Eagles Clash With the Cardinals Saturday, Oct. 20, in Muncie

Football at Ball State
Date	Saturday, Oct. 20 \| 3:05 p.m.
Venue	Muncie, Ind. \| Scheumann Stadium (22,500)
Preview Info	EMU Notes \| Press Conference Video \| Teleconference Audio
Live Stats	Fan Stats \| Media Stats
Watch	ESPN+ \| What is ESPN+?
Listen	WEMU (89.1 WEMU-FM) \| TuneIn Radio \| Podcast
Twitter	@EMUFB \| @EMUAthletics
Tickets	Order Tickets Online or call 734.487.3669

MUNCIE, Ind. (EMUEagles.com) – After holding on for a 28-26 victory over the University of Toledo in week seven, the Eastern Michigan University football team will make the 217-mile trek to Muncie, Ind. Saturday, Oct. 20, to battle the Ball State University Cardinals. The Mid-American Conference West Division tilt is scheduled for 3 p.m. at Scheumann Stadium.
   The Eagles (3-4, 1-3 MAC) ended a 728-day drought in the month of October, when it held off the defending MAC Champion Rockets on a missed two-point conversion with 20 seconds to play. EMU had dropped its last eight October contests dating back to a 27-20 victory at Ohio University, Oct. 15, 2016. Meanwhile, the Cardinals (3-4, 2-1 MAC) snapped a six-game MAC-road losing streak with a 24-23 come-from-behind victory at Central Michigan University, Oct. 13.
   Saturday's contest will be shown on ESPN+ with Jim Barbar providing play-by-play and Bobby Carpenter serving as analyst. The game will also be on WEMU (89.1 FM) with Chad Bush and Rob Rubick on the call.

RUSHING HIS WAY INTO THE RECORD BOOKS: Junior quarterback Mike Glass III earned his first career start for the Green and White against Toledo, Oct. 13, and made it a historic one. Glass III picked up his second consecutive 100-yard rushing game and is believed to be the first EMU signal caller in program history to rush past the century mark in back-to-back games. EMU's individual game-by-game statistics are only available back to the mid-1950s.
   On the day, Glass III posted 125 yards and two scores on the ground in the first half. He was also an efficient 6-for-8 for 100 yards via the air before departing the contest just before halftime with an injury.

CONTINUING TO FLUSH IT: For the past three seasons, Eastern Michigan's motto has been to go 1-0 each week while "flushing" the previous outcome. The short memory has proven beneficial for the program, with 22 of the last 32 contests decided by seven points-or-less.
   Of those contests, six have been decided in overtime with 10 coming down to the final play.

CLOSE CALLS: EMU is one of 31 FBS teams to have played in at least three one-score games this season, however, the Eagles are only one of nine to be on the unfortunate side in as many as three. In research originally started by Ball State's Joel Godett, these nine schools are: EMU (2-4), BSU (1-3) Arizona State (1-3), Western Kentucky (1-3), Air Force (0-3), Arkansas (0-3), Nebraska (0-3), Old Dominion (0-3), and Purdue (0-3).

THE NEAL NEATHERY EFFECT: Prior to EMU Associate Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator Neal Neathery's arrival in 2016, the Eagles recorded four-or-more sacks just eight times in the 10 previous seasons. Under his direction, Eastern has accomplished the feat eight times.

BEATING TOLEDO: Eastern Michigan bested Toledo for the first time since 2006 with a thrilling 28-26 victory at Rynearson Stadium, Oct. 13. The win snapped EMU's 11-game skid against UT, which was at the time was EMU's longest active winless streak against a MAC opponent.
   In the 2006 contest, Eastern also needed a play late to post a 17-13 victory at Rynearson Stadium, Oct. 21. The Eagles put on a game-winning march capped off by an 18-yard touchdown run with 36 seconds remaining.

THE LONG BALL: The Eagles came into their bout with Rockets with their season-long rush standing at just 24 yards. Eastern far exceeded its best ground attack against Toledo, recording four of its five longest rushing plays (21, 22, 48 and 50) in the 2018 season against the Rockets.

BESTING THE ROCKETS WITH THE RUSH: Eastern Michigan collected 229 rushing yards against Toledo, its most single-game rushing yards in 2018. The team averaged 124.3 rushing yards a game entering the matchup, but topped that effort within one quarter of play, rushing for 159 yards in the first 15 minutes of the game. UT's defense entered the contest allowing 191 yards per game on the ground, but by the end of the first half, EMU had torched them for 201.
   For the first time since Nov. 2, 2017, against Ball State, EMU saw three players record a score via the run. Mike Glass III, Willie Parker, and Shaq Vann each found pay dirt. In the modern statistical era (since 1999), Eastern Michigan is 25-10 in games when it scores three-or-more rushing touchdowns.

BETTERING THE AVERAGE: Entering its meeting with Toledo, Oct. 13, Eastern's rushing corps averaged 3.2 yards per rushing attempt. Against the Rockets, the Eagles averaged a season-best 6.0 yards per rush, the best for the team since its 2016 meeting with Mississippi Valley State University, Sept. 2, when the team gained 6.4 yards per carry.

TIP OF THE CAP TO THE SPECIALIST: Kickoff specialist Jesse Kelly turned in three touchbacks in five tries against Toledo, Oct. 13. He averaged 59.8 yards per kickoff. Toledo's average starting field position after a kickoff by Kelly was the 23-yard line, and the Rockets registered only one score on an offensive series in which the Ventura, Calif. native's kick began the drive.
Overall, the Rockets were limited to an average of 15.5 yards per return. Toledo entered the game ranked fifth nationally in kickoff returns at 29.58.

PICKETT FENCE: Senior Jaylen Pickett recorded a career-best 2.5 tackles-for-loss against Toledo's high-octane offense, Oct. 13. Pickett registered an eight-tackle day as the squad turned in its first win over the Midnight Blue and Gold since the 2006 campaign.
   Overall, EMU Associate Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator Neal Neathery's crew held the Rockets to 20 points and 72 yards below their season average. EMU held Toledo scoreless through 14 minutes of play, and did not surrender a touchdown until the 11 minute mark of the fourth quarter.

STANDING TALL: Eastern currently holds the nation's seventh-best red zone defense, allowing opponents to score only 22 times on 32 attempts.
   EMU is ranked 18th nationally in the fewest second-half points allowed at just 8.8 a game. Additionally, EMU is the only NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision school not to have allowed a third quarter touchdown to a FBS opponent.

MORE FROM THE NATIONAL RANKINGS: The Eagles find themselves in the top-25 of 10 categories that NCAA tracks on a weekly basis.

ALL-TIME VS. BALL STATE: The Eagles and Cardinals have met 59 times in their respective histories, with BSU leading the all-time series, 34-23-2. The two schools first met back in 1936, and have faced off annually since 1973. EMU has won the last two meetings, out-scoring the Cardinals, 104-55, including a 56-14 thumping in Ypsilanti last season, Nov. 2, 2017.

LAST TIME IN MUNCIE: On 2016 Election Night, EMU overcame a 21-point first quarter deficit to defeat Ball State, 48-41, at Schuemann Stadium to become bowl eligible. The 21-point comeback tied the largest deficit overcome by an Eagles team in program history.
   The EMU offense carried the day, totaling a season-high 622 yards of total offense, including 468 through the air and 154 on the ground. It was the fourth-most total offense by EMU in program history and the most since 2012.
   Orchestrating the Eagle attack was Brogan Roback who had 468 yards passing on 37-of-71 passing, both of which were career-highs as well. He threw for three touchdowns on the night. It was the third-most passing yards in a game in program history, and the most since Andy Schmitt set the program record with 516 in 2008. The dual-threat QB also got it done on the ground, with a career-high tying 41 yards on eight rushes, as well as his fourth career rushing score.

POURING IT ON VS. THE CARDINALS: Plenty of records fell as Eastern Michigan blew past Ball State, 56-14, in Rynearson Stadium, Nov. 2, 2017. EMU's 42-point differential marked 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.
   The Eagles sprung for 622 yards of total offense, including 468 through the air and 154 on the ground. It was the fourth-highest total offensive effort from EMU in program history, and the most since 2012. The 35 first downs were also the second-most in program history behind the 38 against Central Michigan in 2008.

WIDE RECEIVER WORK OUT: EMU wide receivers have accounted for 81.9 percent (113-of-138)of the team's receptions this year. The percentage ranks 14th nationally with Ole Miss leading the way with 94.9 percent (149-of-157) of its throws going to wide outs.

DON'T CHANGE THAT CHANNEL!: CBS Sports Network and ESPN can thank EMU for plenty of high drama the past two seasons.
   • Sept. 9, 2017: 16-13 win at Rutgers — Eagles win, get sack on game's final play
   • Sept. 23, 2017: 27-20 2OT loss to Ohio — Ohio scores on final play in double overtime
   • Sept. 30, 2017: 24-20 loss at Kentucky — Eagles intercepted in end zone on final play
   • Oct. 7, 2017: 20-15 loss at Toledo — Eagles intercepted on final drive
   • Oct. 14, 2017: 28-27 loss at Army — Eagles fail to convert two-point conversion for win
   • Oct. 21, 2017: 20-17 OT loss to Western Michigan — Eagles miss field goal in overtime
   • Oct. 26, 2017: 30-27 OT loss at NIU — Eagles make field goal, but gives up TD in overtime
   • Nov. 8, 2017: 42-30 loss to CMU — CMU pick six with EMU down 5 points with 48 seconds left
   • Nov. 15, 2017: 27-24 win at Miami — EMU recovered onside kick with two minutes to play
   • Nov. 21, 2017: 34-31 win vs. BGSU — EMU holds off a late rally by the Falcons on Senior Day
   • Sept. 8, 2018: 20-19 win at Purdue — Kicker Chad Rylan drills a 24-yard field goal as time expires
   • Sept. 15, 2018: 35-28 loss at Buffalo — UB recovered onside kick with 40 seconds to play
   • Sept. 22, 2018: 23-20 OT loss at San Diego St. — SDSU hit a 50-yard field goal to force overtime
   • Sept. 29, 2018: 26-23 3OT loss to NIU — EMU makes FG, but gives up TD in third overtime
   • Oct. 6, 2018: 27-24 loss at WMU — EMU missed a 32-yd FG with 3:26 left but gets a TD with 20 seconds
   • Oct. 13, 2018: 28-26 win vs. Toledo — Toledo missed a 2pt-conversion and cannot recover onside kick

CREIGHTON APPROACHING TOP FIVE IN ALL-TIME WINS AT EMU: With two more wins, EMU Head Coach Chris Creighton will tie Rick Rasnick for fifth all-time in victories at Eastern Michigan. Rasnick led the Eagles to 20 wins in 54 games from 1995-99.

UP NEXT: EMU will host Army West Point for its annual Homecoming game Saturday, Oct. 27, at Rynearson Stadium. The game will kickoff at 12 p.m. on CBS Sports Network.
   Eastern Michigan holds a 1-7 mark against Army West Point. They last met in 2017, with Army coming away victorious with a 28-27 win at Michie Stadium, Oct. 14. EMU's lone win came during the 2012 campaign, when the Eagles notched a 48-38 victory at Rynearson Stadium, Oct. 20.

98th HOMECOMING: Next weekend marks the 98th EMU Homecoming after it was created in 1920. Overall, it is the 91st 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 45-43-2 all-time on Homecoming, but has not tasted victory in the game since 2014, a 37-27 win over Buffalo.

Eagles Clash With the Cardinals Saturday, Oct. 20, in Muncie

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Players Mentioned

Mike Glass III

Jesse Kelly

Willie Parker

Jaylen Pickett

Brogan Roback

Shaq Vann

Eastern Michigan Athletics