EMU Set to Face Buffalo Saturday in Battle of Unbeatens

Football at Buffalo
Date	Saturday, Sept. 15 \| 6 p.m.
Venue	Buffalo, N.Y. \| UB Stadium (29,013)
Preview Info	EMU Notes \| Press Conference Video \| Teleconference Audio
Live Stats	Fan 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

BUFFALO, N.Y. (EMUEagles.com) – After the program's first walk-off victory since the 1994 season, the Eastern Michigan University football team remains on the road Saturday, Sept. 15, with a trip to Mid-American Conference East Division foe, the University at Buffalo. The MAC lid-lifter between the Eagles and Bulls will begin at 6 p.m. inside UB Stadium.
   EMU is 2-0 on the year after its 20-19 defeat of Purdue University, Sept. 8, while Buffalo is 2-0 following a 36-29 road victory over Temple University, Sept. 8.
   The contest will be broadcast on ESPN+ with Doug Sherman delivering the play-by-play, while Marcus Ray will serve as the analyst. The game will also be aired on WEMU (89.1 FM) with veteran broadcasters Chad Bush and Rob Rubick calling the action from the press box.

WITH AN EMU WIN…: An EMU win would give the program its first 3-0 start since 1989. In addition, should Eastern maintain its defensive prowess, and hold Buffalo to less than 20 points, it would be the first time that happened in three consecutive games since 2006. The last time it happened to open the season was 1988.

WALK-OFF WINNERS: A 24-yard field goal by Chad Ryland as time expired gave EMU a stunning 20-19 win over Purdue, Sept. 8, and was Eastern's first walk-off win in two decades.
   The last time Eastern won on the final play of regulation, EMU E-Club Hall of Famer Charlie Batch found Ontario Pryor for a 16-yard touchdown as the clock hit zero as the Eagles soared past Toledo, 40-37, Nov. 19, 1994. Additionally, Ryland's kick was EMU's first walk-off field goal in more than 40 years. That year, the Eagles used a 38-yard FG from Ken Dudal to nip Central Michigan, 30-27, Nov. 6, 1976. The victory was the program's first-ever Mid-American Conference win.

RETURN OF THE MAC: Saturday's contest kicks off the 43rd year that the Eagles have been a part of the Mid-American Conference football championship race. EMU was admitted into the league in 1971, but a complete league schedule was not available until the 1976 season.
   The Eagles will be looking for their 13th overall victory in a conference-play opener as they hold a 12-30 record in MAC season openers. Additionally, it marks EMU's first league opener against Buffalo since 2004 when the Green and White notched a 37-34 victory in Ypsilanti, Sept, 2.

ALL-TIME VS. BUFFALO: As Buffalo and Eastern meet on the gridiron Saturday, the Eagles will be looking for their seventh all-time victory over the Bulls. Eastern holds a 6-1 record against the University at Buffalo, its best win-loss record over any MAC opponent. In their last match-up, the Eagles dominated the Bulls with their run-game, rushing for four touchdowns in its 37-27 victory on Oct. 11, 2014.

LAST MEETING WITH THE BULLS: Behind 34 second-half points, EMU rolled to a 37-27 Homecoming victory over Buffalo, Oct. 11, 2014. The Eagles were led by a career day out of redshirt freshman quarterback Reginald Bell Jr.. Bell went 8-for-13 for 144 yards and one touchdown, but the Golden State native truly shone in his rushing. He led all players with 202 rushing yards and three touchdowns on the ground, including a pair of 70+ yarders. Bell acted as the catalyst for the Green and White, as the offense went from 73 yards of total offense to 484 yards after he went into the game with 4:15 left in the second quarter.
   Buffalo was paced by Joe Licata, who was 27-of-44 for 383 yards and three touchdowns. Anthone Taylor led the offense on the ground, as the MAC-leading rusher went 128 yards on 24 carries. Defensively, just one Bull had a double-digit tackle performance in Lee Skinner, with 10 stops.

COMING DOWN TO THE WIRE: In EMU's last 27 games, dating back to the start of the 2016 season, 18 have come down to final scores of seven points or less. Of the 17 games, EMU has a 9-9 record, including a 1-0 mark this season.

BIG VICTORIES AGAINST THE BIG TEN: With the 20-19 victory in West Lafayette, Sept. 8, the Eagles have beat a Big Ten Conference opponent in back-to-back seasons. The Eagles' first-ever win against a "Power 5" school came last year in a 16-13 victory over Rutgers. Since the beginning of the 2017, EMU has the same number of Big Ten wins as Maryland,Indiana, and Minnesota and more than Illinois.
    Overall, at least one Mid-American Conference school has posted a win over a Big 10 opponent in every year since 2006. During this 13-year stretch, MAC teams have defeated 12 different programs – Illinois (3); Indiana (5); Iowa (3); Maryland (1); Michigan (1); Michigan State (1); Minnesota (2); Nebraska (1); Northwestern (2); Penn State (1); Purdue (6), and Rutgers (1) for a total of 27.

THE NOT-SO UNDERDOGS: With EMU's win over Purdue, Sept. 8, Head Coach Chris Creighton picked up his second "Power Five" win in a 364-day span. In doing so, he became one of four active MAC coaches to have multiple "Power 5" wins. He joins Ohio's Frank Solich (5), Northern Illinois' Rod Carey (4), and Central Michigan's John Bonamego (3).

ICE IN HIS VEINS: All eyes were on freshman kicker Chad Ryland in the final moments against Purdue, Sept. 8, as he lined up for a field goal with four seconds left to play. Ryland calmly drilled a 24-yard field goal as time ran out to push Eastern to its second-ever victory over a 'Power 5' opponent. His kick was EMU's first walk-off field goal since a 38-yard boot by Ken Dudal against Central Michigan, Nov. 6, 1976.
   For the game, Ryland added two field goals and pair of PATs to his collegiate resume. For his efforts, Ryland joined teammate Tyler Wiegers as the MAC's week two player of the week honorees, Sept. 10.
Overall, the "true" freshman is tied with 32 others for the national lead in field goal percentage as well as ranking 24th in field goals per game (1.50).

WIEGERS' WILL TO WIN: Graduate transfer Tyler Wiegers has wasted no time pushing the Eagles in a winning direction, leading Eastern in the victory over Purdue, throwing for 312 yards on 20 completions. In two games, Wiegers tally of 38-for-49 ranks fourth nationally with a 77.6 completion percentage.
   His 312-yard performance against the Boilermakers was the most for any EMU quarterback since Brogan Roback's 328-yard performance in the Bahamas Bowl, Dec. 23, 2016. Wiegers' 75-yard touchdown pass to Mathew Sexton was the longest toss since the 2016 campaign. Furthermore, the touchdown strike was only the third reception of 75-or-more yards since 2010 for Eastern Michigan.

GOOD PUNTING, EH'?: One of Eastern Michigan's six international members, Ontario, Canada native Jake Julien put on a show against Purdue, punting seven times for an average of 43.3 yards. Five of his seven punts against the Boilermakers were placed inside the 20-yard line, tying the Eastern Michigan school record for most punts downed inside the 20, last achieved by Jay Karautz against Alabama State, Sept. 10, 2011.
   Overall, Julien ranks 14th nationally with a punt average of 44.9 yards.

THE RACHWAL RETURNS: After playing in only one half due to a targeting penalty in the season opener against Monmouth, senior linebacker Kyle Rachwal returned to action with a team-best 11 tackles (six solo, five assists). He also forced a fumble in the first quarter that forced Purdue to settle for a field goal in the red zone.
   EMU's defensive effort highlighted the day, as the Eagles held the Boilermakers to just 17 points, forced three three-and-outs, and only allowed two touchdowns. Eastern's defense also totaled four forced fumbles, the most since forcing four at Northern Illinois, Oct. 26, 2017.

WHAT CAN'T NO.2 DO?: In just two games, Blake Banham has registered 14 receptions for 207 yards to double the yardage he gained for the entirety of the 2017 campaign (94 yards). His 99-yard effort against the Boilermakers led all receivers, and his 29-yard catch at the end of the first half was the fourth-longest reception in his career. His second-quarter catch pushed the Eagles into Purdue territory and setup a 27 yard field goal to pull EMU within two, 12-10, at the half.

JACKSON MOVING THE STICKS: After an opening week's outpouring of 23 points by newcomers, wide receiver Arthur Jackson III continued the trend with six receptions for 84 yards in the 20-19 victory over Purdue, Sept. 8. The new addition from American River College was a favorite target of quarterback Tyler Wiegers, as he was targeted eight times during the contest. He finished with six catches for 84 yards, including a 28-yard strike to move the sticks on a 4th-and-15 play on the game-winning drive.

CREIGHTON APPROACHING TOP FIVE IN ALL-TIME WINS AT EMU: With three 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. Creighton already has coached the eighth most games in EMU history at 51 in five seasons.

ON THE HORIZON: Following the game at UB, the Eagles will make the cross-country trip to San Diego, Calif., Sept. 15, to battle the Aztecs of San Diego State University. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. PT (10:30 p.m. ET) from SDCCU Stadium.
   The Eagles and Aztecs will be meeting on the gridiron for the first time. The trip to California also marks EMU's first venture into the state since the 1990 campaign at Fresno State.

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Players Mentioned

Blake Banham

Reginald Bell

Arthur Jackson III

Jake Julien

Kyle Rachwal

Brogan Roback

Chad Ryland

Mathew Sexton

Tyler Wiegers

Eastern Michigan Athletics