Eastern Michigan Athletics
Remembering Tales from the Gridiron: Week 7
10/15/2020 2:00:00 PM | Football
EMU’s Greg Steiner is taking a weekly lookback at top games from the past 20 seasons
Written by Greg Steiner, EMU Associate Athletic Director/Media Relations
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – Is there anything quite as stirring as strolling across campus on an autumn afternoon, slowly making your way through the parking lots to the stadium, all while you hear the strains of the band calling you closer?
Yes, the band is the font of spirit music that stirs our souls and musically fires our passions.
At EMU, this is no different with “The Pride of the Peninsula" marching band having a long and distinguished history. True fans know every choreographed musical refrain for each first down, turnover, or touchdown and the result of all these combined – postgame victory celebrations.
Normally composed of nearly 200 students, the EMU Marching Band represents nearly every major on campus. The marching band has a rich 126-year history of serving EMU at athletic functions, parades, and events.
This year will be different with bands having a limited on-field presence and social distancing in practice. However, in a normal year, there is not a more surreal feeling than arriving at the stadium early in the morning to hear the sounds of the EMU Fight Song echoing throughout the Rynearson Stadium seating bowl in the still dawn light as they rehearse that day’s pregame show.
EMU’s band will be under new leadership in 2020, as J. Nick Smith takes over as director of the EMU Marching Band. Smith, who began his responsibilities in July, recently completed his Doctor of Musical Arts degree in wind band conducting with emphasis in choral conducting at the University of Minnesota.
Thankfully, Nick will be in charge of the music as I cannot carry a tune.
Now onto the week seven selection of games as we continue to look back at great moments over the last 20 years rather than what should have been a trip to West Point. As a side note, if you ever have not been to a game at Army, I highly suggest it. There is nothing like being at Michie Stadium on the banks of the Hudson River with the leaves changing during the third weekend in October. The scenery is incredible.
Did I overlook your favorite EMU week seven memory? Let me hear about it and you just might find your moment added to the list. To submit a memory, click here and tell me why it was so special.
This will be the 129th year for the EMU football team when it attempts to play in November after initially being postponed due to COVID-19. The first year of intercollegiate football in Ypsilanti was 1891, when the team, then known as the Michigan Normal College Normalites, posted a 0-2 record. EMU has fielded a team every year since 1891 with one exception, when the 1944 season was canceled because of World War II.
Homecoming Heroics Help Grounded Rockets - Oct. 21, 2006 – W, 17-13 vs. Toledo
For the first time in seven years, Eastern Michigan defeated Toledo, 17-13, in the Eagles' annual Homecoming game at Rynearson Stadium. The victory marked only the fifth time in 18 attempts that the Eagles notched a victory over the Rockets.
With EMU clinging to a 9-7 lead late in the fourth quarter, Toledo missed a field goal that would have put them ahead by one but, a personal foul penalty for roughing the center by the Eagles gave the Rockets a second chance that they would take advantage of with a score. UT quarterback Clint Cochran connected with tight end Josh Powell on a four-yard touchdown strike to give Toledo a 13-9 lead with just 3:11 left in the game. On the ensuing two-point conversion attempt, EMU defensive end Kevin Howe forced a fumble by Cochran which was picked up and returned by Darran Matthews for two-points to cut the EMU lead to 13-11.
The Eagles' Trumaine Riley returned the ensuing kickoff 45 yards to the EMU 46-yard line. The Eagles then put on a game-winning march, going 54 yards in five plays, capped off by an 18-yard touchdown run by Pierre Walker to give the Eagles the victory.
"From my perspective, it’s really all about the seniors, EMU Head Coach Jeff Genyk said. "When you have seven guys playing their last homecoming game. That is why winning this game was so important to our team".
Quarterback Andy Schmitt led the Eagles offensively, going 17-for-27 passing for 196 yards while rushing for 67 yards on 18 carries. Walker chipped in with 70 yards on 14 carries with one touchdown on the ground.
Defensively for EMU linebacker Michael Richardson led the team in tackles with 15.
Toledo quarterback Aaron Opelt went 12-for-21 passing for 100 yards while Jalen Parmele rushed for 99 yards and one touchdown on 17 carries. Keith Forestal led Toledo with 10 tackles.
"We didn't take care of the football," said Toledo Head Coach Tom Amstutz. "They made a good play on defense and scooped up the ball on the two point conversion but we still needed to play afterwards which they did and we didn't."
In the first half, EMU took a 3-0 lead on a 48-yard field goal by Andrew Wellock at the 6:35 mark of the second quarter to cap off a five-play, 19-yard drive. Wellock added another field goal from 38 yards out to give the Eagles a 6-0 lead with seven seconds remaining in the first quarter that was set up by a 40-yard pass completion from Schmitt to Riley.
At the 8:29 mark of the second quarter, EMU missed a golden opportunity to increase its lead when they were stopped on fourth down on Toledo's one-yard line. However, the Green and White put together an eight-play, 33-yard drive that was capped off by Wellock's third field goal of the game which came from 43 yards out with 1:47 left in the half.
On the last play in the third quarter, EMU squandered a third and goal opportunity from the UT four-yard line as Schmitt's pass was intercepted by Tyrrell Herbert in the end zone and returned it to the Toledo 45-yard line. The Rockets then marched 55 yards in nine plays scoring on a 14 yard touchdown run by Parmele to cut the EMU lead to 9-7.
At Long Last! EMU Wins a 41-38 Overtime Thriller at Ball State - Oct. 19, 2010 – WOT, 41-38 at Ball State
At long last Eastern Michigan University Head Coach Ron English and his team were able to sing the fight song after an Eagles victory! The Eagles, who overcame a sluggish start and a 21-point hole, rallied past Ball State for 41-38 overtime victory at Scheumann Stadium in a Mid-American Conference West Division battle.
In the extra period, Ball State started with the football but was unable to advance it. Ian McGarvey was called upon for a 44-yard field goal try, which sailed through to make it 38-35.
With EMU needing a score of its own, quarterback Alex Gillett continued to make plays for the Eagles. On 3rd-down in the overtime session, Gillett lofted a pass for tight end Ben Thayer, who was able to secure the nine-yard aerial for the game-winning touchdown grab.
The overtime session was set up after the Eagles took a slim 35-28 lead on a Gillett two-yard touchdown run with 4:43 to play in the fourth quarter. Not to be outdone, the Cardinals answered with a touchdown of their own to force overtime.
The Eagles 21-point comeback was also the biggest in school history. The only other EMU team to rally for 20 points or more was the 2000 squad that came back from a 32-12 deficit to score 27 unanswered points to defeat Northern Illinois, 39-32, Nov. 11, in Rynearson Stadium. Additionally, the win also marked the first career win for English and snapped the 18-game losing skid that dated back to the 2009 campaign.
Gillett led the Eagles offensively, going 10-for-18 for 225 yards via the air with three scores. The Green Springs, Ohio native also ran the ball 35 times for 189 yards and two touchdowns, the most single-game carries and rushing yards for a quarterback in school history. Sophomore Kinsman Thomas caught six balls for 87 yards, while Thayer grabbed three passes for 65 yards and two scores. In total, the Eagles racked up 490 yard in 73 plays
For Ball State, quarterback Keith Wenning ran the ball six times for 10 yards and a touchdown while going 16-for-29 for 145 yards and three scores via the air.
Miscues plagued both teams on their opening drives. Following a short punt that gave EMU the ball in BSU territory, the Eagles could not capitalize with Sean Graham's 32-yard field goal attempt missing wide left.
The Green and White would promptly get the ball back though, in great scoring position, after a missed handoff by BSU was recovered by Andy Mulumba. Graham would again be called upon to try to draw first-blood, but again a 40-yard field goal attempt sailed wide left with 7:13 still showing on the first quarter clock.
After escaping a pair of scoring threats, Ball State would crack the scoreboard with 5:25 still showing on the first-quarter clock. Wenning found a streaking Daniel Ifft for a 24-yard touchdown reception and the PAT followed by Ian McGarvey to make it 7-0. The scoring drive was set up at the EMU 20-yard line after a muffed punt gave the Cardinals tremendous starting position.
The BSU lead would climb to 21 points midway through the second quarter. First the Cardinals scored on the ground with Wenning using his offensive line to push into the end zone from one-yard out. The touchdown scamper capped a 12-play, 70-yard drive that consumed more than six minutes. Ball State then took to the air for an eight-yard touchdown reception by MiQuale Lewis from Wenning at the 7:42 mark.
Eastern's offense was then able to string together a nearly perfect drive that covered 85 yards in 10 plays. On the quarterback keeper, Gillett crossed the goal line from six-yards out with 3:07 remaining. Graham tacked on the extra point to make it 21-7.
Despite a sluggish offensive start for both sides, the offensive shootout was on. Ball State's Eric Williams returned the ensuing kickoff 92 yards to again give the Cardinals the 21-point cushion, 28-7.
Eastern would answer with a quick strike of its own on the very next drive. A high pass from Gillett was hauled in on a finger-tip catch by Garrett Hoskin near midfield. Hoskins was able to shake off a defender and cruise 73 yards for the touchdown to make it 28-14.
The EMU momentum continued to grow following the intermission. Gillett was able to move the chains on 4th-and-4, finding Thomas across the middle for a 13-yard pickup at the 20-yard line. Four plays later, Corey Welch was able to scoot around the left side and dive for the pylon for another EMU touchdown. Graham followed for the PAT to pull the Eagles within a score, 28-21, with 9:30 to play in the third.
Eastern would knot the score at 28-28 less than four minutes later, overcoming the 21-point second quarter hole. Thayer scampered 33-yards on the pass completion from Gillett to complete the 80-yard drive that needed just four plays.
With Ball State's offense seemingly stuck in neutral, a quick four-and-out by the Cardinals promptly gave the ball back to Eastern. However, the field position battle was flipped with the Green and White starting in the shadows of their own goal post. An Eagle punt returned the football to the Cardinals, but again the EMU defense stood up to the challenge forcing BSU to punt as well.
Pinned at its own four-yard line with 14:42 left in the ball game, Gillett was able to methodically direct the Eagles down the field mostly via his own elusiveness. On third-and-short at the BSU six-yard line, Gillett pushed forward for another first down to make it first-and-goal with the clock rolling under the six-minute mark.
The drive would stall at the three-yard line sending Graham in for the 21-yard field goal. His third kick of the day would again fly wide left, however, Ball State was flagged for a roughing the kicker penalty to keep the EMU offense on the field. Gillett would capitalize on the opportunity, calling his own number from two-yards out for the touchdown. Graham tacked on the PAT to give Eastern its first lead at 35-28 with 4:43 remaining. Eastern controlled the ball for 19 plays on the drive for a total of 93 yards.
Needing a touchdown and with time winding down, the Cardinals marched into scoring position helped via a pair of 15-yard penalties against the Eagles. Then on 2nd-and-goal and just 34 ticks left in regulation, Wenning found Briggs Orsbon in the front corner of the end zone for the touchdown. The play was reviewed by instant replay and eventually confirmed. The all-important extra point by McGarvey split the uprights to tie the game at 35 and force overtime.
Defense Turns Away Toledo To Hold on for 28-26 Victory - Oct. 13, 2018 – W, 28-26 vs. Toledo
Freddie McGee III poked away a two-point conversion pass in the back of the end zone, as Eastern Michigan held off Toledo, 28-26, in Mid-American Conference play at Rynearson Stadium.
Toledo trailed 28-3 at halftime, but held EMU scoreless in the second half while posting 20 fourth quarter points. EMU had a chance to salt the game away, but was held short on a 4th-and-1 near midfield with less than two minutes to go.
UT marched the ball inside the nine, but EMU's defense stood up to the challenge to force a critical 4th-and-goal with 26 ticks remaining. Toledo's Mitchell Guadagni escaped from a collapsing pocket to score from the 10, making it 28-26 with 20 seconds remaining, but his pass to Bryce Mitchell, crossing in the back of the end zone, was poked away by McGee for EMU's first victory over the Midnight Blue and Gold since 2006.
Big plays defined the first half for the Green and White, as the Eagles took an early 21-0 lead in the first quarter. Toledo's defense entered the contest only allowing 191 yards per game on the ground, but by the end of the first half, EMU had torched them for 201 rushing yards.
Quarterback Mike Glass III earned his first career start for the Green and White and made it a historic one. Glass III picked up his second consecutive 100-yard rushing game and is believed to be the first EMU signal caller in program history to rush past the century mark in back-to-back games. EMU's individual game-by-game statistics are only available back to the mid-1950s .
Willie Parker got into the fun, with a 50-yard run for a score. The scamper was the longest play on the ground by the Eagles this season, and the second TD of Parker's career. Shaq Vann also found pay dirt with 51 yards on 11 carries.
Guadagni accounted for 75 percent of Toledo's offense, as he passed for 147 yards and rushed for 137 yards more.
Overall, EMU Associate Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator Neal Neathery's crew held the Rockets to 20 points and 72 yards below their season average. EMU held Toledo scoreless through 14 minutes of play, and did not surrender a touchdown until the 11 minute mark of the fourth quarter.
Linebacker Kyle Rachwal led the Eagles with 11 tackles, adding a sack and a pass breakup to his stat line. Senior Jeremiah Harris, who grew up in the shadows of Toledo, wrangled his first solo sack of 2018 to go along with a pair of QB hurries. Jaylen Pickett, Maxx Crosby, and Turan Rush each added a sack.
Not to be overlooked, the Rockets were limited to an average of 15.5 yards per kickoff return. Toledo entered the game ranked fifth nationally in kick returns at 29.58.
Hutchinson Marches EMU for Last-Minute Victory - Oct. 19, 2019 – W, 34-27 vs. Western Michigan
Eastern Michigan earned a crucial victory in Mid-American Conference action, as senior Mathew Sexton collected his second game-winning touchdown of the season to clinch a 34-27 win over Western Michigan University inside Rynearson Stadium.
Trailing 27-26 with 1:51 left in regulation, the Eagles 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, quarterback Preston Hutchinson found Dylan Drummond for an 18-yard pass to advance to the EMU 47-yard line. After Shaq Vann crossed midfield with a four-yard carry, Drummond and Arthur Jackson made catches of eight and seven yards, respectively, to move the ball to the WMU 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 Jairus Grissom 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 defensive back Jeff Hubbard 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 Jake Julien's kick rolled out of bounds at the WMU three-yard line as time expired.
Without the services of normal starting quarterback Mike Glass III, 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.
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 Quian Williams 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 Breck Turner, 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 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 Hassan Beydoun 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, tight end Bryson Cannon 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 Line Latu 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.
Steiner’s Week 7 Slate of Games
Week 7
Oct. 19, 2019 – W, 34-27 vs. Western Michigan
Oct. 13, 2018 – W, 28-26 vs. Toledo
Oct. 21, 2017 – LOT, 17-20 vs. Western Michigan
Oct. 15, 2016 – W, 27-20 at Ohio
Oct. 17, 2015 – L, 20-63 at #22/25 Toledo
Oct. 18, 2014 – L, 14-36 at UMASS
Oct. 19, 2013 – L, 28-56 vs Ohio
Oct. 20, 2012 – W, 48-38 vs. Army
Oct. 15, 2011 – W, 35-28 at Central Michigan
Oct. 19, 2010 – WOT, 41-38 at Ball State
Oct. 24, 2009 – L, 27-29 vs. Ball State
Oct. 22, 2008 – L, 13-17 at Army
Oct. 13, 2007 – L, 42-48 at Ohio
Oct. 21, 2006 – W, 17-13 vs. Toledo
Oct. 15, 2005 – L, 8-24 at Northern Illinois
Oct. 16, 2004 – W, 35-31 at Western Michigan
Oct. 11, 2003 – L, 14-49 at Toledo
Oct. 12, 2002 – L, 27-55 at Ohio
Oct. 27, 2001 – W, 24-20 vs. Buffalo
Oct. 14, 2000 – L, 14-33 at Ball State
Oct. 23, 1999 – W, 20-13 at Toledo
Greg Steiner is in his 19th year with the Eastern Michigan University Athletic Media Relations Office and his fifth as the Associate Athletic Director for Media Relations. From Dec. 2004 until Oct. 2012, he was the office’s assistant director before serving as the assistant athletic director from 2012-16. He serves as the primary contact for the football and golf teams, while aiding in game-day help with nearly all 19 sports.
Steiner also oversees the EMU-ESPN initiative and production unit, in which EMU students receive valuable hands-on experience working with professional equipment and producing content for a national audience on ESPN3/ESPN+. Since its launch in 2015, EMU has produced 185 games for ESPN to go along with dozens more in-house productions.
Favorite Eastern Memories
This will be the 129th year for the EMU football team when it attempts to play in the spring following the fall postponement due to COVID-19. The first year of intercollegiate football in Ypsilanti was 1891, when the team, then known as the Michigan Normal College Normalites, posted an 0-2 record. EMU has fielded a team every year since 1891 with one exception, when the 1944 season was canceled because of World War II.
