Eastern Michigan Athletics
Friday, November 23
Kent, Ohio
12 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
7-5 , 5-3
28
at
20
Kent State
2-10 , 1-7
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
Eastern Michigan
7
14
7
0
28
Kent State
10
0
7
3
20
Eagles Are Bowl Bound With 28-20 Victory at KSU
11/23/2018 3:54:00 PM | Football
The victory marks the Eagles' fifth straight conference win, best streak since 1989
Postgame Audio: Coach_Creighton. Jeremiah_Harris.
Highlights
KENT, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) – With Kent State University driving down the field with 4:28 to go, junior Vince Calhoun (Middletown, Ohio-Middletown) nabbed Kavious Price's fourth-down long ball to cut the Golden Flashes' late comeback attempt short, as the Eastern Michigan University football team became bowl bound with a 28-20 win in its regular season Mid-American Conference finale at Dix Stadium, Nov. 23.
KSU cut the Eagles' once 18-point lead down to eight points, as the Golden Flashes added 10 quick points late in the third quarter and early fourth quarter to send the score to 28-20 with 8:18 left in the game. With the Golden Flashes at EMU's 39 yard line, a huge pass breakup from junior Kevin McGill (Waldorf, Md.-Westlake) at the goal line on third-and-six forced a fourth down try from Kent State. Calhoun then nabbed KSU's last-ditch long ball effort on fourth-and-six, giving the Eagles the ball back with 4:28 to go. The Green and White was able to move the ball and eat up clock to secure the victory.
EMU improved to 7-5 overall and 5-3 in MAC play with the win, it is the program's first winning record in conference play since 1995.The victory also marked the longest MAC win streak for the program since 1989. Meanwhile, the Golden Flashes finished their season 2-10 (1-7 MAC).
The Green and White's defense was led by senior Jeremiah Harris (Lambertville, Mich.-Bedford Senior), who filled up the box score with nine tackles, including 3.5 tackles-for-loss and three sacks. Harris' three-sack performance against the Golden Flashes tied the EMU program record for sacks in a single game. He joined junior Maxx Crosby (Colleyville, Texas-Colleyville Heritage) (2017), Kevin Howe (2005), and Ashley Travis (1999) as the only players to accomplish the feat.
Fellow senior Kyle Rachwal led the Eagles in tackles, notching 13 on the day, while also registering his fourth pass breakup of the year. Crosby added five tackles and a fumble recovery, while junior Brody Hoying (Coldwater, Ohio-Coldwater) and senior Jaylen Pickett (Zephryhills, Fla.-Zephryhills) combined for 15 tackles to the Eagles defensive efforts.
The Eagles second-best ground attack of the season was led by senior Ian Eriksen (Clarkston, Mich.-Clarkston), rushing for a season-best 118 yards while scampering for three touchdowns. The senior became the first Eagle to rush for three touchdowns in a single game since 2014, when Reginald Bell added three scores on the ground in the Eagles' 37-27 win over Buffalo, Oct. 11, 2014. Eriksen's 118-yard effort marked the eighth 100-or-more effort of his career, while also moving the senior up to 11th all-time in total career rushing yards (1,918 yards).
The ground attack was aided by junior Breck Turner (Norwalk, Ohio-Norwalk) and sophomore Willie Parker (Tampa, Fla.-Carrolwood Day School), who added 51 and 61 yards, respectively.
Eastern's stout defense shined early in the matchup, as the nation's seventh-best redzone defenders held the Golden Flashes to just a field goal on their first offensive drive. McGill came up big with a pass breakup effort on Kent's third-and-four to force the Golden Flashes' boot, putting them up 3-0 early in the first quarter.
After the Eagles' first offensive series ended on the first play from scrimmage with a fumble recovered by Kent for a score, the Green and White shot back with a quick five-play series to cut KSU's lead to three, 10-7. The drive was highlighted by Mathew Sexton's (Clinton, Mich.-Clinton) efforts, as he accounted for 64 of the 69 yards on the drive. Sexton hauled in a 46-yard catch from Tyler Wiegers (Lake Orion, Mich-Detroit Country Day-Iowa) and was taken down at the one-yard line to set Eriksen up for the score, with 9:12 to go in the period.
The Flashes responded, driving back into the redzone in just four plays. The Green and White's stingy defense held KSU to a field goal attempt again, which missed wide left to maintain the 10-7 score.
After a hectic first quarter, the Eagles took control of the game in the second. Turner was the lead receiver and rusher of the first offensive series of the quarter, driving Eastern into Kent State territory on a 33-yard scamper, while also nabbing an eight-yard dart from Wiegers to set EMU up with first and goal. Junior quarterback Isaac Stiebeling (Fort Wayne, Ind.-Snider) closed out the drive, rushing for his second touchdown of the year to give EMU its first lead of the day, 14-10.
With 4:55 still showing before halftime, Eriksen found the endzone for his second TD of the game. The Clarkston, Mich. native carried the ball four times on a four-play, 52-yard drive to extend EMU's lead to double digits, 21-10. The touchdown was Eriksen's second of the day and third of the season.
Kent State first cut into Eastern's lead back to 11 with 4:36 to go in the third. After the Eagles came storming out of halftime, adding to their lead in the first four minutes of the second half, four-play, 39-yard drive, capped off by Eriksen's third rushing touchdown of the day, the Golden Flashes used a 11-play, 95-yard drive down the length of the gridiron, finished by Jo-El Shaw's 1-yard rush into the endzone. The Flashes touchdown sent the game's score to 28-17.
The win marked the end of the Green and White's regular season. Eastern now awaits its bowl selection, which will take place Sunday, Dec. 2. For more information on possible bowl destinations, visit EMU's bowl ticket interest page.
Highlights
KENT, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) – With Kent State University driving down the field with 4:28 to go, junior Vince Calhoun (Middletown, Ohio-Middletown) nabbed Kavious Price's fourth-down long ball to cut the Golden Flashes' late comeback attempt short, as the Eastern Michigan University football team became bowl bound with a 28-20 win in its regular season Mid-American Conference finale at Dix Stadium, Nov. 23.
KSU cut the Eagles' once 18-point lead down to eight points, as the Golden Flashes added 10 quick points late in the third quarter and early fourth quarter to send the score to 28-20 with 8:18 left in the game. With the Golden Flashes at EMU's 39 yard line, a huge pass breakup from junior Kevin McGill (Waldorf, Md.-Westlake) at the goal line on third-and-six forced a fourth down try from Kent State. Calhoun then nabbed KSU's last-ditch long ball effort on fourth-and-six, giving the Eagles the ball back with 4:28 to go. The Green and White was able to move the ball and eat up clock to secure the victory.
EMU improved to 7-5 overall and 5-3 in MAC play with the win, it is the program's first winning record in conference play since 1995.The victory also marked the longest MAC win streak for the program since 1989. Meanwhile, the Golden Flashes finished their season 2-10 (1-7 MAC).
The Green and White's defense was led by senior Jeremiah Harris (Lambertville, Mich.-Bedford Senior), who filled up the box score with nine tackles, including 3.5 tackles-for-loss and three sacks. Harris' three-sack performance against the Golden Flashes tied the EMU program record for sacks in a single game. He joined junior Maxx Crosby (Colleyville, Texas-Colleyville Heritage) (2017), Kevin Howe (2005), and Ashley Travis (1999) as the only players to accomplish the feat.
Fellow senior Kyle Rachwal led the Eagles in tackles, notching 13 on the day, while also registering his fourth pass breakup of the year. Crosby added five tackles and a fumble recovery, while junior Brody Hoying (Coldwater, Ohio-Coldwater) and senior Jaylen Pickett (Zephryhills, Fla.-Zephryhills) combined for 15 tackles to the Eagles defensive efforts.
The Eagles second-best ground attack of the season was led by senior Ian Eriksen (Clarkston, Mich.-Clarkston), rushing for a season-best 118 yards while scampering for three touchdowns. The senior became the first Eagle to rush for three touchdowns in a single game since 2014, when Reginald Bell added three scores on the ground in the Eagles' 37-27 win over Buffalo, Oct. 11, 2014. Eriksen's 118-yard effort marked the eighth 100-or-more effort of his career, while also moving the senior up to 11th all-time in total career rushing yards (1,918 yards).
The ground attack was aided by junior Breck Turner (Norwalk, Ohio-Norwalk) and sophomore Willie Parker (Tampa, Fla.-Carrolwood Day School), who added 51 and 61 yards, respectively.
Eastern's stout defense shined early in the matchup, as the nation's seventh-best redzone defenders held the Golden Flashes to just a field goal on their first offensive drive. McGill came up big with a pass breakup effort on Kent's third-and-four to force the Golden Flashes' boot, putting them up 3-0 early in the first quarter.
After the Eagles' first offensive series ended on the first play from scrimmage with a fumble recovered by Kent for a score, the Green and White shot back with a quick five-play series to cut KSU's lead to three, 10-7. The drive was highlighted by Mathew Sexton's (Clinton, Mich.-Clinton) efforts, as he accounted for 64 of the 69 yards on the drive. Sexton hauled in a 46-yard catch from Tyler Wiegers (Lake Orion, Mich-Detroit Country Day-Iowa) and was taken down at the one-yard line to set Eriksen up for the score, with 9:12 to go in the period.
The Flashes responded, driving back into the redzone in just four plays. The Green and White's stingy defense held KSU to a field goal attempt again, which missed wide left to maintain the 10-7 score.
After a hectic first quarter, the Eagles took control of the game in the second. Turner was the lead receiver and rusher of the first offensive series of the quarter, driving Eastern into Kent State territory on a 33-yard scamper, while also nabbing an eight-yard dart from Wiegers to set EMU up with first and goal. Junior quarterback Isaac Stiebeling (Fort Wayne, Ind.-Snider) closed out the drive, rushing for his second touchdown of the year to give EMU its first lead of the day, 14-10.
With 4:55 still showing before halftime, Eriksen found the endzone for his second TD of the game. The Clarkston, Mich. native carried the ball four times on a four-play, 52-yard drive to extend EMU's lead to double digits, 21-10. The touchdown was Eriksen's second of the day and third of the season.
Kent State first cut into Eastern's lead back to 11 with 4:36 to go in the third. After the Eagles came storming out of halftime, adding to their lead in the first four minutes of the second half, four-play, 39-yard drive, capped off by Eriksen's third rushing touchdown of the day, the Golden Flashes used a 11-play, 95-yard drive down the length of the gridiron, finished by Jo-El Shaw's 1-yard rush into the endzone. The Flashes touchdown sent the game's score to 28-17.
The win marked the end of the Green and White's regular season. Eastern now awaits its bowl selection, which will take place Sunday, Dec. 2. For more information on possible bowl destinations, visit EMU's bowl ticket interest page.
Team Stats
EMU
KENT
Total Yards
376
388
Pass Yards
139
209
Rushing Yards
237
179
Penalty Yards
60
30
1st Downs
14
21
3rd Downs
2
5
4th Downs
2
1
TOP
30:37
29:23
1st Quarter
EMU 0, KENT 3
KENT - TRICKETT, M. 23 yd field goal 10 plays, 65 yards, TOP 3:23
EMU 0, KENT 10
KENT - PARKER, JAMAL 16 yd fumble recovery (TRICKETT, M. kick)
EMU 7, KENT 10
EMU - ERIKSEN, Ian 1 yd run (RYLAND, Chad kick), 5 plays, 69 yards, TOP 2:01
2nd Quarter
EMU 14, KENT 10
EMU - STIEBELING, I. 1 yd run (RYLAND, Chad kick), 11 plays, 82 yards, TOP 4:51
EMU 21, KENT 10
EMU - ERIKSEN, Ian 1 yd run (RYLAND, Chad kick), 4 plays, 52 yards, TOP 1:23
3rd Quarter
EMU 28, KENT 10
EMU - ERIKSEN, Ian 32 yd run (RYLAND, Chad kick), 4 plays, 39 yards, TOP 1:44
EMU 28, KENT 17
KENT - SHAW, JO-EL 1 yd run (TRICKETT, M. kick), 11 plays, 95 yards, TOP 3:09
4th Quarter
EMU 28, KENT 20
KENT - TRICKETT, M. 35 yd field goal 11 plays, 63 yards, TOP 3:56
Game Leaders
Passing Leaders
CMP
13
TD
0
YDS
139
INT
1
Players Mentioned
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