Football's Focus Shifts to Bowling Green

Football at Bowling Green
Date	Saturday, Oct. 23 \| 12 p.m. ET
Venue	Bowling Green, Ohio \| Doyt Perry Stadium
Preview Info	EMU Notes \| Media Guide \| Press Conference Video
Live Stats	Fan Stats \| Media Stats
Watch	ESPN+
Listen	WEMU (89.1 WEMU-FM) \| TuneIn Radio \| The Varsity Network App \| Eastern Insider Podcast
Twitter	@EMUFB \| @EMUAthletics

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University football team will look to get back on track when it heads south for a Mid-American Conference cross-divisional bout with Bowling Green State University Saturday, Oct. 23. The game is set to kick off at 12 p.m inside Doyt L. Perry Stadium.
   Eastern (4-3, 1-2 MAC) enters the game in hopes of evening its MAC ledger. The Eagles fell to Ball State, 38-31, inside Rynearson Stadium in their most recent contest, Oct. 16. Bowling Green (2-5, 0-3 MAC) enters the contest with hopes of capturing its first conference victory this season. The Falcons lost to Northern Illinois, 34-26, Oct. 16, in DeKalb, Ill.
   The game will be televised on ESPN+ with Jason Ross, Jr. providing the play-by-play and Forrest Conoly serving as the analyst. WEMU (89.1 FM) and the Varsity Network app will provide audio coverage of the game with Matt Shepard and Rob Rubick calling the action from the field.

CONTINUING TO FLUSH IT: Eastern's motto has been to go 1-0 each week while "flushing" the previous outcome. The short-term memory has proven beneficial for the program, with 38 of the last 64 (59%) contests decided by eight points-or-less. Eight games have been decided in overtime with 19 coming down to the final play.

OH SO CLOSE: The Eagles have played in 38 one-score games since the beginning of the 2016 season, and hold a 16-22 record in those contests. The setbacks have been by an average of just 5.3 points. Overall, 19 of the 38 games have been decided by three-or-less.
   According to ESPN, since 2018 only one team has recorded more one-possession heartbreaks – Nebraska. The Huskers have 17 losses of the sort, while EMU and North Carolina each have 14 in that span.

TAKING ADVANTAGE OF TAKEAWAYS: EMU has forced eight turnovers in 2021, and has scored points off of each (5 touchdowns, 3 field goals). EMU has scored 44 points off those turnovers, once as a direct result of the play (98-yard interception-for-touchdown at Wisconsin), and seven times in its subsequent offensive possession.

RECOVERING FUMBLES: Eastern Michigan has been one of the best teams in the nation when it comes to recovering fumbles in 2021. The Eagles have picked up six loose balls this season, which ranks third in the MAC and 19th nationally.

SPECIAL TEAMS SUCCESS: EMU's 43.8 net yards per punt ranks first in the MAC and 10th nationally. In addition to that number, EMU's kick return defense is also top-30 in the country, allowing just 17.88 return yards per game in 2021, which ranks 27th nationally and fifth in the MAC.

WIN THE TURNOVER BATTLE: A common goal in Head Coach Chris Creighton's program, Eastern has won or tied (25 wins, 4 ties) the turnover battle in 29 of its last 31 victories under Creighton. Eastern failed to win the turnover battle against Ball State, 2-0.

STARTING STRONG MATTERS: Each time this season that EMU has failed to score on an opening drive of the game (four times in seven games), it has failed to score at all in the first quarter. That trend continued against Ball State, Oct. 16.
   On the season, EMU ranks 79th in the FBS in first quarter offensive production at just 4.7 points per game. Conversely, the Green and White are tied with Michigan and Ohio State for the 13th-best fourth quarter offense, pouring in an average of 9.8 points per contest.

PLAYING DISCIPLINED: EMU has been one of the most disciplined teams in the country thus far in
2021. The Eagles rank first in the nation in fewest penalty yards per game (33.0), fourth in fewest penalties per game (3.86), sixth in fewest total penalties (27), and seventh in fewest total penalty yards (231).

MOVING THE CHAINS: No team in the Mid-American Conference is more successful on third down than Eastern Michigan. As an offense, Eastern converts 46 percent (42-of-91) of its third down tries. That number ranks 25th in the nation. EMU was 9-of-13 in its most recent contest, against Ball State, Oct. 16.
   EMU has converted 56 percent of its third-and-short attempts (9-of-16), 68 percent of its third-and-medium tries (22-of-32), and 25 percent of its third-and-long attempts (11-of-43).

MORE THAN FINE ON FOURTH: Both the EMU offense and defense have been successful on fourth down plays in 2021. As an offense, the Eagles have converted 67 percent (6-of-9) of its fourth down tries. That number is good for third in the MAC and 28th nationally. EMU was 2-for-3 against Ball State, Oct. 16.
   Defensively, Eastern has held its opponents to just 39 percent (5-of-13) on its fourth down tries, which ranks second in the MAC and 33rd nationally.

ANOTHER RECORD FOR RYLAND: With his fourth PAT make of the day against Ball State, Oct. 16, junior kicker Chad Ryland again cemented himself in the EMU record books. Already the all-time leader in PAT makes (121), Ryland now leads in point-after attempts (125). Prior to the contest, he sat at the No. 2 spot (121), just behind Justin Ventura (124), who also previously held the PAT record that Ryland surpassed earlier this season.

MOVING ON UP: In addition to his record-breaking PAT attempt, Chad Ryland also moved up in another record book category against Ball State, Oct. 16. With his 32-yard, third quarter field goal make, Ryland took over sole possession of second all-time in field goal makes (43). He now sits 26 behind the all-time leader, Andrew Wellock (69).

THROWING DARTS: Senior quarterback Ben Bryant put together arguably his best passing performance of the season against Ball State, Oct. 16. Although he recorded just one touchdown through the air, Bryant did complete a season-best 35 passes in the game. With the effort, Bryant became the first EMU passer to amass 30+ completions in a contest since Oct. 19, 2019, when Preston Hutchinson did it against Western Michigan. Additionally, his 72.9 completion percentage (35-of-48) is his single-game high, while his 331 passing yards were his second-most of the season, falling seven yards short of the 338 he threw for at Northern Illinois, Oct. 2.

THIRD TIME FOR BRYANT: Senior QB Ben Bryant was 4-for-4 through the air in the first quarter against Ball State, Oct. 16. The effort was the third this season in which Bryant has been perfect in a quarter.

TOSSING AROUND THE ROCK: Senior Ben Bryant has already recorded a pair of 300+ yard passing games this season (at NIU and vs. BSU) and is one of just 12 EMU signal callers since 1999 to have passed that threshold in the modern statistical era. Last season, junior Preston Hutchinson also accomplished the mark in a pair of contests.

SEASON-BEST AERIAL ATTACK: Although quarterback Ben Bryant's 331 yards passing against Ball State was his second-best effort of the season, the EMU offense was able to put up a season-best 339 yards passing against the Cardinals. The difference was junior wideout Hassan Beydoun, who threw one pass for eight yards to help EMU secure the total, which is one yard better than Eastern's 338 yards passing at NIU, Oct. 2.

BRYANT'S NATIONAL RANKINGS: Senior quarterback Ben Bryant ranks first in the MAC and 18th nationally with a 68 percent completion clip in 2021. Furthermore, he ranks second in the MAC and 38th nationally with an 8.16 yards per pass attempt average in 2021. He also ranks inside the nation's top-50 (46th) in passing efficiency (146.1).
   Bryant's current completion percentage would rank second-best for any Eastern player since the turn of the century. Only Andy Schmitt (72.8%) in 2007 has recorded a season with a better completion percentage since 2000.

NINE CAN SHINE: Eastern's offense was able to spread the wealth against Ball State, Oct. 16, as nine different receivers found the stat sheet with at least one reception. That number, the most for the team this season, was highlighted by five players who all had at least three catches in the contest (Beydoun - 12, Drummond - 7, Cannon - 6, Evans - 4, Westmoreland - 3).

BOONE SCORES MORE: Freshman running back Darius Boone Jr. recorded two rushing touchdowns, his fourth and fifth of the season and sixth and seventh of his career, against Ball State, Oct. 16. The multi-touchdown game was the second of Boone's career. The other such occurrence came in a 42-28 victory over Massachusetts, Sept. 18.
   An anomaly of sorts, Boone actually ran for negative yards in the contest (-4 yards on five carries), but still found the end zone twice.

BEY-DO-IN HIS THING: Junior wideout Hassan Beydoun continues to be a great source of production for the EMU offense in 2021. The Dearborn, Mich. native hauled in a team-leading 12 passes for 81 yards against Ball State, Oct. 16. The 12 receptions are the most an Eagle has notched since Beydoun secured a career-high 14, at Northern Illinois, Oct. 2.
   Beydoun ranks second in the MAC (17th nationally) with 6.7 receptions per game, and sits at sixth in the conference in both receiving yards (493) and receiving yards per game (70.4).

DRUMMOND DAZZLES: Junior wideout Dylan Drummond had a career game against Ball State, Oct. 16. In addition to recording a career-high 41-yard touchdown reception in the contest, the eighth of his career, Drummond also put up his first-career 100-yard game. He finished with 105 yards on seven receptions to lead all players in the contest in reception yards.

HIGH-FLYING OFFENSE: Eastern Michigan's offense is the third best scoring unit in the Mid-American Conference. Averaging 29.6 points per game, EMU has put up 207 total points on 27 touchdowns, six field goals, and 27 extra points. EMU is just one TD behind league-leader, Western Michigan (38). It total, 12 different Eagles have found the pay dirt in 2021, including five players who have scored multiple touchdowns. Sophomore Samson Evans leads all Eagles with seven touchdowns, while freshman Darius Boone Jr. has five. Evans' 7.0 points per game ranks inside the top-five in the MAC.

SPEIGHTS SETS THE STANDARD: Junior linebacker Tariq Speights led the EMU defense with 13 stops against Ball State, Oct. 16. That number is a new career-best for the Valencia, Calif. native, who has now tabbed 10+ tackles in five games with the Green and White during his career.
   Through seven games, Speights is the team's leader in total tackles, with 45 (8 solo, 47 assisted). He is tied for second on the team with two pass breakups, and is one of seven players to have at least one sack on the season.

RUN PRODUCTION: Eastern Michigan has placed an emphasis on running the rock early in the 2021 season. Through seven games, just 32 percent (798-of-2526) of the team's total yardage has come via the turf, but 65 percent (17-of-26) of the team's offensive touchdowns have been via the rush. The 65 percent number is the highest for the team under eighth year Head Coach Chris Creighton.

LOW MILEAGE: With just 68 miles standing between Rynearson Stadium and Doyt L. Perry Stadium, Bowling Green is EMU's second-closest MAC neighbor. Toledo's Glass Bowl sits just 20 miles closer, 49 miles away from Ypsilanti. EMU-BGSU is the fourth-closest distance between any two schools in the MAC. Kent State and Akron reside about 15 miles apart, while Toledo and BGSU are separated by 27 miles.

TIES TO BOWLING GREEN: Saturday's contest feature some homecomings for Eastern Michigan, as sophomore Brian Dooley and President James Smith return to their roots. Dooley, who attended Toledo St. John's Jesuit High School, grew up in Bowling Green. Meanwhile, Smith was the vice president for Economic Development at BGSU before becoming the president at Northern State in 2009.
   Additionally, EMU Vice President/Director of Athletics Scott Wetherbee and BGSU Director of Athletics and Recreation Bob Moosbrugger have a close friendship after having worked together at San Diego State.
ALL-TIME VERSUS BOWLING GREEN: EMU has squared off with Bowling Green on 39 occasions, beginning with a meeting during the 1919 campaign. Eastern Michigan trails in the all-time series, 13-25-1, but has taken the previous two matchups. Close games, EMU took both contests by just three points, winning 28-25 on BGSU's home turf, Oct. 1, 2016, before securing a 34-31 triumph inside Rynearson Stadium, Nov. 21, 2017.

LAST TIME AT DOYT PERRY: Breck Turner ran for 107 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries to help Eastern Michigan stave off Bowling Green 28-25, at Perry Stadium, Oct. 1, 2016.
   Brogan Roback came off the bench to throw for 91 yards and three touchdowns for the Eagles.
   Jake Suder drilled a 32-yard field goal for Bowling Green (1-4, 0-1) which broke a 7-7 tie midway through the third. However the Eagles seized control from there, scoring touchdowns on back-to-back drives to take a two-possession lead. Roback found Isaac Holder from eight-yards out for the first score, followed by a seven-yard TD pass to Nigel Kilby.
   A Fred Coppet 2-yard touchdown run for the Falcons cut the deficit to 28-25 late, but a 10-play Eagles' drive killed the clock.
   Coppet had 141 yards rushing and two touchdowns.

LAST TIME WE MET: Ian Eriksen ran for three touchdowns as Eastern Michigan held on to beat Bowling Green, 34-31, on Tuesday night at Rynearson Stadium, Nov. 21, 2017.
   Eriksen finished with 104 yards rushing on 24 carries and Shaq Vann ran 16 times for 117 yards for Eastern Michigan.
   Jarret Doege was 21-of-34 passing for 256 yards with two touchdowns to lead Bowling Green. Josh Cleveland ran for 150 yards and a two-yard score.
   Doege's pair of TD passes in the third quarter gave the Falcons a 31-27 lead. Eriksen's third touchdown, a seven-yarder, ended the quarter.
   Bowling Green's Jake Suder missed a 29-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter. With about five minutes left, Cleveland was stopped for a three-yard loss on a fourth-and-1. The Eagles took possession and then ran out the clock.

ON THE HORIZON: At long last, EMU and the rest of the MAC will begin the transition to Midweek #MACtion as the Eagles will travel to Toledo Tuesday, Nov. 2 for a matchup inside the Glass Bowl. The game is the first of three consecutive Tuesday night games that the Green and White will participate in, and is set to begin at either 7 or 7:30 p.m.

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Players Mentioned

Hassan Beydoun

Darius Boone Jr.

Ben Bryant

Brian Dooley

Dylan Drummond

Samson Evans

Preston Hutchinson

Chad Ryland

Tariq Speights

Eastern Michigan Athletics