Eastern Michigan Athletics
Remembering Tales from the Gridiron: Week 3
9/17/2020 1:45:00 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) – Week three of the 2020 college football season was to have meant the return of familiar rivalries and the discussion of the race for West Division standings.
Before the pandemic changed everything, Eastern Michigan was slated to open Mid-American Conference play Saturday, Sept. 19, at home against Northern Illinois University. Saturday was also scheduled to be a first, as EMU had never played NIU to open the conference slate in 44 previous MAC seasons.
While a majority of conferences around the country have changed membership in recent years, the MAC has remained stable with very little change in membership since the early 2000s.
"There is something to be said for stability," Mid-American Conference Commissioner Dr. Jon A. Steinbrecher said in a 2013 newspaper interview. "Geographic proximity (of MAC schools) is a strength. We have rivalries standing the test of time. Philosophical and programmatic similarities are an important component, too."
Spanning just more than 600 miles from west to east (Northern Illinois to Buffalo) and just under 400 miles between the northernmost and southernmost schools (Central Michigan and Ohio) the MAC is the most geographically dense league in the Football Bowl Subdivision.
This week’s selection of games, I picked a quartet of road thrillers that gave the EMU fan-base plenty to be excited about. The outcome of a pair of the contests were not decided until the clock hit zero, while another saw EMU push a Big Ten team to the edge before a late interception dashed the team’s upset dreams.
Did I overlook your favorite EMU week three 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 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 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.
Eastern Pushes Northwestern to the Limits - Sept. 16, 2006 – L, 6-14 at Northwestern
Corey Wootton's interception in the fourth quarter stopped a scoring threat as Northwestern held on for a 14-6 victory over Eastern Michigan at Ryan Field in Evanston, Ill.
The Eagles were at the Northwestern 32 when Tyler Jones overthrew Eric Deslauriers in the end zone with about six minutes left. Wootton then picked off a pass at the 27, and the Wildcats left with a win one week after losing 34-17 to New Hampshire.
Deante Battle picked off Jones again at the Northwestern 47 with about a minute left. Overall, Eastern Michigan managed just 134 yards on offense and converted 2-of-15 third downs.
Tyrell Sutton led Northwestern with 91 yards rushing, but the Wildcats had trouble moving the ball. They managed just 266 yards and switched quarterbacks.
Mike Kafka delivered a 6-yard touchdown run on the game's opening possession but was 10-of-18 for 76 yards with an interception. Andrew Brewer replaced his and led a 72-yard touchdown drive on the Wildcats' first possession of the second half, carrying it in from the 1 to boost the ‘Cats' lead to 14-6. He completed 6-of-8 passes for 76 yards.
With the score 7-6 after the Eagles punted to start the third quarter, Sutton carried six times for 44 yards as Northwestern increased its lead to eight. He started the drive with a 9-yarder and broke off runs of 19 and 10 yards. Brewer contributed a 10-yard run to go with that touchdown.
Although the game was the first between the programs, they were not exactly strangers. Eastern Michigan coach Jeff Genyk was a Wildcats assistant for 12 years before being hired in December 2003, and five members of his staff either played or coached at Northwestern.
Eric Young’s Blocked Field Goal Helps EMU Hold On For the Win - Sept. 15, 2007- W, 21-19 at Northern Illinois
Eastern overcame a 13-point deficit to post a 21-19 victory over Northern Illinois at Huskie Stadium. An interception setup a Pierre Walker game-winning touchdown score with 5:29 left in the game. Then with the outcome still very much in doubt, Eric Young stepped up to block Chris Nendick's 50-yard field goal attempt as time expired to seal the two-point EMU win.
Sophomore quarterback Andy Schmitt was 16-of-24 for 189 yards on the afternoon. On the ground Walker carried the rock 25 times form 66 yards and a pair of touchdowns, while sophomore DeAnthony White picked up 78 yards on three carries and a TD. White was also the Eagles' leading receiver with five catches for 89 yards.
Eastern Posts Dominating Road Win at Charlotte - Sept. 17, 2016 – W, 37-19 at Charlotte
Quarterback Todd Porter threw for 285 yards and two touchdowns as Eastern Michigan never trailed in a dominating performance on the road, beating Charlotte 37-19.
Ian Eriksen started the scoring with a 5-yard touchdown run with 4:11 left in the first. Porter later connected with Nigel Kilby on a 5-yard scoring pass to push the lead to 17-3 before halftime.
Early in the third, Porter found John Niupalau on 49-yard score to make it 24-3. Jaylen Pickett intercepted Kevin Olsen for a pick-6 from 36 yards out and the lead was 34-6.
Porter finished 24 for 31 and had one interception for the Eagles (2-1). He completed passes to nine different receivers.
One of the most interesting moments on the game saw Eastern Michigan kicked off after a touchdown from their opponent's 20-yard line.You read that right.
Charlotte got itself three unsportsmanlike-conduct penalties after an Eastern Michigan touchdown. If you do the math, three unsportsmanlike-conduct penalties gets you 45 yards, which moved the kick to the opposing 20. Instead of kicking away, they did what you would expect: onside kick. Check out the video if you don't remember it.
Ryland’s 24-Yard Walkoff Field Goal Helps EMU Best Illinois - Sept. 14, 2019 – W, 34-31 at Illinois
Eastern Michigan coach Chris Creighton clearly enjoyed the postgame media gathering following his team’s last-second 34-31 road win over Illinois.
"I love this team," he said, smiling. "I mean, wow. What a great bunch of guys."
Creighton had good reason to be joyous. Chad Ryland booted a 24-yard field goal as time expired to give the Eagles their third win over a Big Ten team, following victories against Rutgers in 2017 and Purdue in 2018.
Mike Glass was 23-of-36 for 316 yards and three touchdowns to lead EMU. Jarius Grissom rushed three times for 52 yards, while Willie Parker had 23 yards on 11 carries and a touchdown.
"Awesome, awesome day for our program," Creighton said. "Our defense played well. We knew we weren't going to shut them out, because they are really good, but we did what we needed to. Our guys just executed."
Illinois was still in the hunt with less than three minutes left after tying the game at 31 on a 36-yard touchdown pass from Brandon Peters to Josh Imatorbhebhe.
But Glass, who looked calm and collected all day, methodically put his team in a position to win with a 23-yard pass to Dylan Drummond followed by a 13-yard run by Breck Turner. Ryland then trotted onto the field with one second left for the game winner.
Steiner’s Week 3 Slate of Games
Sept. 14, 2019 – W, 34-31 at Illinois
Sept. 15, 2018 – L, 28-45 at Buffalo
Sept. 23, 2017 – L2OT, 20-27 vs. Ohio
Sept. 17, 2016 – W, 37-19 at Charlotte
Sept. 19, 2015 – L, 17-28 vs. Ball State
Sept. 13, 2014 – L, 3-17 at Old Dominion
Sept. 14, 2013 – L, 10-28 at Rutgers
Sept. 15, 2012 – L, 16-54 at Purdue
Sept. 17, 2011 – L, 3-31 at Michigan
Sept. 18, 2010 – L, 14-52 vs. Central Michigan
Sept. 19, 2009 – L, 17-45 at #25 Michigan
Sept. 13, 2008 – L, 17-41 vs. Toledo
Sept. 15, 2007- W, 21-19 at Northern Illinois
Sept. 16, 2006 – L, 6-14 at Northwestern
Sept. 17, 2005 – L, 0-55 at Michigan
Sept. 18, 2004 – L, 32-42 vs. Toledo
Sept. 13, 2003 – L, 17-24 at Akron
Sept. 14, 2002 – W, 35-32 vs. Southeast Missouri State
Sept. 22, 2001 – L, 14-21 vs. Indiana State
Sept. 16, 2000 – L, 6-41 at South Carolina
Sept. 25, 1999 – W, 38-17 vs. Akron
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 18 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.
