Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
3-6 , 1-4
Ball State
2-7 , 0-5
Record Day Propels Football to 56-14 Victory Over Ball State
11/2/2017 9:58:00 PM | Football
Brogan Roback moved within one touchdown of Charlie Batch for most career passing TDs
Photo Gallery.
Postgamer Audio: Creighton. Keen. Tallman. Roback. Niupalau. Hubbard.
Video Highlights.
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) - #MACtion and the bright lights of "The Factory" were the perfect combination for Eastern Michigan University football team, as the Eagles notched a convincing 56-14 victory over Ball State University. On the night, Eastern Michigan scored five touchdowns on its first six drives to take a commanding 35-14 lead at halftime. Three of the Eagles' scoring drives were five plays or less.
Plenty of records fell in Rynearson Stadium with EMU's 42-point differential marking the largest in conference play for the Eagles since joining the MAC in 1976. EMU's previous high-water mark was a 41 point defeat of Kent State University during the 1996 campaign.
With the victory, Eastern moved to 3-6 overall and 1-4 in league action to keep its hopes of a second consecutive bowl appearance alive. Meanwhile, Ball State dropped to 2-7 and 0-5 in the MAC.
Battling through wet conditions, the EMU offense rolled up a season-high 225 on the ground en route to 488 overall. Orchestrating the Eagle attack was senior quarterback Brogan Roback (Maumee, Ohio-Toledo St. John's Jesuit), who eclipsed the 8,000 career passing yards on 15 completions for 263 yards. He is the second Eagle reach the milestone, joining E-Club Hall of Famer Walter Church in the record book. With Charlie Batch looking on, Roback found pay dirt via the air on three occasions to move within one of Batch's all-time career mark of 53.
Senior Johnnie Niupalau (San Mateo, Calif.-San Mateo-College of San Mateo) equaled a career best with five receptions for a personal-best 91 yards and a score. Senior Sergio Bailey II (San Diego, Calif.-Olympian-Grossmont College) finished with his fourth 100 yard game of his career with 110 yards on two receptions, including a 74-yarder for a score.
On the ground, junior Ian Eriksen (Clarkston, Mich.-Clarkston) posted his fourth 100-yard game of his career with 114 yards on a game-high 21 carries. Junior Shaq Vann (South Bend, Ind.-John Adams) found the end zone for the first time since the opening game of the 2016 campaign with a pair of rushing touchdowns.
For the second-time in his career, kicker Paulie Fricano's (Rochester N.Y.-Churchville-Chili) tied the EMU record for PATs, going a perfect 8-for-8 in the commanding victory. Last year, Fricano set the mark with eight in a resounding victory over Mississippi Valley State University, Sept. 2, 2016.
Not to be out done, freshman Jeff Hubbard (Atlanta, Ga.-Woodward Academy) got in on the action for a pick six late in the fourth quarter for the game's final score. It marked the first INT for Hubbard's career and second defensive score returned for a touchdown by the Eagles in 2017. Junior Jeremiah Harris (Lambertville, Mich.-Bedford Senior) came up with a strip-sack in the fourth quarter, while senior Luke Maclean (Grand Blanc, Mich.-Grand Blanc) added a game-high seven tackles, including a tackle-for-loss, and a quarterback hurry. It was the sixth forced fumble of Harris' career, as well as the tenth sack.
After a quick three-and-out by Ball State to open the contest, EMU took advantage on its second play of the night as Roback found Antoine Porter (San Francisco, Calif.-Mission City-College of San Francisco) for an 11-yard touchdown to take an early 7-0 lead at the 13:06 mark.
Ball State answered right back, with a 75-yard drive in just six plays to tie the game up at seven.
Slowing the pace, the Eagles' ensuing drive chewed up over seven minutes off the clock. The 16-play, 94-yard drive was capped after Roback tossed his second touchdown pass of the night, this time to Niupalau for 20 yards. With Fricano's PAT hitting the mark, the Green and White regained the lead, 14-7, with a minute remaining in the first quarter. The drive was the longest of the season for EMU in all three phases, plays, yards, and time of possession.
EMU would build the advantage to 21, 35-14, at the break and add a trio of scores following the break roll to the 42-point decision.
The Eagles return to #MACtion next week when they face the Chippewas of Central Michigan University in another mid-week clash, Wednesday, Nov. 8. Kickoff from Kelly/Shorts Stadium is scheduled for 8 p.m.
Team Stats
BALL 0, EMU 7
EMU - PORTER, Antoine 11 yd pass from ROBACK, Brogan (FRICANO, Paulie kick) 2 plays, 31 yards, TOP 0:29
BALL 7, EMU 7
BALL - NEWTON, Khalil 25 yd pass from PLITT, Drew (HAGEE, Morgan kick) 6 plays, 75 yards, TOP 2:18
BALL 7, EMU 14
EMU - NIUPALAU, J. 20 yd pass from ROBACK, Brogan (FRICANO, Paulie kick) 16 plays, 94 yards, TOP 7:10
BALL 7, EMU 21
EMU - ERIKSEN, Ian 3 yd run (FRICANO, Paulie kick), 5 plays, 53 yards, TOP 1:50
BALL 7, EMU 28
EMU - BAILEY, Sergio 74 yd pass from ROBACK, Brogan (FRICANO, Paulie kick) 2 plays, 77 yards, TOP 0:44
BALL 14, EMU 28
BALL - GIVAN, Nolan 4 yd pass from PLITT, Drew (HAGEE, Morgan kick) 7 plays, 71 yards, TOP 3:34
BALL 14, EMU 35
EMU - VANN, Shaq 21 yd run (FRICANO, Paulie kick), 8 plays, 73 yards, TOP 3:12
BALL 14, EMU 42
EMU - VANN, Shaq 21 yd run (FRICANO, Paulie kick), 7 plays, 65 yards, TOP 3:24
BALL 14, EMU 49
EMU - BANHAM, Blake 3 yd run (FRICANO, Paulie kick), 12 plays, 97 yards, TOP 5:44
BALL 14, EMU 56
EMU - HUBBARD, Jeff 46 yd interception (FRICANO, Paulie kick)
