Eastern Michigan Athletics
EMU Football Sweeps MAC West Player of the Week Honors
12/7/2020 11:00:00 AM | Football
Preston Hutchinson, Jose Ramirez, and Chad Ryland honored after the team's win at WMU
CLEVELAND, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) - For the first time in Eastern Michigan University football history, all three weekly awards from the Mid-American Conference will be headed to Ypsilanti. EMU junior quarterback Preston Hutchinson (Mason, Ohio-Mason) was named the MAC West Division Offensive Co-Player of the Week with Ball State's Drew Plitt, while sophomore defensive end Jose Ramirez (Lake Alfred, Fla.-Auburndale-Arizona-Riverside City) was selected as the MAC West Defensive Player of the Week. Additionally, junior kicker Chad Ryland (Lebanon, Pa.-Cedar Crest) collected MAC West Division Special Teams Player of the Week accolades.
Eastern Michigan played its first MAC season in 1976, but did not earn a league player of the week honor until the 1977 campaign. Overall, Eastern has won two of the three divisional awards on 12 occasions.
It is the third time Ryland has been honored by the MAC, while Hutchinson earned the honor for the second-consecutive season following a performance against Western Michigan University. Ramirez picked up the distinction for the first time in his EMU career.
Hutchinson threw for over 300 yards for the second time this season when he completed 19-of-30 pass attempts in the 53-42 victory over the MAC West-leading Broncos, Dec. 5. The effort saw Hutchinson rack up 315 yards through the air. He made first-half history against the Broncos as he finished the 30-minute stretch with 267 passing yards on 15-of-22 passing. That performance is the best by an Eagle in the first half of a game since Andy Schmitt went 38-of-52 for 354 yards and five touchdowns against Central Michigan, Nov. 28, 2008.
Hutchinson shined in his first-ever start for the Eagles on Oct. 19, 2019. In that game, which happened to be against Western Michigan, Hutchinson tossed for 357 yards and three TDs on 31-of-36 pass attempts. He added one rushing score in that game as well.
The anniversary magic was real in Hutchinson's second meeting with the Broncos on Saturday, as he improved to 2-0 against EMU's in-state foe. In his second contest against WMU, his numbers were equally as good. He once again tossed for three touchdowns. In matching fashion to his 2019 performance, he also added a score with his legs.
Ramirez had a breakout game, setting personal bests in tackles (7), tackles-for-loss (2.0), sacks (2.0), and forced fumbles (1.0). Each number in the previous categories, with the exception of his total tackles, led or tied for the team lead against Western.
Ramirez was an anchor for the EMU defense that held Western Michigan's D'Wayne Eskridge, the nation's leader in all-purpose yards coming into the game (255 yards per game average) to a season-low 99 yards on Saturday. The game was Eskridge's first without at least 230 all purpose yards. Additionally, his kick return yards (30) and receiving yards (53) against EMU were season lows.
The EMU defense ranks fourth nationally in the red zone. EMU's opponents have left the red zone scoreless eight times in 24 attempts this season, making EMU the best red zone defense in the MAC.
Ryland has been perfect for Eastern Michigan in its last two games game against Mid-American Conference and in-state foes Central Michigan, Nov. 27, and Western Michigan, Dec. 5. The Lebanon, Pa. native scored 11 of Eastern Michigan's 23 points against CMU, as he went 3-for-3 on field goals and 2-for-2 in extra point attempts.
He followed that performance with a career-high four field goal makes on four attempts against WMU, Dec. 5. Ryland added a perfect 5-for-5 mark on extra-point attempts and finished the game with a career-best 17 points for EMU.
EMU will close its 2020 regular-season slate at home, as it welcomes Mid-American Conference West Division foe Northern Illinois University to Rynearson Stadium Saturday, Dec. 12. Kickoff is slated for 12 p.m. inside "The Factory."
The game will be broadcast on ESPN3 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.
For the most up-to-date information on all things EMU football, visit EMUEagles.com and follow the team on social media, at @EMUFB.
Eastern Michigan played its first MAC season in 1976, but did not earn a league player of the week honor until the 1977 campaign. Overall, Eastern has won two of the three divisional awards on 12 occasions.
It is the third time Ryland has been honored by the MAC, while Hutchinson earned the honor for the second-consecutive season following a performance against Western Michigan University. Ramirez picked up the distinction for the first time in his EMU career.
Hutchinson threw for over 300 yards for the second time this season when he completed 19-of-30 pass attempts in the 53-42 victory over the MAC West-leading Broncos, Dec. 5. The effort saw Hutchinson rack up 315 yards through the air. He made first-half history against the Broncos as he finished the 30-minute stretch with 267 passing yards on 15-of-22 passing. That performance is the best by an Eagle in the first half of a game since Andy Schmitt went 38-of-52 for 354 yards and five touchdowns against Central Michigan, Nov. 28, 2008.
Hutchinson shined in his first-ever start for the Eagles on Oct. 19, 2019. In that game, which happened to be against Western Michigan, Hutchinson tossed for 357 yards and three TDs on 31-of-36 pass attempts. He added one rushing score in that game as well.
The anniversary magic was real in Hutchinson's second meeting with the Broncos on Saturday, as he improved to 2-0 against EMU's in-state foe. In his second contest against WMU, his numbers were equally as good. He once again tossed for three touchdowns. In matching fashion to his 2019 performance, he also added a score with his legs.
Ramirez had a breakout game, setting personal bests in tackles (7), tackles-for-loss (2.0), sacks (2.0), and forced fumbles (1.0). Each number in the previous categories, with the exception of his total tackles, led or tied for the team lead against Western.
Ramirez was an anchor for the EMU defense that held Western Michigan's D'Wayne Eskridge, the nation's leader in all-purpose yards coming into the game (255 yards per game average) to a season-low 99 yards on Saturday. The game was Eskridge's first without at least 230 all purpose yards. Additionally, his kick return yards (30) and receiving yards (53) against EMU were season lows.
The EMU defense ranks fourth nationally in the red zone. EMU's opponents have left the red zone scoreless eight times in 24 attempts this season, making EMU the best red zone defense in the MAC.
Ryland has been perfect for Eastern Michigan in its last two games game against Mid-American Conference and in-state foes Central Michigan, Nov. 27, and Western Michigan, Dec. 5. The Lebanon, Pa. native scored 11 of Eastern Michigan's 23 points against CMU, as he went 3-for-3 on field goals and 2-for-2 in extra point attempts.
He followed that performance with a career-high four field goal makes on four attempts against WMU, Dec. 5. Ryland added a perfect 5-for-5 mark on extra-point attempts and finished the game with a career-best 17 points for EMU.
EMU will close its 2020 regular-season slate at home, as it welcomes Mid-American Conference West Division foe Northern Illinois University to Rynearson Stadium Saturday, Dec. 12. Kickoff is slated for 12 p.m. inside "The Factory."
The game will be broadcast on ESPN3 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.
For the most up-to-date information on all things EMU football, visit EMUEagles.com and follow the team on social media, at @EMUFB.
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