), his first of the season. Following the short EMU drive, NIU set up at their own 20.
The Huskies notched a first down to begin the drive, but a pair of penalties backed them up, forcing a punt from their own 27. This time around, Sexton came charging in, and blocked the ball clean off the foot of the Huskie punter. The ball bounced right into the end zone, where Johnson fell on it for the special teams touchdown. It was the first punt block for a TD for EMU since 2014, and the first given up by NIU since 2004. With 4:39 left until the half, EMU secured its first lead of the game, 14-7.
With the momentum, EMU kept the defensive pressure high, forcing the Huskies to go backwards on their next drive, a three-and-out, including a tackle for loss from senior Derric Williams (Lake Orion, Mich.-Lake Orion). After a short punt, EMU set up right at midfield. The Huskies countered though, not allowing EMU to get past the 33, setting up a 50-yard field goal. The kick fell short, keeping it 14-7 with a minute and a half until halftime.
After the fourth three-and-out from the EMU defense kept NIU from getting into Eagle territory, the Huskies punted down to EMU's five with 30 seconds left. From there, Eastern ran out the clock, maintaining the seven-point game into the half.
Northern Illinois began the second half with the ball. Despite a pair of forced fumbles from EMU on the kick return and first play from scrimmage, NIU was able to hop on them both to maintain possession. They used that possession to roll 64 yards in 10 plays, capped by a 25-yard field goal, to make it 14-10 early in the second half.
Coming back the other way, EMU looked at a three-and-out, but a pass interference penalty kept the drive going. Two plays later, Roback found Niupalau down the sideline for a 40-yard gain to the NIU 17. The Eagles did not advance any further, forcing the field goal. This kick sailed wide left, keeping the score 14-10 with just over eight minutes left in the third.
The forced fumble mojo from the prior drive carried over to the ensuing set of downs, as on the second play from scrimmage, Rachwal jarred the ball loose on a vicious tackle, and it was recovered by sophomore Brody Hoying (Coldwater, Ohio-Coldwater) to set up EMU at the NIU 46. With the short field, EMU quickly got down into the NIU red zone on a 25-yard Eriksen rush. From there, the Huskies defense stood tall again, forcing a 34-yard kick. Sophomore Paulie Fricano (Rochester, N.Y.-Churchville-Chili) drilled it, extending the EMU lead back to seven, 17-10.
Following back-to-back short possessions from both sides, NIU started a drive with 3:45 left on the clock on their own 43. A personal foul penalty moved the ball into EMU territory, and NIU eventually worked down to the EMU 36. Facing a fourth and four, NIU dropped back to pass, but the ball was deflected at the line by senior Oddie Granger III (East St. Louis, Ill.-East St. Louis (Dodge City C.C.)), forcing the turnover on downs. NIU went on to force a three-and-out, and they regained possession to start the fourth quarter.
Pinned deep in their own territory, the Huskies tried to escape the shadow of their own end zone, but were unsuccessful in their attempts, forcing another punt, this one inside their own ten. The punt only traveled 36 yards, giving Eastern the ball on the NIU 45.
As they have at times throughout the season, the Eagles reached into its bag of tricks on a deep strike to start the drive. On a screen to Holder, the wideout heaved a pass down field to Kemp, and the tight end rumbled into the end zone for the 45-yard touchdown. It was the second touchdown pass from a wide receiver this season, and the first touchdown throw for Holder, as well as the first TD catch for Kemp in their respective careers. The trick play gave Eastern its biggest lead of the day, 24-10, with 13:31 to play.
Two more short possessions on both sides led to NIU getting the ball back at their own 26 with under 10 to go. On the first play of the drive, the Huskies used a 50-yard play to get deep down into the EMU side of the field. Six plays later, NIU found the end zone on a five-yard pass to tighten up the tally, 24-17, with seven and a half minutes to play.
Eastern used its next set of downs to try and run some of the clock. They chewed about two minutes off of it, but had to punt the ball back to the Huskies, who took over from their own 38 with five and a half to go. They moved the ball to about midfield, but EMU did not yield another yard. On third and six from the 49, senior Luke Maclean (Grand Blanc, Mich.-Grand Blanc (Pittsburgh)) and junior Jeremiah Harris (Lambertville, Mich.-Bedford Senior) combined on a huge sack to force yet another NIU punt with 4:10 to play.
Trying to run more clock, Eastern ran three times, forcing NIU to burn two timeouts. Setting up to punt, EMU's kick was partially blocked, and then returned down to the EMU 11. Two plays later, NIU's QB ran it in from 10 yards out to tie the contest at 24 each with just under three minutes left.
In crunch time, Eastern went to work in the two minute drill. On a third and short to start the drive, a pass interference penalty on NIU kept things alive, putting the ball on the EMU 43. One play later, Bailey II caught a 21-yard pass along the sidelines to get to the NIU 32. In field goal range, Eastern ran three times to burn clock and set up the field goal. The 42-yard attempt was no good, forcing overtime.
EMU started with the ball to start OT. NIU forced the three-and-out, setting up a 35-yard field goal for Fricano. This time he was true, giving Eastern the lead heading into the defensive side of the period. In that period, NIU needed just three plays to score the game-winning touchdown, giving them the come from behind 30-27 win.
The Eagles continues midweek play when they return home for a Thursday night contest at "The Factory" against Ball State University, Nov. 2. Kickoff against the Cardinals from Rynearson Stadium is set for 6 p.m.
Postgame Audio.
Game Highlights.
DEKALB, Ill. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University football team dropped yet another gut wrenching affair in overtime, this time a 30-27 OT defeat to Northern Illinois University Thursday night, Oct. 26, at Huskie Stadium. It was the third overtime loss of the season for EMU (2-6, 0-4 MAC), as well as the sixth straight loss of seven points-or-less.
It is the first time in program history Eastern has played in three overtime games. The Eagles have lost their last six contests by a combined 23 points.
Offensively, Eastern continued the trend of moving the ball well, finishing with 403 yards to outgain the Huskies (6-2, 4-0 MAC) by 11 yards. 307 yards came through the air, while 96 more came on the ground. Senior Brogan Roback (Maumee, Ohio-Toledo St. John's Jesuit) led the offense, completing 22 passes for 262 yards and a score. In doing so, he passed E-Club Hall of Famer Charlie Batch for second on the all-time passing yardage list.
With that pass, @broganroback11 pass @CharlieBatch16 for second all-time in career passing yards at EMU #FR4REAL #EMUEagles #MACtion pic.twitter.com/A0BgAVJKWD
— EMU Football (@EMUFB) October 26, 2017
Roback completed passes to 12 different targets to tie a season high. Senior Sergio Bailey II (San Diego, Calif.-Olympian (Grossmont College)) was the leading receiver, as he finished with three catches for 94 yards and a 68-yard touchdown. Fellow senior Johnnie Niupalau (San Mateo, Calif.-San Mateo (College of San Mateo)) caught a team-high four balls for 57 yards. On the ground, junior Ian Eriksen (Clarkston, Mich.-Clarkston) paced EMU with 18 carries for 81 yards.
The third offensive touchdown of the game came on a trick play, in which sophomore wide receiver Isaac Holder (Tampa, Fla.-Sickles) found fellow sophomore Bryce Kemp (Baxter, Iowa-Baxter Community School) for a 45-yard trick play score.
Defensively, EMU was still stout, forcing a season-high 11 NIU punts. The Green and White also limited the Huskies to just three third down conversions on 16 attempts, as well as 0-for-1 on fourth down. Senior Jason Beck (Indianapolis, Ind.-Arsenal Technical) led EMU in tackles with seven stops, including five solo, while junior Kyle Rachwal (Lapeer, Mich.-Lapeer East) added four more tackles, as well as two forced fumbles, one of which was recovered by EMU. Eastern also got a score on a special teams play, blocking a punt for a score for the first time since 2014.
On the first three drives for each team to begin the game, both teams combined for just 74 yards and three first downs as the two top defenses in the conference lived up to their billing. The Eagles held the Huskies to just 30 total yards in the span. Meanwhile, EMU did most of its offensive damage through the air, as Roback completed passes to nine different receivers.
Eastern began its fourth drive with three minutes on the clock, and started to gain some momentum. A pair of nine-yard passes to seniors Jaron Johnson (Moreno Valley, Calif.-Rancho Verde (Mt. San Jacinto College)) and Dan Buschman (Brighton, Mich.-Brighton) moved the chains twice, and advanced the Eagles to their own 39 yard line as the first quarter came to a close.
The Eagles carried the momentum into the second quarter with long passes to senior Antoine Porter (San Francisco, Calif.-Mission (City College of SF)) and sophomore Mathew Sexton (Clinton, Mich.-Clinton) to get to the NIU 35. From there though, the drive stalled, forcing yet another punt. On the ensuing NIU drive, the Huskies needed just three plays to get on the board, capped by a 69-yard touchdown pass down the middle, to make it 7-0 early in the second quarter.
EMU needed just one play on its next drive to even the score, as Roback found Bailey II over the middle for a 68-yard pass and catch. It was the longest offensive touchdown of the season, as well as the longest reception of Bailey's career. It was also his 12th career score, moving him into a tie for fifth on the all-time EMU list.
After the two long touchdown strikes, both defenses settled back in, with back-to-back short drives from each team for a combined 20 yards, keeping it tight at the midway point of the quarter. NIU's drive was a mere two yards, thanks in part to a nine-yard sack from senior Ike Spearman (Saint John, Ind.-Lake Central), his first of the season. Following the short EMU drive, NIU set up at their own 20.
The Huskies notched a first down to begin the drive, but a pair of penalties backed them up, forcing a punt from their own 27. This time around, Sexton came charging in, and blocked the ball clean off the foot of the Huskie punter. The ball bounced right into the end zone, where Johnson fell on it for the special teams touchdown. It was the first punt block for a TD for EMU since 2014, and the first given up by NIU since 2004. With 4:39 left until the half, EMU secured its first lead of the game, 14-7.
With the momentum, EMU kept the defensive pressure high, forcing the Huskies to go backwards on their next drive, a three-and-out, including a tackle for loss from senior Derric Williams (Lake Orion, Mich.-Lake Orion). After a short punt, EMU set up right at midfield. The Huskies countered though, not allowing EMU to get past the 33, setting up a 50-yard field goal. The kick fell short, keeping it 14-7 with a minute and a half until halftime.
After the fourth three-and-out from the EMU defense kept NIU from getting into Eagle territory, the Huskies punted down to EMU's five with 30 seconds left. From there, Eastern ran out the clock, maintaining the seven-point game into the half.
Northern Illinois began the second half with the ball. Despite a pair of forced fumbles from EMU on the kick return and first play from scrimmage, NIU was able to hop on them both to maintain possession. They used that possession to roll 64 yards in 10 plays, capped by a 25-yard field goal, to make it 14-10 early in the second half.
Coming back the other way, EMU looked at a three-and-out, but a pass interference penalty kept the drive going. Two plays later, Roback found Niupalau down the sideline for a 40-yard gain to the NIU 17. The Eagles did not advance any further, forcing the field goal. This kick sailed wide left, keeping the score 14-10 with just over eight minutes left in the third.
The forced fumble mojo from the prior drive carried over to the ensuing set of downs, as on the second play from scrimmage, Rachwal jarred the ball loose on a vicious tackle, and it was recovered by sophomore Brody Hoying (Coldwater, Ohio-Coldwater) to set up EMU at the NIU 46. With the short field, EMU quickly got down into the NIU red zone on a 25-yard Eriksen rush. From there, the Huskies defense stood tall again, forcing a 34-yard kick. Sophomore Paulie Fricano (Rochester, N.Y.-Churchville-Chili) drilled it, extending the EMU lead back to seven, 17-10.
Following back-to-back short possessions from both sides, NIU started a drive with 3:45 left on the clock on their own 43. A personal foul penalty moved the ball into EMU territory, and NIU eventually worked down to the EMU 36. Facing a fourth and four, NIU dropped back to pass, but the ball was deflected at the line by senior Oddie Granger III (East St. Louis, Ill.-East St. Louis (Dodge City C.C.)), forcing the turnover on downs. NIU went on to force a three-and-out, and they regained possession to start the fourth quarter.
Pinned deep in their own territory, the Huskies tried to escape the shadow of their own end zone, but were unsuccessful in their attempts, forcing another punt, this one inside their own ten. The punt only traveled 36 yards, giving Eastern the ball on the NIU 45.
As they have at times throughout the season, the Eagles reached into its bag of tricks on a deep strike to start the drive. On a screen to Holder, the wideout heaved a pass down field to Kemp, and the tight end rumbled into the end zone for the 45-yard touchdown. It was the second touchdown pass from a wide receiver this season, and the first touchdown throw for Holder, as well as the first TD catch for Kemp in their respective careers. The trick play gave Eastern its biggest lead of the day, 24-10, with 13:31 to play.
Two more short possessions on both sides led to NIU getting the ball back at their own 26 with under 10 to go. On the first play of the drive, the Huskies used a 50-yard play to get deep down into the EMU side of the field. Six plays later, NIU found the end zone on a five-yard pass to tighten up the tally, 24-17, with seven and a half minutes to play.
Eastern used its next set of downs to try and run some of the clock. They chewed about two minutes off of it, but had to punt the ball back to the Huskies, who took over from their own 38 with five and a half to go. They moved the ball to about midfield, but EMU did not yield another yard. On third and six from the 49, senior Luke Maclean (Grand Blanc, Mich.-Grand Blanc (Pittsburgh)) and junior Jeremiah Harris (Lambertville, Mich.-Bedford Senior) combined on a huge sack to force yet another NIU punt with 4:10 to play.
Trying to run more clock, Eastern ran three times, forcing NIU to burn two timeouts. Setting up to punt, EMU's kick was partially blocked, and then returned down to the EMU 11. Two plays later, NIU's QB ran it in from 10 yards out to tie the contest at 24 each with just under three minutes left.
In crunch time, Eastern went to work in the two minute drill. On a third and short to start the drive, a pass interference penalty on NIU kept things alive, putting the ball on the EMU 43. One play later, Bailey II caught a 21-yard pass along the sidelines to get to the NIU 32. In field goal range, Eastern ran three times to burn clock and set up the field goal. The 42-yard attempt was no good, forcing overtime.
EMU started with the ball to start OT. NIU forced the three-and-out, setting up a 35-yard field goal for Fricano. This time he was true, giving Eastern the lead heading into the defensive side of the period. In that period, NIU needed just three plays to score the game-winning touchdown, giving them the come from behind 30-27 win.
The Eagles continues midweek play when they return home for a Thursday night contest at "The Factory" against Ball State University, Nov. 2. Kickoff against the Cardinals from Rynearson Stadium is set for 6 p.m.
Team Stats
EMU
NIU
Total Yards
408
402
Pass Yards
312
283
Rushing Yards
96
119
Penalty Yards
69
72
1st Downs
15
18
3rd Downs
5
3
4th Downs
0
0
TOP
32:29
27:31
2nd Quarter
EMU 0, NIU 7
NIU - BROWN, D.J. 69 yd pass from CHILDERS, Marcu (HAGAN, Christia kick) 3 plays, 91 yards, TOP 0:58
EMU 7, NIU 7
EMU - BAILEY, Sergio 68 yd pass from ROBACK, Brogan (FRICANO, Paulie kick) 1 plays, 68 yards, TOP 0:10
EMU 14, NIU 7
EMU - JOHNSON, Jaron 0 yd blocked punt return (FRICANO, Paulie kick)
3rd Quarter
EMU 14, NIU 10
NIU - HAGAN, Christia 25 yd field goal 10 plays, 64 yards, TOP 3:36
EMU 17, NIU 10
EMU - FRICANO, Paulie 34 yd field goal 6 plays, 30 yards, TOP 1:53
4th Quarter
EMU 24, NIU 10
EMU - KEMP, Bryce 45 yd pass from HOLDER, Isaac (FRICANO, Paulie kick) 1 plays, 45 yards, TOP 0:08
EMU 24, NIU 17
NIU - WIMANN, Shane 5 yd pass from CHILDERS, Marcu (HAGAN, Christia kick) 7 plays, 74 yards, TOP 2:01
EMU 24, NIU 24
NIU - CHILDERS, Marcu 10 yd run (HAGAN, Christia kick), 2 plays, 10 yards, TOP 0:10
OT Quarter
EMU 27, NIU 24
EMU - FRICANO, Paulie 35 yd field goal 4 plays, 8 yards, TOP 0:00
EMU 27, NIU 30
NIU - JONES, Marcus 9 yd run (), 3 plays, 25 yards, TOP 0:00
Game Leaders
Passing Leaders
CMP
22
TD
1
YDS
267
INT
0
CMP
1
TD
1
YDS
45
INT
0
Players Mentioned
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