Football Treks to WMU for the Final Road Trip of the 2020 Season

Football at Western Michigan
Date	Saturday, Dec. 5 \| 2 p.m. ET
Venue	Kalamazoo, Mich. \| Waldo Stadium
Preview Info	EMU Notes \| Media Guide \| Press Conference Video
Live Stats	Fan Stats
Watch	ESPN+
Listen	WEMU (89.1 WEMU-FM) \| TuneIn Radio \| Podcast
Twitter	@EMUFB \| @EMUAthletics
Attendance Information	No general public attendance will be allowed

KALAMAZOO, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University football team will hit the road for the final time in 2020 when it travels to Kalamazoo, Mich. for a battle with its Mid-American Conference and in-state rival Western Michigan University Saturday, Dec. 5. Kickoff from Waldo Stadium is set for 2 p.m.
   EMU (0-4; 0-4 MAC) is in search of its first victory of the season after falling to Central Michigan, Nov. 27. Meanwhile, Western Michigan (4-0; 4-0 MAC) is in search of securing the Michigan MAC Trophy, the award given annually to the state's best conference team, after it beat CMU, 52-44, on Nov. 18. WMU took care of Northern Illinois, 30-27, in its most recent game, Nov. 28.
   The game will be broadcast on ESPN+ with Dan Gutowsky providing the play-by-play and Devin Gardner serving as the analyst. WEMU (89.1 FM) will also air the game with Matt Shepard, Rob Rubick, and Tom Helmer on the call.

STRAIGHT FROM THE BEAR: The EMU Office of Athletic Media Relations is no stranger to noting EMU's close-game tendencies, but ESPN's Chris Fallica, known as "The Bear" on the network's flagship pregame show, College Gameday, took to Twitter to discuss it as well.
   According to Fallica, 27 of EMU's last 31 MAC games and 40 of its last 46 games overall had either been a win or a one possession loss.

DEFENSE FORCING TURNOVERS: The EMU defense has been successful at forcing turnovers throughout the team's first four games this season. Eastern has recovered five fumbles and has three interceptions thus far, which ranks second and fifth in the conference, respectively. EMU's most recent outing, against Central Michigan, Nov. 27, saw the team recover two fumbles and record one interception.

WIDE OUTS WOW: Last week's contest against Central Michigan, Nov. 27, was the first in which three different EMU receivers have gone for at least 85 yards in a game this season (Hassan Beydoun - 100, Tanner Knue - 91, Bryson Cannon - 86). The last time EMU accomplished that feat was during the 2008 season when Tyler Jones (185), Jacory Stone (152), and Marvon Sanders (87) did it in a 55-52 setback to Temple, Nov. 22.

LET'S TALK ABOUT TERRY: Just one week after senior linebacker Terry Myrick recorded a career-high 14 stops, had 1.5 tackles for loss, picked up a sack, and forced a fumble against Toledo, Nov. 18, he outmatched those numbers in EMU's Week Four matchup with CMU, Nov. 27.
   Myrick once again set a career-high in tackles, setting his new mark at 17 (3 solo, 14 assist). In addition to his stops, he notched 0.5 tackles for loss, and picked up his second fumble recovery and pass breakup in as many weeks. The Atlanta-based run stuffer's tackling numbers rank first in the MAC and fourth nationally.

HISTORIC HEAVE: Junior quarterback Preston Hutchinson and senior tight end Bryson Cannon paired up for one of the most explosive plays in Rynearson Stadium history on Nov. 27. Up 17-6 on the Chippewas, Hutchinson found Cannon for a 79-yard down-field completion that put Eastern in position to score. The play is tied for the second-longest pass play from scrimmage in the 51-year history of confine, sharing the record with Charlie Batch and Ta-if Kumasi, who also connected for a 79-yard play, against Akron, Oct. 18, 1997.

THIS STAT TAKES THE JAKE: Senior punter Jake Julien is in the midst of an outstanding career. Already in the EMU record books for his 43.8 yards per punt season average in 2019-20, the Barrie, Ontario native has been just as impressive this season. His most notable stat, however, is this: In 13 total punt attempts this year, opponents have returned for a total of -0.5 yards. That number is second in the MAC and fifth nationally.

PERFECT PLACE KICKING: Junior kicker Chad Ryland was perfect for Eastern Michigan in its game against Mid-American Conference and in-state foe Central Michigan, Nov. 27. The Lebanon, Pa. native scored 11 of Eastern Michigan's 23 points on the afternoon, going 3-for-3 on field goals and 2-for-2 in extra point attempts. Ryland set a new season-high mark in field goal makes with three, which also marked the third time in his career he has completed the feat. The junior made kicks from 34, 32, and 29 yards back in the contest.

BEYDOUN IT AGAIN: Junior wide receiver Hassan Beydoun led the Eagles' pass catching efforts with eight grabs, including a 32-yard reception against CMU, Nov. 27. Beydoun totaled 100 receiving yards to lead all players in the contest. The accomplishment marks the second time this season and third time in his career the Dearborn, Mich. native has recorded at least 100 receiving yards in a game. The feat also marks the 129th time in EMU football history that a Green and White wide out has eclipsed 100 yards in a contest.

HOW ABOUT HUBBARD: Senior cornerback Jeff Hubbard made a big impact in EMU's game against CMU, Nov. 27, as he recorded his first interception of the season just before halftime as the Chips were driving in EMU territory. The pick is the third of his career, and first since he nabbed a pass attempt away from Western Michigan on Oct. 19, 2019.

HUTCHINSON GOES FOR 300: Junior quarterback Preston Hutchinson threw for over 300 yards for the first time this season when he completed 23-of-37 pass attempts against Central Michigan, Nov. 27. The Ross, Ohio native finished the afternoon with 365 total yards through the air, which is good for a new career-best. The performance also tied former EMU QB Matt Bohnet for No. 23 on the all-time single-game passing yards list at EMU. Bohnet put up his 365-yard performance against Bowling Green on Oct. 20, 2004. Hutchinson's previous career-best mark came in his lone start of the 2019 campaign, where he tossed for 357 yards against Western Michigan, Oct. 19.

JULIEN JUMPS UP: Senior punter Jake Julien, already one of the best specialists in the MAC, continues to improve as the season goes on for EMU. Julien's average punt yardage has improved every game this season for the Green and White this season (Kent - 43.0, Ball State - 44.0, Toledo - 44.17, CMU - 47.0).
   In addition to his improved average, Julien has been incredibly effective in flipping the field. He has pinned the opposition inside its 20-yard line seven times this season, and has booted two punts of 50+ yards, each during his last two outings.
   Julien's punting average currently ranks third in the MAC.

KICK IT AWAY FROM Q: Junior wide receiver Quian Williams has evolved into an explosive return man for the Green and White this season. The Oklahoma City native has gone for 172 yards on nine attempts this season, including a career-best 35-yard sprint against Central Michigan, Nov. 27. Williams' 19.11 yards per return average ranks eighth in the MAC and 59th nationally.

SPREADING THE WEALTH: Quarterback Preston Hutchinson had plenty of options in the passing game against Central Michigan, Nov. 27, as a season-high eight Eagles recorded receptions, five of which brought in at least two grabs. EMU has spread the wealth well this season in the passing game, as at least five different players have received a pass in each game this season.

FOURTH QUARTER WOES: EMU appeared to be in control over in-state rival Central Michigan on Nov. 27. as it took a 20-6 lead into the fourth quarter, however, the Chips went on to outscore EMU, 25-3, in the final stanza to earn a 31-23 victory. The blunder by EMU is the first of its kind in EMU's modern era of statistical record keeping (1999-Pres.). The last time Eastern allowed a 20-point fourth quarter was in 2018, when it relinquished that number to Toledo in a 28-26 win at Rynearson Stadium, Oct. 13.

CAREER-BEST TACKLING: One week after 10 Eagles set career-best tackling marks against Toledo, Nov. 18, five more did the same versus CMU, Nov. 27. Senior linebacker Terry Myrick paced the Green and White yet again, this time recording 17 tackles, three more than his previous best. Defensive back Kempton Shine also had a game to remember. He set a new personal-best with 14 stops and added a fumble recovery, one of two that the Eagles came away with against the Chippewas.

EMU ON THE NATIONAL LEADERBOARDS: EMU has notched itself onto the national and conference leaderboards in a slew of individual and team-based categories. Senior linebacker Terry Myrick continues to be one of the nation's best tacklers, ranking first in the MAC and fourth in the NCAA in tackles per game (12.8), while as a team, EMU remains one of the most disciplined in the country (19 total penalties ranks 12th nationally).

ALL-TIME VS. WESTERN MICHIGAN: The Eagles and Broncos have met 55 times in their respective histories, with WMU leading the all-time series, 34-19-2. Last year, it was Preston Hutchinson that led EMU to an impressive 34-27 win over WMU at Rynearson Stadium in his first-career start. Prior to 2019, WMU had bested EMU in five consecutive meetings.

LAST TIME IN THE ZOO: A touchdown catch by Blake Banham with 20 seconds to go brought Eastern within three, 27-24, but the Eagles could not recover the ensuing onside kick and dropped the contest by the same score.
    Quarterback Mike Glass III came on in relief to rush for 101 yards and pass for 155 yards and a touchdown, finishing 15-of-24 the day. Five Eagles hauled in passes, with Arthur Jackson III leading all EMU receivers with 62 yards on six receptions, while Dylan Drummond tallied 59 yards on five catches. Tight end Gunnar Oakes and Banham caught EMU's two TD passes, with Oakes' being the first of his career.
    Vince Calhoun led EMU's defensive efforts, tallying six solo tackles. In total, EMU forced three fumbles, and racked up three TFLs.

RECAPPING 2019: EMU earned a crucial victory as wide out Mathew Sexton collected his second game-winning touchdown of the season to clinch a 34-27 win over Western, Oct. 19, 2019, at "The Factory" 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, QB Preston Hutchinson found Dylan Drummond for an 18-yard pass to advance to the EMU 47-yard line. After running back Shaq Vann crossed midfield with a four-yard carry, Drummond and fellow receiver Arthur Jackson III 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. EMU added the two-point conversion to extend the lead to 34-27 and held WMU off the board to seal the game.

ON THE HORIZON: Eastern will return home for its final game of the shortened 2020 slate when it hosts Northern Illinois Saturday, Dec. 12, at "The Factory," inside Rynearson Stadium. The game will kick off at 12 p.m.

Football Treks to WMU for the Final Road Trip of the 2020 Season

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Players Mentioned

Blake Banham

Hassan Beydoun

Vince Calhoun

Bryson Cannon

Dylan Drummond

Mike Glass III

Jeff Hubbard

Preston Hutchinson

Arthur Jackson III

Jake Julien

Tanner Knue

Terry Myrick

Gunnar Oakes

Chad Ryland

Mathew Sexton

Kempton Shine

Shaq Vann

Quian Williams

Eastern Michigan Athletics