EMU Heads West for Match-up with San Diego State

Football at San Diego State
Date	Saturday, Sept. 22 \| 7:32 p.m. PT (10:32 p.m. ET)
Venue	San Diego, Calif. \| SDCCU Stadium (54,000)
Preview Info	EMU Notes \| Press Conference Video \| Teleconference Audio
Live Stats	Fan Stats
Watch	CBS Sports Network \| CBSSN Channel Finder
Listen	WEMU (89.1 WEMU-FM) \| TuneIn Radio \| Podcast
Twitter	@EMUFB \| @EMUAthletics
Tickets	Order Tickets Online or call 734.487.3669

SAN DIEGO, Calif. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University football team dips back into non-conference play when it heads to San Diego, Calif. to square off with San Diego State University Saturday, Sept. 22. Kickoff from San Diego County Credit Union (SDCCU) Stadium is set for 7:30 p.m. PT (10:30 p.m. ET).
   The Eagles (2-1, 0-1 MAC) were stung in their Mid-American Conference opener by Buffalo, 35-28, while the Aztecs (2-1, 0-0 MWC) weathered some anxious moments in the waning seconds for a 28-21 upset of No. 23/25 Arizona State.
   The contest will be nationally televised on CBS Sports Network with Dave Ryan providing play-by-play and Randy Cross serving as the analyst. The game will also be aired on WEMU (89.1 FM) with Chad Bush and Rob Rubick calling the action from the press box.

GO WEST THEY SAID: For the first time in 28 years, EMU will play a contest in the state of California when it battles San Diego State, Sept. 22. The last time Eastern ventured into The Golden State was the 1990 season opener at Fresno State University, Sept. 1. EMU's lone victory in the Pacific Time Zone is arguably the most memorable one in program history – the 1987 California Bowl upset of San Jose State, 30-27.

WITH AN EMU WIN...: With a win over San Diego State, the Eagles would move to 3-1 for just the third time in the past 29 seasons. The last time Eastern opened 3-1 was 2016 season with wins over Mississippi Valley State, Charlotte, and Wyoming. Prior to the 2016 Bahamas Bowl squad, EMU began the 1995 campaign with a 3-1 mark.

STAY CLASSY SAN DIEGO: Eastern Michigan will be making the 2,310 mile trek to San Diego, Calif. for this weekend's non-conference affair. This is the first of two scheduled meetings between the schools with SDSU scheduled come to Ypsilanti during the 2027 season.
   EMU has met four current members of the Mountain West Conference in its history, holding a 3-1-1 record. Eastern's only loss occurred in the 1990 season opener at Fresno State, 41-10, Sept. 1. The then-Hurons upset heavily-favored San Jose State, 30-27, in the 1987 California Bowl. Most recently, Eastern swept a home-and-home series against Wyoming. EMU cruised to 48-29 victory in Laramie, Wyo., Sept. 12, 2015, and followed it up with a 27-24 decision the following year inside "The Factory", Sept. 23, 2016.

TIES THAT BIND US TOGETHER: Although the Eagles have not made the trip to California since 1990, there are plenty of ties for Eastern Michigan back to San Diego State. EMU's Vice President and Director of Athletics Scott Wetherbee served as SDSU's Assistant Athletic Director for Ticket Operations from 2002-03. Wetherbee, who worked for now Bowling Green State University Director of Athletics Bob Moosbrugger, oversaw the ticket office operations.
   Meanwhile, EMU Assistant Athletic Director for Equipment Operations Ben Herman was SDSU's Assistant Director for Athletic Equipment Services from 2011-15. In that role, he was responsible for budgeting, purchasing, and issuing athletic equipment for baseball, football, volleyball, lacrosse, swimming, water polo, tennis, and golf.
   On the other side, SDSU Head Coach Rocky Long played the 1974 season with the Detroit Wheels in the World Football League. The Wheels played their home games at EMU's Rynearson Stadium. Long was a starting safety for the Wheels and had three interceptions for 38 return yards. He also returned 20 punts for 217 yards and 14 kickoffs for 402 yards. His numbers would have been more impressive, except for one thing — the Wheels went bankrupt 14 games into the 20-game season (the entire league folded a year later).

EAGLES IN NFL VENUES: For just the eighth time in program history, the Eagles will play a game in a current or former National Football League venue when the team battles San Diego State, Sept. 22. EMU is 1-6 all-time in those games with the lone victory occurring against Central Michigan University when EMU hosted the inaugural Collegiate Clash at Ford Field, Nov. 6, 2004. One of the most memorable games in school history, the contest featured four overtime periods before the Eagles escaped with a 61-58 victory.

THE BEST THROUGH THREE: Graduate transfer Tyler Wiegers has thrown for 614 yards in his first three games, the most by any Eastern quarterback since the 1999 campaign. With his 64 yards against Buffalo, Wiegers bested fellow Iowa transfer Matt Bohnet (2004-05), who threw for 606 yards in his first three appearances in 2005.

BANHAM DOES IT AGAIN: Senior wide receiver Blake Banham recorded his second 100-yard receiving performance of his career in the Eagles' 35-28 setback at Buffalo, Sept. 15. Banham has a Mid-American Conference leading 23 catches for 361 yards and two scores.

COMING DOWN TO THE WIRE: In EMU's last 28 games, dating back to the start of the 2016 season, 19 have come down to final scores of seven points or less. Of the 19 games, EMU has a 9-10 record, including a 1-1 mark this season.

NO GLASS CEILING HERE: In his first taste of Mid-American Conference play, junior Mike Glass III completed 17-of-27 passes for 284 yards and two touchdowns. After the Eagles' first three possessions totaled just 51 yards, Glass III quickly turned the tables with a pair of 70+ yard touchdown throws in his first three plays. His 76-yard long ball to Arthur Jackson III kicked off a scoring frenzy and was promptly followed up with a 75-yard strike to Blake Banham. Glass III also finished as the team's leading rusher with 69 yards and a score.
   Entering the contest, Glass had accounted for 102 yards of total offense (37 rush, 65 pass).

DIAL SIX FOR LONG DISTANCE: Of the Eagles' 13 touchdowns this season, three of them have been 75-or-more yards. In the second quarter against Buffalo, Sept. 15, Mike Glass III hit back-to-back home run balls for scores with throws of 76 and 75, respectfully.
   It was the first time an EMU quarterback had thrown two 75+ yard touchdown passes in the same game since E-Club Hall of Famer Walter Church did so at Western Michigan, Oct. 17, 1998. In that game, Church threw an 80-yard touchdown pass to Jermaine Sheffield and followed it up with an 89-yard toss to Eric Powell in the Eagles' 45-35 loss to the Broncos.

PUNTING WITH THE BEST: Sophomore Jake Julien had five punts for 245 yards against Buffalo, Sept. 15, with two of his punts registering over 50 yards. His long was a 68-yarder that pinned Buffalo at its own eight-yard line, the longest by an EMU player since Brogan Roback's 66-yard effort against Kentucky last season. For his efforts, he was named the MAC West Division's Special Teams Player of the Week for the period ending Sept. 16.
   Overall, Julien ranks eighth nationally in punting average at 46.3 yards per boot.

DEFENSE RISES IN THE SECOND HALF: Second half adjustments are key and EMU's defense has twice risen to the occasion to limit an opponent to 175-or-less during the final 30 minutes this year. In the win over the Purdue, Sept. 8, the Eagles allowed just 174 total yards in the second half. The Eagles held the Boilermakers to just 19 points, forced three three-and-outs, and only allowed two touchdowns. Eastern's defense also totaled four forced fumbles. Meanwhile, against Buffalo, Sept. 15, the Eagles held the Bulls to just 165 yards. Furthermore, EMU is one of 28 teams nationally to average a touchdown-or-fewer given up in the second half this season.

I'll TAKE THE 25 AND GO FROM THERE: Eastern Michigan is one of two schools (Middle Tennessee) in the Football Bowl Subdivision this season yet to return a kickoff this season. Meanwhile, EMU is the eighth stingiest special teams in terms of kickoff coverage, holding the opposition to an average of 13.1 yards a try.

LENGTHY DRIVES: Eastern Michigan has four scoring drives this season that have totalled more than 10 plays. Three of those drives have terminated with touchdowns, while the only field goal capped a 15-play drive for game winner at Purdue. Overall, EMU is one of 26 schools with four-or-more scoring drives of 10+ plays. Coincidently, San Diego State is tied with Wake Forest for the national lead with eight such drives.

WELCOME BACK HOME: As the Eagles head to the West Coast, seven members will be making the trip back to their home state. Eastern Michigan's California transplants include linebacker Kobie Beltram (Antioch, Calif.-Antioch), defensive lineman Ty Eddingtom (Bakersfield, Calif.-East), wide receiver Arthur Jackson III (Oakland, Calif.-Wood), kicker Jesse Kelly (Ventura, Calif.-Ventura), offensive lineman Jimmy Leatiota (San Jose, Calif.- Wilcox (San Mateo)), Line Latu (San Jose, Calif.-San Mateo), and wide receiver Michael Thompson (Stockton, Calif.-Stagg).

ON THE HORIZON: EMU returns home Saturday, Sept. 29, to host Northern Illinois University in a Mid-American Conference tilt. Game time is scheduled for 6 p.m. at Rynearson Stadium. The contest is Family and Hall of Fame Day. The Class of 2018 includes: Virgie Bullie (W. Track & Field), Jordan Desilets (M. Track & Field/XC), Catherine Fortin (W. Golf), Korey Mahoney (M. Golf), and Andrew Wellock (Football).

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Players Mentioned

Blake Banham

Kobie Beltram

Mike Glass III

Arthur Jackson III

Jake Julien

Jesse Kelly

Line Latu

Jimmy Leatiota

Brogan Roback

Michael Thompson

Tyler Wiegers

Eastern Michigan Athletics