Eastern Michigan Athletics
Thursday, December 26
Detroit, Mich.
8 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
6-7
30
vs
34
Pittsburgh
8-5
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
Pittsburgh
0
17
3
14
34
Eastern Michigan
10
10
0
10
30
Photo by: Walt Middleton Photography
Last-Minute Touchdown Stuns Eagles at Quick Lane Bowl
12/27/2019 1:07:00 AM | Football
EMU's 48-yard field goal with six minutes remaining eclipsed by Panthers' late touchdown
Photo Gallery: Pregame Tailgate. Game Photos.
Video Recap.
Postgame Audio.
DETROIT, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – Playing in consecutive postseason bowl games for the first time in the program's 128-year history, the Eastern Michigan University football team only trailed for the final 47 seconds of the 2019 Quick Lane Bowl Thursday, Dec. 26, as the University of Pittsburgh claimed a 34-30 victory inside Ford Field. The largely Green and White-clad crowd of 34,765 had EMU's back throughout the contest, and the strong turnout helped set a new Quick Lane Bowl attendance record.
With the score knotted at 27 apiece, sophomore Chad Ryland (Lebanon, Pa.-Cedar Crest) may not have earned any style points on his 48-yard field-goal attempt from the left hash, but his kick successfully wobbled through the uprights to put EMU back in front, 30-27, with exactly six minutes to go in regulation.
The Eagles (6-7, 3-5 MAC) regained possession after forcing a quick three-and-out, only for Pitt (8-5, 4-4 ACC) to answer with a three-and-out of their own. However, EMU managed to pin the Panthers deep in their own territory, as Jake Julien (Barrie, Ontario-North Collegiate) launched a 54-yard punt that rolled out of bounds at the nine-yard-line with 2:43 left in the fourth quarter.
Facing a 3rd-and-3 at his own 49, Panther quarterback Kenny Pickett threw a 23-yard strike to Shockkey Jacques-Louis to reach the EMU 28. Two plays later, Pickett completed a 25-yard touchdown pass to Taysir Mack to give Pitt its first and only lead of the night, 34-30, with all of 47 ticks remaining in the final frame.
With the Eagles' faithful still behind them, the Green and White had one last chance to notch their second Division I bowl win in program history. Although EMU converted a 3rd-and-14 from its own 25-yard-line when senior quarterback Mike Glass III (St. Louis, Mo.-Hazelwood Central (Southwestern College)) connected with sophomore wideout Hassan Beydoun (Dearborn, Mich.-Dearborn) for a 19-yard gain, the Mid-American Conference outfit was unable to advance the ball any further as the Panthers held on for a four-point result.
Playing in his final game for the Eagles, Glass surpassed Charlie Batch's single-season record for total offense. Glass now has 3,597 yards of total offense (428 rushing, 3,169 passing), which Batch tallied 3,390 yards during the 1997 campaign. Glass was responsible for 394 total yards of offense on the night, as he finished 28-of-50 for 311 yards, two touchdown passes, and an interception, while leading the team with a career-high 21 rushes for 83 yards and another touchdown.
Beydoun, who was surprised with a scholarship during a Secret Santa exchange as part of the week's festivities, had a career day in his postseason debut as he set personal-bests with nine catches and 113 receiving yards. Fellow sophomore Quian Williams (Oklahoma City, Okla.-Southmoore) added a pair of receptions for 68 yards, including a career-long 50-yard touchdown in the second quarter, while senior Arthur Jackson (Oakland, Calif.-Wood (American River College)) tied a career-high with seven catches for a total of 53 yards and a touchdown.
While Glass produced the bulk of EMU's ground game, senior Shaq Vann (South Bend, Ind.-John Adams) kept the chains moving with 13 carries for 48 yards. In all, the Eagles out-rushed the Panthers by a 127-96 count, and bested their opposition in first downs (27-22), plays (87-68), and time of possession (34:09-25:51). Additionally, the Green and White finished an even 50 percent on third-down conversions (9-of-18).
On the defensive side, senior Kobie Beltram (Antioch, Calif.-Antioch (City College of San Francisco)) showed a dozen tackles and a TFL, while fellow senior Vince Calhoun (Middletown, Ohio-Middletown) also reached double-figures with 11 tackles, a forced fumble, and 0.5 TFL. Freshman Jerodd Vines (Detroit, Mich.-Central) also forced a fumble, which senior Brody Hoying (Coldwater, Ohio-Coldwater) recovered during the first frame.
The Eagles received the ball to begin the contest, and opened the scoring on the strength of a 14-play, 57-drive lasting nearly five minutes. Glass connected with Jackson for a five-yard pass on the first play from scrimmage, before using back-to-back quarterback keepers to set up 1st-and-10 at the EMU 37. After his pass intended for senior Breck Turner (Norwalk, Ohio-Norwalk) fell incomplete, Glass threw a nine-yard strike to sophomore Dylan Drummond (Cleveland, Ohio-Cuyahoga Heights), and then kept the ball himself to convert another 3rd-and-1 as the Green and White reached midfield.
EMU had no trouble entering Pitt's half of the field, as senior Line Latu (San Mateo, Calif.-San Mateo (College of San Mateo)) was all alone on the right side for a 19-yard reception to advance to the Panthers' 31-yard-line. Beydoun made a nine-yard catch on a bubble screen two plays later, before Glass got into the red zone with a six-yard rush. The Eagles went on to seize a 3-0 lead when Ryland nailed a 35-yard field-goal attempt with 10:04 left in the first period.
The Panthers started its first offensive series with three straight completions, but a quarterback run of their own proved costly. After Pickett elected not to slide just short of the first-down marker, Vines ripped the ball free while Hoying picked up the loose change and gained five yards to set up a 1st-and-10 at the Eagles' 46.
EMU's dream start continued on the ensuing drive. Glass threw a three-yard screen to Vann, before Beydoun caught a pass for 35 yards to reach the Panthers' 16. After a defensive pass interference penalty handed the Eagles a 1st-and-goal at the Pitt four-yard-line, Vann dove forward for a one-yard pickup, before Glass kept the ball and ran into the end zone to give the Green and White a 10-0 lead with 6:46 left in the opening quarter.
The Eagles picked up another defensive stop, as Alex Kessman hooked a 49-yard field-goal attempt wide to the left with 3:13 left in the first. Despite a three-and-out on their next drive, the Green and White maintained their 10-0 cushion as the first quarter came to an end.
The Panthers would get within one possession early in the second quarter. This time, Kessman made his 44-yard field goal attempted to slice the Eagles' lead to 10-3 with 13:43 remaining in the frame.
EMU appeared to have control of the field-position game when Julien's 50-yard punt was downed at the Pitt four-yard-line. However, the Panthers knotted the score at 10 apiece with their longest play in program history, as Pickett reached Maurice Ffrench on a 96-yard touchdown pass with 11:57 left in the opening half.
However, the Green and White needed fewer than two minutes to reclaim the lead. Glass found sophomore Jairus Grissom (Detroit, Mich.-River Rouge) for a 10-yard gain, which was followed by a 15-yard pass to Beydoun to get the ball to the 50. Two plays later, Glass threw a deep pass to the right that deflected into the hands of Williams, who raced into the end zone to make it 17-10 with 10:04 left in the second quarter. With his 50-yard strike, Glass surpassed Batch's single-season record for total offense.
The contest continued to sway back-and-forth as Pitt running back Vincent Davis reached paydirt with an eight-yard gain to even the score at 17 with 6:20 to go in the second stanza. EMU jumped ahead on its next drive, grinding out nine plays for 48 yards as Ryland knocked in a 45-yard attempt with 1:32 remaining in the second period. After Pitt threw two consecutive incompletions, a sack from freshman Mikey Haney (Maumee, Ohio-Maumee) forced the Panthers to punt, but the Eagles ran out of time on their final series of the first half as they took a 20-17 lead into the locker room.
Pitt recorded the only three points of the third quarter. It seemed as though the Eagles had their backs against the wall after Glass threw his only pick of the night, but Pitt had seven different players called for unsportsmanlike conduct, backing up the Panthers to the EMU 29. The Panthers continued to go the wrong way, and had to settle for a 51-yard field goal to tie the game at 20-20 with 4:16 left in the third.
The Eagles reached midfield by the end of the third quarter, and capped an 11-play, 63-yard drive with 10:45 left in the fourth quarter. Glass ran for a game-high 24 yards to get to the Pitt 13. Glass gained three yards on the ground two plays later, before converting a 3rd-and-7 with a 10-yard touchdown pass to Jackson.
Once again, The Panthers came from behind to level the score. Despite senior Shawn Simeon's (Miami, Fla.-Central (Coffeyville C.C.)) sack that forced a 2nd-and-22 at the EMU 30, the Panthers crossed the goal line two plays later as Pickett found Jared Wayne for a 19-yard strike to knot the game at 27 apiece with 8:22 to go in regulation. The game continued to hang in the balance, but Ryland's late field goal was bested by Pitt's touchdown with 47 seconds on the clock.
After finishing one of the greatest four-year stretches in program history, the Eagles will begin offseason workouts shortly as they prepare for the 2020 season.
EASTERN MICHIGAN HEAD COACH CHRIS CREIGHTON
Opening statement: "Very, very, very somber, sad, disappointed locker room. Again, it's the second year in a row where I feel as though we felt we were going to win the football game and didn't at the very end. My guys put everything that they had and everything that they could into it, and we really believed that we were going to win the game. We played far from perfect, but so it's just a hurting group right now. But congratulations to Pitt, coming back, fighting and scoring that last touchdown to go ahead and win. I appreciate the Quick Lane Bowl trusting us and inviting us to be a part of this, it sure was special. We just really, really, really wanted to win."
On what the referees told him about DB Kevin McGill's ejection and if he spit at a player: "There wasn't very clear communication on much of the game at all, but that was communicated."
On how disappointing it was to see QB Mike Glass III be ejected in the final seconds: "Very (disappointing). Both of those guys are incredibly competitive, and they have put so much into this. This was their last opportunity and there is absolutely no excuse for any of that. They're embarrassed by it, they apologized to the team. I'm embarrassed. I apologize to anybody who was watching it and a part of it. Their emotions both got the best of them."
On the Eastern Michigan crowd at the game: "Awesome. It was awesome. You know six years ago the vision was to try to make the football program a source of pride for the athletic department, for the university, for Ypsilanti and even the region. We really needed for them to come out and be at Ford Field on December 26th to support the team, and they came out. I'm very, very, very thankful and appreciative. I know our football team is and we're sorry that we didn't get it done for them."
On why he believes they lost the game: "I always start with turnovers and takeaways. I think we were one-to-one there. Going into a game like this, we have to win that battle. Then special teams are usually a huge piece, a part to the game. I haven't seen the stats on that yet, but I think we probably came out on top with that. That's why it was such a close game. The story is probably: their explosive plays. They just had some explosive plays that were probably the difference in the game."
On how this game can positively affect the future of the program: "Well, I have to figure all of that out. We're way passed the point as a program, and I'm not trying to say this arrogantly in any way, we believe that we were going to win this football game, 100 percent."
On if he can address QB Mike Glass III's performance tonight, his ejection and the emotion of it: "I think I have. He is a phenomenal kid. Am I right? He's phenomenal. I love him 100%, and thank God he is hotly competitive, but (there is) absolutely zero excuse for what happened, and he knows it. He's in tears in the locker room begging me to talk to the team before I could say a word. So he made a mistake and he is truly sorry for it, and I'm ultimately responsible for it. I'm embarrassed, but I love him 100 percent. That's not who we want to be. It'd be really too bad if that's what you all make this out to be tonight because that's not who we are."
On how important it is to replace the senior leadership next year: It's college athletics. These guys go to class, shoot 'Jack' (Arthur Jackson III) is in graduate school working on a masters right now and this is a launching pad for their lives. Absolutely right, we're recruiting, and we just signed a class and guys are growing up, freshman will become sophomores and sophomores will become juniors. It's every time at this year. I walk around aimlessly and my wife's like, 'What's going on?' And I'm like, 'I can't believe we're losing these guys and we're not going to be able to go on.' Then January comes and they come over to my house, the seniors do, and we start our leadership meetings, and we start forming the foundations of a new team, a new year and all of those things. Then the 12 months goes by too quick again, and you wonder how you're going to be able to do it again, you know? You ball your eyes out when these guys leave. But I just told them in there, in some ways it is an end to football for some and it's an end for college football for everybody, but the relationships in so many ways are just getting started. I'm on the other side of that with people for 25 years or so, but the seniors it's really cool because the relationship just takes another forward step if you will as you go through life."
EASTERN RB SHAQ VANN
On QB Mike Glass III's performance and his leadership this season: "Just from the get-go, Mike just came in and he just lead the team, everyone got behind him. He got us to this point, and we're thankful to have him."
On the atmosphere of Ford Field: "It was an opportunity of a lifetime. We don't draw that many at Eastern, and just coming here, we were ready, we were pumped up. The crowd was into it. We packed the stadium. It was amazing, and we won't forget it, ever."
EASTERN LB KOBIE BELTRAM
On QB Mike Glass III's performance and his leadership this season: "Mike's our leader. He was our leader through winter, through summer, through camp, through all that. He's our leader, and he always will be."
On the atmosphere of Ford Field: "It was an amazing experience. I'm just a kid from a small town. I thought Eastern was an amazing experience – just coming here and seeing the bright lights, and seeing Eastern filling up the crowd. That was just an amazing experience for me."
Video Recap.
Postgame Audio.
DETROIT, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – Playing in consecutive postseason bowl games for the first time in the program's 128-year history, the Eastern Michigan University football team only trailed for the final 47 seconds of the 2019 Quick Lane Bowl Thursday, Dec. 26, as the University of Pittsburgh claimed a 34-30 victory inside Ford Field. The largely Green and White-clad crowd of 34,765 had EMU's back throughout the contest, and the strong turnout helped set a new Quick Lane Bowl attendance record.
With the score knotted at 27 apiece, sophomore Chad Ryland (Lebanon, Pa.-Cedar Crest) may not have earned any style points on his 48-yard field-goal attempt from the left hash, but his kick successfully wobbled through the uprights to put EMU back in front, 30-27, with exactly six minutes to go in regulation.
The Eagles (6-7, 3-5 MAC) regained possession after forcing a quick three-and-out, only for Pitt (8-5, 4-4 ACC) to answer with a three-and-out of their own. However, EMU managed to pin the Panthers deep in their own territory, as Jake Julien (Barrie, Ontario-North Collegiate) launched a 54-yard punt that rolled out of bounds at the nine-yard-line with 2:43 left in the fourth quarter.
Facing a 3rd-and-3 at his own 49, Panther quarterback Kenny Pickett threw a 23-yard strike to Shockkey Jacques-Louis to reach the EMU 28. Two plays later, Pickett completed a 25-yard touchdown pass to Taysir Mack to give Pitt its first and only lead of the night, 34-30, with all of 47 ticks remaining in the final frame.
With the Eagles' faithful still behind them, the Green and White had one last chance to notch their second Division I bowl win in program history. Although EMU converted a 3rd-and-14 from its own 25-yard-line when senior quarterback Mike Glass III (St. Louis, Mo.-Hazelwood Central (Southwestern College)) connected with sophomore wideout Hassan Beydoun (Dearborn, Mich.-Dearborn) for a 19-yard gain, the Mid-American Conference outfit was unable to advance the ball any further as the Panthers held on for a four-point result.
Playing in his final game for the Eagles, Glass surpassed Charlie Batch's single-season record for total offense. Glass now has 3,597 yards of total offense (428 rushing, 3,169 passing), which Batch tallied 3,390 yards during the 1997 campaign. Glass was responsible for 394 total yards of offense on the night, as he finished 28-of-50 for 311 yards, two touchdown passes, and an interception, while leading the team with a career-high 21 rushes for 83 yards and another touchdown.
Beydoun, who was surprised with a scholarship during a Secret Santa exchange as part of the week's festivities, had a career day in his postseason debut as he set personal-bests with nine catches and 113 receiving yards. Fellow sophomore Quian Williams (Oklahoma City, Okla.-Southmoore) added a pair of receptions for 68 yards, including a career-long 50-yard touchdown in the second quarter, while senior Arthur Jackson (Oakland, Calif.-Wood (American River College)) tied a career-high with seven catches for a total of 53 yards and a touchdown.
While Glass produced the bulk of EMU's ground game, senior Shaq Vann (South Bend, Ind.-John Adams) kept the chains moving with 13 carries for 48 yards. In all, the Eagles out-rushed the Panthers by a 127-96 count, and bested their opposition in first downs (27-22), plays (87-68), and time of possession (34:09-25:51). Additionally, the Green and White finished an even 50 percent on third-down conversions (9-of-18).
On the defensive side, senior Kobie Beltram (Antioch, Calif.-Antioch (City College of San Francisco)) showed a dozen tackles and a TFL, while fellow senior Vince Calhoun (Middletown, Ohio-Middletown) also reached double-figures with 11 tackles, a forced fumble, and 0.5 TFL. Freshman Jerodd Vines (Detroit, Mich.-Central) also forced a fumble, which senior Brody Hoying (Coldwater, Ohio-Coldwater) recovered during the first frame.
The Eagles received the ball to begin the contest, and opened the scoring on the strength of a 14-play, 57-drive lasting nearly five minutes. Glass connected with Jackson for a five-yard pass on the first play from scrimmage, before using back-to-back quarterback keepers to set up 1st-and-10 at the EMU 37. After his pass intended for senior Breck Turner (Norwalk, Ohio-Norwalk) fell incomplete, Glass threw a nine-yard strike to sophomore Dylan Drummond (Cleveland, Ohio-Cuyahoga Heights), and then kept the ball himself to convert another 3rd-and-1 as the Green and White reached midfield.
EMU had no trouble entering Pitt's half of the field, as senior Line Latu (San Mateo, Calif.-San Mateo (College of San Mateo)) was all alone on the right side for a 19-yard reception to advance to the Panthers' 31-yard-line. Beydoun made a nine-yard catch on a bubble screen two plays later, before Glass got into the red zone with a six-yard rush. The Eagles went on to seize a 3-0 lead when Ryland nailed a 35-yard field-goal attempt with 10:04 left in the first period.
The Panthers started its first offensive series with three straight completions, but a quarterback run of their own proved costly. After Pickett elected not to slide just short of the first-down marker, Vines ripped the ball free while Hoying picked up the loose change and gained five yards to set up a 1st-and-10 at the Eagles' 46.
EMU's dream start continued on the ensuing drive. Glass threw a three-yard screen to Vann, before Beydoun caught a pass for 35 yards to reach the Panthers' 16. After a defensive pass interference penalty handed the Eagles a 1st-and-goal at the Pitt four-yard-line, Vann dove forward for a one-yard pickup, before Glass kept the ball and ran into the end zone to give the Green and White a 10-0 lead with 6:46 left in the opening quarter.
The Eagles picked up another defensive stop, as Alex Kessman hooked a 49-yard field-goal attempt wide to the left with 3:13 left in the first. Despite a three-and-out on their next drive, the Green and White maintained their 10-0 cushion as the first quarter came to an end.
The Panthers would get within one possession early in the second quarter. This time, Kessman made his 44-yard field goal attempted to slice the Eagles' lead to 10-3 with 13:43 remaining in the frame.
EMU appeared to have control of the field-position game when Julien's 50-yard punt was downed at the Pitt four-yard-line. However, the Panthers knotted the score at 10 apiece with their longest play in program history, as Pickett reached Maurice Ffrench on a 96-yard touchdown pass with 11:57 left in the opening half.
However, the Green and White needed fewer than two minutes to reclaim the lead. Glass found sophomore Jairus Grissom (Detroit, Mich.-River Rouge) for a 10-yard gain, which was followed by a 15-yard pass to Beydoun to get the ball to the 50. Two plays later, Glass threw a deep pass to the right that deflected into the hands of Williams, who raced into the end zone to make it 17-10 with 10:04 left in the second quarter. With his 50-yard strike, Glass surpassed Batch's single-season record for total offense.
The contest continued to sway back-and-forth as Pitt running back Vincent Davis reached paydirt with an eight-yard gain to even the score at 17 with 6:20 to go in the second stanza. EMU jumped ahead on its next drive, grinding out nine plays for 48 yards as Ryland knocked in a 45-yard attempt with 1:32 remaining in the second period. After Pitt threw two consecutive incompletions, a sack from freshman Mikey Haney (Maumee, Ohio-Maumee) forced the Panthers to punt, but the Eagles ran out of time on their final series of the first half as they took a 20-17 lead into the locker room.
Pitt recorded the only three points of the third quarter. It seemed as though the Eagles had their backs against the wall after Glass threw his only pick of the night, but Pitt had seven different players called for unsportsmanlike conduct, backing up the Panthers to the EMU 29. The Panthers continued to go the wrong way, and had to settle for a 51-yard field goal to tie the game at 20-20 with 4:16 left in the third.
The Eagles reached midfield by the end of the third quarter, and capped an 11-play, 63-yard drive with 10:45 left in the fourth quarter. Glass ran for a game-high 24 yards to get to the Pitt 13. Glass gained three yards on the ground two plays later, before converting a 3rd-and-7 with a 10-yard touchdown pass to Jackson.
Once again, The Panthers came from behind to level the score. Despite senior Shawn Simeon's (Miami, Fla.-Central (Coffeyville C.C.)) sack that forced a 2nd-and-22 at the EMU 30, the Panthers crossed the goal line two plays later as Pickett found Jared Wayne for a 19-yard strike to knot the game at 27 apiece with 8:22 to go in regulation. The game continued to hang in the balance, but Ryland's late field goal was bested by Pitt's touchdown with 47 seconds on the clock.
After finishing one of the greatest four-year stretches in program history, the Eagles will begin offseason workouts shortly as they prepare for the 2020 season.
EASTERN MICHIGAN HEAD COACH CHRIS CREIGHTON
Opening statement: "Very, very, very somber, sad, disappointed locker room. Again, it's the second year in a row where I feel as though we felt we were going to win the football game and didn't at the very end. My guys put everything that they had and everything that they could into it, and we really believed that we were going to win the game. We played far from perfect, but so it's just a hurting group right now. But congratulations to Pitt, coming back, fighting and scoring that last touchdown to go ahead and win. I appreciate the Quick Lane Bowl trusting us and inviting us to be a part of this, it sure was special. We just really, really, really wanted to win."
On what the referees told him about DB Kevin McGill's ejection and if he spit at a player: "There wasn't very clear communication on much of the game at all, but that was communicated."
On how disappointing it was to see QB Mike Glass III be ejected in the final seconds: "Very (disappointing). Both of those guys are incredibly competitive, and they have put so much into this. This was their last opportunity and there is absolutely no excuse for any of that. They're embarrassed by it, they apologized to the team. I'm embarrassed. I apologize to anybody who was watching it and a part of it. Their emotions both got the best of them."
On the Eastern Michigan crowd at the game: "Awesome. It was awesome. You know six years ago the vision was to try to make the football program a source of pride for the athletic department, for the university, for Ypsilanti and even the region. We really needed for them to come out and be at Ford Field on December 26th to support the team, and they came out. I'm very, very, very thankful and appreciative. I know our football team is and we're sorry that we didn't get it done for them."
On why he believes they lost the game: "I always start with turnovers and takeaways. I think we were one-to-one there. Going into a game like this, we have to win that battle. Then special teams are usually a huge piece, a part to the game. I haven't seen the stats on that yet, but I think we probably came out on top with that. That's why it was such a close game. The story is probably: their explosive plays. They just had some explosive plays that were probably the difference in the game."
On how this game can positively affect the future of the program: "Well, I have to figure all of that out. We're way passed the point as a program, and I'm not trying to say this arrogantly in any way, we believe that we were going to win this football game, 100 percent."
On if he can address QB Mike Glass III's performance tonight, his ejection and the emotion of it: "I think I have. He is a phenomenal kid. Am I right? He's phenomenal. I love him 100%, and thank God he is hotly competitive, but (there is) absolutely zero excuse for what happened, and he knows it. He's in tears in the locker room begging me to talk to the team before I could say a word. So he made a mistake and he is truly sorry for it, and I'm ultimately responsible for it. I'm embarrassed, but I love him 100 percent. That's not who we want to be. It'd be really too bad if that's what you all make this out to be tonight because that's not who we are."
On how important it is to replace the senior leadership next year: It's college athletics. These guys go to class, shoot 'Jack' (Arthur Jackson III) is in graduate school working on a masters right now and this is a launching pad for their lives. Absolutely right, we're recruiting, and we just signed a class and guys are growing up, freshman will become sophomores and sophomores will become juniors. It's every time at this year. I walk around aimlessly and my wife's like, 'What's going on?' And I'm like, 'I can't believe we're losing these guys and we're not going to be able to go on.' Then January comes and they come over to my house, the seniors do, and we start our leadership meetings, and we start forming the foundations of a new team, a new year and all of those things. Then the 12 months goes by too quick again, and you wonder how you're going to be able to do it again, you know? You ball your eyes out when these guys leave. But I just told them in there, in some ways it is an end to football for some and it's an end for college football for everybody, but the relationships in so many ways are just getting started. I'm on the other side of that with people for 25 years or so, but the seniors it's really cool because the relationship just takes another forward step if you will as you go through life."
EASTERN RB SHAQ VANN
On QB Mike Glass III's performance and his leadership this season: "Just from the get-go, Mike just came in and he just lead the team, everyone got behind him. He got us to this point, and we're thankful to have him."
On the atmosphere of Ford Field: "It was an opportunity of a lifetime. We don't draw that many at Eastern, and just coming here, we were ready, we were pumped up. The crowd was into it. We packed the stadium. It was amazing, and we won't forget it, ever."
EASTERN LB KOBIE BELTRAM
On QB Mike Glass III's performance and his leadership this season: "Mike's our leader. He was our leader through winter, through summer, through camp, through all that. He's our leader, and he always will be."
On the atmosphere of Ford Field: "It was an amazing experience. I'm just a kid from a small town. I thought Eastern was an amazing experience – just coming here and seeing the bright lights, and seeing Eastern filling up the crowd. That was just an amazing experience for me."
Team Stats
PITT
EMU
Total Yards
457
438
Pass Yards
361
311
Rushing Yards
96
127
Penalty Yards
36
40
1st Downs
22
27
3rd Downs
6
9
4th Downs
0
0
TOP
25:51
34:09
1st Quarter
PITT 0, EMU 3
EMU - RYLAND, Chad 35 yd field goal 14 plays, 57 yards, TOP 4:56
PITT 0, EMU 10
EMU - GLASS, Mike 3 yd run (RYLAND, Chad kick), 5 plays, 59 yards, TOP 2:00
2nd Quarter
PITT 3, EMU 10
PITT - Kessman, A 44 yd field goal 9 plays, 43 yards, TOP 3:25
PITT 10, EMU 10
PITT - Ffrench, M 96 yd pass from Pickett, K (Kessman, A kick) 1 plays, 96 yards, TOP 0:16
PITT 10, EMU 17
EMU - WILLIAMS, Quian 50 yd pass from GLASS, Mike (RYLAND, Chad kick) 4 plays, 75 yards, TOP 1:53
PITT 17, EMU 17
PITT - Davis, V 8 yd run (Kessman, A kick), 8 plays, 75 yards, TOP 3:44
PITT 17, EMU 20
EMU - RYLAND, Chad 45 yd field goal 9 plays, 48 yards, TOP 4:48
3rd Quarter
PITT 20, EMU 20
PITT - Kessman, A 51 yd field goal 4 plays, -4 yards, TOP 2:11
4th Quarter
PITT 20, EMU 27
EMU - JACKSON, Arthur 10 yd pass from GLASS, Mike (RYLAND, Chad kick) 11 plays, 63 yards, TOP 5:39
PITT 27, EMU 27
PITT - Wayne, J 19 yd pass from Pickett, K (Kessman, A kick) 6 plays, 75 yards, TOP 2:16
PITT 27, EMU 30
EMU - RYLAND, Chad 48 yd field goal 9 plays, 44 yards, TOP 2:22
PITT 34, EMU 30
PITT - Mack, T 25 yd pass from Pickett, K (Kessman, A kick) 10 plays, 91 yards, TOP 1:56
Game Leaders
CMP
28
TD
2
YDS
311
INT
1
Players Mentioned
LB
/ Football
WR
/ Football
DB
/ Football
WR
/ FootballQB
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WR
/ Football
DL
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DB
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WR
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P
/ Football
DB
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K
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DL
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RB
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DB
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WR
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