Football Drops Non-Conference Affair at Kentucky, 38-17

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LEXINGTON, Ky. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University football team could not slow the early firepower of the University of Kentucky Saturday, Sept. 7, as the Wildcats controlled the offensive side of the ball in the first half to turn the Eagles aside 38-17 at Kroger Field.

EMU (1-1) battled a tough crowd of 55,240 clad in blue, as UK (2-0) held the ball on offense for 33:01 and outgained the Eagles, 461-386. Though the Green and White finished with more yards through the air, 337 to 222, Kentucky used a dominant run game that outgained EMU 239 to 49.

Senior Mike Glass III (St. Louis, Mo.-Hazelwood Central-Southwestern College)) threw for 337 yards and two touchdowns, completing passes to nine different receivers. It marked the first time since Oct. 26, 2017, that an Eagle quarterback completed passes to nine-or-more different receivers in a game.

Fellow senior Mathew Sexton (Clinton, Mich.-Clinton) led Eastern in receptions with seven for 54 yards, while senior Line Latu (San Mateo, Calif.-San Mateo (College of San Mateo)) had four receptions for 49 yards and a touchdown, and senior Arthur Jackson III (Oakland, Calif.-Wood (American River College)) added five receptions for a team-high 71 yards. Junior Bryson Cannon (Columbia, S.C.-Dutch Fork (Independence C.C.)) caught his first touchdown as an Eagle, and finished the game with three receptions for 20 yards.

The Wildcats started the game with a bang as they needed just three plays and 1:13 to go 26 yards and take the 7-0 lead on their first possession. Eastern's offense was unable to get anything started on its next chance, and after a punt, Kentucky marched down the field on its next possession. The Wildcats capped off a 90-yard, 2:10-minute drive with a 32-yard rush to put the home team ahead 14-0. Eastern would possess the ball three times during the opening quarter, but was never able to work the ball into UK territory.

The second stanza began with UK methodically marching down the field, and as they were knocking on the door of their third touchdown, the Eagles forced a fumble for the first turnover of the game.

Junior defensive end Turan Rush (Charleston West Side, W.Va.-Capital-Antelope Valley) fell on the ball to give Eastern possession on their own one-yard line. Unfortunately for the Eagles, starting the drive from the shadow of their own goal post resulted in a Kentucky interception, and the Wildcats converted the turnover into three points to go ahead 17-0.

Kentucky halted the next Eastern drive in its tracks thanks to the Wildcats' second interception of the game. The Eagles' defense, however, was up to the task, and after UK missed a 48-yard field goal, EMU grabbed the momentum and drove down the field. The Green and White were halted in the red zone, but sophomore Chad Ryland (Lebanon, Pa.-Cedar Crest) knocked in a 24-yard field goal to put Eastern on the board, 17-3.

EMU outgained UK in the second quarter, 90-75, after the Wildcats dominated from the line of scrimmage in the first quarter, 158-21.

After Kentucky used a 15-play, 7:47 drive to make the score 24-3, Eastern got its own offense going on its second possession of the second half. Glass completed five passes to four receivers on the drive, ending with a 26-yard strike to Latu for the Eagles' first touchdown of the game.

Trailing 31-10 in the fourth quarter, Glass found Cannon for a seven-yard score to cut the deficit to two touchdowns at 31-17. The Wildcats took their final possession of the game to march down the field and add one more touchdown to their total, bringing the score to its 38-17 final.

Kentucky was led by its ground attack, as Kavosiey Smoke and Asim Rose rushed for 92 and 82 yards, respectively, while each scoring a touchdown. Quarterback Terry Wilson threw for 114 yards and rushed for 43 more, including a touchdown, while Sawyer Smith came in and threw for 76 yards and two touchdowns.

Eastern returns to the gridiron Saturday, Sept. 14 when it travels to the Land of Lincoln to take on the University of Illinois for an 11 a.m. CT game. The Eagles will be searching for their third-straight win over a Big Ten Conference opponent when they take on the Illini. The game will be available on the Big Ten Network and WEMU (89.1).

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Team Stats

Mike Glass III

Players Mentioned

Bryson Cannon

Mike Glass III

Arthur Jackson III

Line Latu

Turan Rush

Chad Ryland

Mathew Sexton

Players Mentioned

Bryson Cannon

Mike Glass III

Arthur Jackson III

Line Latu

Turan Rush

Chad Ryland

Mathew Sexton

Eastern Michigan Athletics