Eastern Michigan Athletics
Saturday, October 19
Rynearson Stadium
7 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
4-3 , 1-2
34
vs
27
.png&width=60&height=60&type=webp)
Western Michigan
4-4 , 2-2
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
Western Michigan
7
7
7
6
27
Eastern Michigan
3
7
10
14
34
Eagles Defeat Broncos With Last-Minute Touchdown, 34-27
10/19/2019 11:30:00 PM | Football
Hutchinson stars in first-career start at quarterback; Hubbard seals game with interception
Postgame Press Conference.
Recap Video.
Photo Gallery
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University football team earned a crucial victory in Mid-American Conference action, as senior Mathew Sexton (Clinton, Mich.-Clinton) collected his second game-winning touchdown of the season to clinch a 34-27 win over Western Michigan University Saturday, Oct. 19, at "The Factory" inside Rynearson Stadium.
Trailing 27-26 with 1:51 left in regulation, the Eagles (4-3, 1-2 MAC) started what proved to be the game-deciding drive at their own 28-yard-line. After Sexton made a three-yard catch and quickly ran out-of-bounds to the near sideline, sophomore quarterback Preston Hutchinson (Mason, Ohio-Mason) found fellow sophomore Dylan Drummond (Cleveland, Ohio-Cuyahoga Heights) for an 18-yard pass to advance to the EMU 47-yard line. After senior Shaq Vann (South Bend, Ind.-John Adams) crossed midfield with a four-yard carry, Drummond and senior Arthur Jackson III (Oakland, Calif.-Wood (American River College)) made catches of eight and seven yards, respectively, to move the ball to the WMU (4-4, 2-2 MAC) 34.
One play later, Hutchinson reached Sexton with a jump ball at the right edge of the end zone to put the Green and White back in front, 32-27, with 36 seconds to go in the fourth quarter. The Eagles then elected to attempt a two-point conversion, which proved to be successful when sophomore Jairus Grissom (Detroit, Mich.-River Rouge) took the snap and front-flipped into the end zone to extend the lead to 34-27.
On WMU's next play from scrimmage, EMU all but iced the game when junior defensive back Jeff Hubbard (Atlanta, Ga.-Woodward Academy) intercepted Jon Wassink's pass near midfield with 28 seconds left. Although the Eagles were forced to punt with 12 seconds remaining, the hosts pulled through as junior Jake Julien's (Barrie, Ontario-North Collegiate) kick rolled out of bounds at the WMU three-yard line as time expired.
Without the services of senior quarterback Mike Glass III (St. Louis, Mo.-Hazelwood Central (Southwestern College)), Hutchinson completed 31-of-36 passes for 357 yards and three touchdowns, while adding a rushing touchdown in his first start for the Green and White. Hutchinson's 86.1 completion percentage is the second-highest by an EMU quarterback since the 1999 campaign. Additionally, Grissom finished 4-for-5 through the air for 50 yards, and carried the ball four times for 17 yards.
Vann paced the Eagles' ground game with 17 carries for a season-high 97 yards, while Jackson set season-highs with seven receptions and 98 yards. Drummond made eight catches for 69 yards and one touchdown, while sophomore Quian Williams (Oklahoma City, Okla.-Southmoore) caught the ball six times for 60 yards and a score.
The Eagles outgained the Broncos through the air, 407-192, and finished with 547 total yards compared to WMU's total of 359. EMU was able to extend drives throughout the night, finishing 9-for-16 on third-down conversions, while succeeding on its only fourth-down attempt.
WMU received the ball to begin the contest, and reached the end zone on an eight-play, 75-yard drive to grab a 7-0 advantage with 11:23 to go in the opening quarter.
Although a personal foul forced the Green and White to start their first series at their own 12-yard-line, Hutchinson quickly completed a 13-yard pass to senior Breck Turner (Norwalk, Ohio-Norwalk), before the latter gained seven yards on a toss to the left side to advance to the EMU 32. Hutchinson then threw the ball to Jackson and Drummond for gains of eight and seven yards, respectively, as the hosts quickly approached the Broncos' territory.
Grissom briefly took over under center as he connected with Vann for an eight-yard catch, before keeping the ball for a five-yard run to reach the WMU 36. Crucially, EMU converted on back-to-back third downs – including a 3rd-and-5 from the visitors' 21 – to get into the red zone, but a holding penalty pushed the hosts back to the 26-yard-line. However, Hutchinson reunited with Turner for a 15-yard gain, which helped set up sophomore kicker Chad Ryland (Lebanon, Pa.-Cedar Crest) for a successful 31-yard field goal attempt to trim the deficit to 7-3 with 4:52 left in the first frame. In all, the Eagles needed 17 plays to march 75 yards and take 6:31 off the clock.
WMU responded with a grueling drive of its own, adding another touchdown on a 19-play, 79-yard series lasting more than nine minutes. Senior running back LeVante Bellamy used four consecutive carries to gain the final 10 yards as the Broncos extended the lead to 14-3 with 10:38 to go in the second stanza.
The Eagles looked to counter on their next possession, as Grissom escaped pressure and completed a 34-yard pass to sophomore Hassan Beydoun (Dearborn, Mich.-Dearborn) to reach the WMU 41. After a sack and an incompletion forced a third-and-16 from the Broncos' 47, Hutchinson delivered a 13-yard pass to Beydoun, before converting on fourth-and-3 with a five-yard strike to Williams. The Green and White eventually got to Western's 10-yard-line, but came away empty-handed as Ryland was unable to convert a 28-yard attempt with 6:04 remaining in the first half.
Still behind by a 14-3 count, EMU forced a quick three-and-out and regained possession at its own 37-yard line with 4:34 left in the second quarter. On the ensuing drive, junior tight end Bryson Cannon (Columbia, S.C.-Dutch Fork (Independence C.C.)) logged a 15-yard reception to get to the other side of midfield, and back-to-back runs from Vann put the Eagles inside the opposing 40-yard-line. After five consecutive runs put the hosts one yard away from the goal line, Hutchinson found Drummond on the right side of the end zone to cut WMU's lead to 14-10 with 20 ticks left in the first half.
The Eagles captured their first lead of the night on the opening series of the second half. Hutchinson notched a 37-yard completion to Jackson, before finding Drummond for a 19-yard catch that was confirmed following a short review. Hutchinson then kept the ball himself as he ran six yards to put EMU in front, 17-14, with 11:35 left in the third period.
Both teams traded defensive stops, but the Broncos eventually went ahead by a 21-17 count with 4:39 to go in the third quarter. However, the Eagles tacked on three points before the end of the frame. On third-and-6 from the EMU 46, Beydoun gained a vital first down with an 18-yard reception, and 12 men on the field couldn't stop senior Line Latu (San Mateo, Calif.-San Mateo (College of San Mateo)) from making a 20-yard catch to advance to the WMU 18. Two plays later, Hutchinson set up Williams for an 11-yard completion, and Ryland nailed a 28-yard field goal to close the gap to 21-20 heading into the fourth quarter.
EMU went back in front with a nine-play, 83-yard drive just past the midway point of the final quarter. The hosts ground their way into WMU's half of the field, as Jackson made a 19-yard catch to put the ball at the WMU 46. Two plays later, Drummond made an 11-yard reception, before Hutchinson and Williams combined on a 29-yard touchdown pass to put the Green and White ahead, 26-21. Unfortunately, the two-point try was incomplete in the end zone, keeping the Eagles' lead at five with 6:26 left in the fourth quarter.
The Broncos regained the lead on their next drive courtesy of Bellamy's third rushing touchdown of the night with fewer than two minutes remaining in the contest, but their advantage remained at 27-26 when the visitors failed to score on the ensuing two-point conversion.
The Eagles return to action Saturday, Oct. 26 as they travel to the University of Toledo for a 3:30 p.m. kickoff. The Rockets return to the Glass Bowl following a 52-14 setback at Ball State University.
Recap Video.
Photo Gallery
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University football team earned a crucial victory in Mid-American Conference action, as senior Mathew Sexton (Clinton, Mich.-Clinton) collected his second game-winning touchdown of the season to clinch a 34-27 win over Western Michigan University Saturday, Oct. 19, at "The Factory" inside Rynearson Stadium.
Trailing 27-26 with 1:51 left in regulation, the Eagles (4-3, 1-2 MAC) started what proved to be the game-deciding drive at their own 28-yard-line. After Sexton made a three-yard catch and quickly ran out-of-bounds to the near sideline, sophomore quarterback Preston Hutchinson (Mason, Ohio-Mason) found fellow sophomore Dylan Drummond (Cleveland, Ohio-Cuyahoga Heights) for an 18-yard pass to advance to the EMU 47-yard line. After senior Shaq Vann (South Bend, Ind.-John Adams) crossed midfield with a four-yard carry, Drummond and senior Arthur Jackson III (Oakland, Calif.-Wood (American River College)) made catches of eight and seven yards, respectively, to move the ball to the WMU (4-4, 2-2 MAC) 34.
One play later, Hutchinson reached Sexton with a jump ball at the right edge of the end zone to put the Green and White back in front, 32-27, with 36 seconds to go in the fourth quarter. The Eagles then elected to attempt a two-point conversion, which proved to be successful when sophomore Jairus Grissom (Detroit, Mich.-River Rouge) took the snap and front-flipped into the end zone to extend the lead to 34-27.
On WMU's next play from scrimmage, EMU all but iced the game when junior defensive back Jeff Hubbard (Atlanta, Ga.-Woodward Academy) intercepted Jon Wassink's pass near midfield with 28 seconds left. Although the Eagles were forced to punt with 12 seconds remaining, the hosts pulled through as junior Jake Julien's (Barrie, Ontario-North Collegiate) kick rolled out of bounds at the WMU three-yard line as time expired.
Without the services of senior quarterback Mike Glass III (St. Louis, Mo.-Hazelwood Central (Southwestern College)), Hutchinson completed 31-of-36 passes for 357 yards and three touchdowns, while adding a rushing touchdown in his first start for the Green and White. Hutchinson's 86.1 completion percentage is the second-highest by an EMU quarterback since the 1999 campaign. Additionally, Grissom finished 4-for-5 through the air for 50 yards, and carried the ball four times for 17 yards.
Vann paced the Eagles' ground game with 17 carries for a season-high 97 yards, while Jackson set season-highs with seven receptions and 98 yards. Drummond made eight catches for 69 yards and one touchdown, while sophomore Quian Williams (Oklahoma City, Okla.-Southmoore) caught the ball six times for 60 yards and a score.
The Eagles outgained the Broncos through the air, 407-192, and finished with 547 total yards compared to WMU's total of 359. EMU was able to extend drives throughout the night, finishing 9-for-16 on third-down conversions, while succeeding on its only fourth-down attempt.
WMU received the ball to begin the contest, and reached the end zone on an eight-play, 75-yard drive to grab a 7-0 advantage with 11:23 to go in the opening quarter.
Although a personal foul forced the Green and White to start their first series at their own 12-yard-line, Hutchinson quickly completed a 13-yard pass to senior Breck Turner (Norwalk, Ohio-Norwalk), before the latter gained seven yards on a toss to the left side to advance to the EMU 32. Hutchinson then threw the ball to Jackson and Drummond for gains of eight and seven yards, respectively, as the hosts quickly approached the Broncos' territory.
Grissom briefly took over under center as he connected with Vann for an eight-yard catch, before keeping the ball for a five-yard run to reach the WMU 36. Crucially, EMU converted on back-to-back third downs – including a 3rd-and-5 from the visitors' 21 – to get into the red zone, but a holding penalty pushed the hosts back to the 26-yard-line. However, Hutchinson reunited with Turner for a 15-yard gain, which helped set up sophomore kicker Chad Ryland (Lebanon, Pa.-Cedar Crest) for a successful 31-yard field goal attempt to trim the deficit to 7-3 with 4:52 left in the first frame. In all, the Eagles needed 17 plays to march 75 yards and take 6:31 off the clock.
WMU responded with a grueling drive of its own, adding another touchdown on a 19-play, 79-yard series lasting more than nine minutes. Senior running back LeVante Bellamy used four consecutive carries to gain the final 10 yards as the Broncos extended the lead to 14-3 with 10:38 to go in the second stanza.
The Eagles looked to counter on their next possession, as Grissom escaped pressure and completed a 34-yard pass to sophomore Hassan Beydoun (Dearborn, Mich.-Dearborn) to reach the WMU 41. After a sack and an incompletion forced a third-and-16 from the Broncos' 47, Hutchinson delivered a 13-yard pass to Beydoun, before converting on fourth-and-3 with a five-yard strike to Williams. The Green and White eventually got to Western's 10-yard-line, but came away empty-handed as Ryland was unable to convert a 28-yard attempt with 6:04 remaining in the first half.
Still behind by a 14-3 count, EMU forced a quick three-and-out and regained possession at its own 37-yard line with 4:34 left in the second quarter. On the ensuing drive, junior tight end Bryson Cannon (Columbia, S.C.-Dutch Fork (Independence C.C.)) logged a 15-yard reception to get to the other side of midfield, and back-to-back runs from Vann put the Eagles inside the opposing 40-yard-line. After five consecutive runs put the hosts one yard away from the goal line, Hutchinson found Drummond on the right side of the end zone to cut WMU's lead to 14-10 with 20 ticks left in the first half.
The Eagles captured their first lead of the night on the opening series of the second half. Hutchinson notched a 37-yard completion to Jackson, before finding Drummond for a 19-yard catch that was confirmed following a short review. Hutchinson then kept the ball himself as he ran six yards to put EMU in front, 17-14, with 11:35 left in the third period.
Both teams traded defensive stops, but the Broncos eventually went ahead by a 21-17 count with 4:39 to go in the third quarter. However, the Eagles tacked on three points before the end of the frame. On third-and-6 from the EMU 46, Beydoun gained a vital first down with an 18-yard reception, and 12 men on the field couldn't stop senior Line Latu (San Mateo, Calif.-San Mateo (College of San Mateo)) from making a 20-yard catch to advance to the WMU 18. Two plays later, Hutchinson set up Williams for an 11-yard completion, and Ryland nailed a 28-yard field goal to close the gap to 21-20 heading into the fourth quarter.
EMU went back in front with a nine-play, 83-yard drive just past the midway point of the final quarter. The hosts ground their way into WMU's half of the field, as Jackson made a 19-yard catch to put the ball at the WMU 46. Two plays later, Drummond made an 11-yard reception, before Hutchinson and Williams combined on a 29-yard touchdown pass to put the Green and White ahead, 26-21. Unfortunately, the two-point try was incomplete in the end zone, keeping the Eagles' lead at five with 6:26 left in the fourth quarter.
The Broncos regained the lead on their next drive courtesy of Bellamy's third rushing touchdown of the night with fewer than two minutes remaining in the contest, but their advantage remained at 27-26 when the visitors failed to score on the ensuing two-point conversion.
The Eagles return to action Saturday, Oct. 26 as they travel to the University of Toledo for a 3:30 p.m. kickoff. The Rockets return to the Glass Bowl following a 52-14 setback at Ball State University.
Team Stats
WMU
EMU
Total Yards
359
547
Pass Yards
192
407
Rushing Yards
167
140
Penalty Yards
25
33
1st Downs
20
27
3rd Downs
7
9
4th Downs
0
1
TOP
25:58
34:02
1st Quarter
.png&width=32&height=32&type=webp)
WMU 7, EMU 0
WMU - BELLAMY, L. 8 yd run (KAPPS, T. kick), 8 plays, 75 yards, TOP 3:37
WMU 7, EMU 3
EMU - RYLAND, Chad 31 yd field goal 17 plays, 75 yards, TOP 6:31
2nd Quarter
WMU 14, EMU 3
WMU - BELLAMY, L. 2 yd run (KAPPS, T. kick), 19 plays, 79 yards, TOP 9:07
WMU 14, EMU 10
EMU - DRUMMOND, Dylan 1 yd pass from HUTCHINSON, P. (RYLAND, Chad kick) 10 plays, 63 yards, TOP 4:19
3rd Quarter
WMU 14, EMU 17
EMU - HUTCHINSON, P. 6 yd run (RYLAND, Chad kick), 7 plays, 75 yards, TOP 3:25
WMU 21, EMU 17
WMU - CROOMS, C. 38 yd pass from WASSINK, J. (KAPPS, T. kick) 5 plays, 62 yards, TOP 2:36
WMU 21, EMU 20
EMU - RYLAND, Chad 28 yd field goal 10 plays, 64 yards, TOP 4:26
4th Quarter
WMU 21, EMU 26
EMU - WILLIAMS, Quian 29 yd pass from HUTCHINSON, P. (HUTCHINSON, P. passfailed) 9 plays, 83 yards, TOP 3:59
WMU 27, EMU 26
WMU - BELLAMY, L. 8 yd run (WASSINK, J. passfailed), 11 plays, 64 yards, TOP 4:23
WMU 27, EMU 34
EMU - SEXTON, Mathew 34 yd pass from HUTCHINSON, P. (GRISSOM, Jairus rush) 6 plays, 74 yards, TOP 1:15
Game Leaders
CMP
4
TD
0
YDS
50
INT
0
Players Mentioned
WR
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TE
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WR
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QB
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DB
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QB
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WR
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P
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K
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RB
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WR
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