Michigan MAC Trophy On the Line Friday, Nov. 26, as EMU Travels to CMU

Football at Central Michigan
Date	Friday, Nov. 26 \| 12 p.m. ET
Venue	Mount Pleasant, Mich. \| Kelly/Shorts Stadium
Preview Info	EMU Notes \| Media Guide \| Press Conference Video
Live Stats	Fan Stats \| Media Stats
Watch	ESPNU
Listen	WEMU (89.1 WEMU-FM) \| TuneIn Radio \| The Varsity Network App \| Eastern Insider Podcast
Twitter	@EMUFB \| @EMUAthletics

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University football team will look to close its regular season with yet another rivalry win as it travels north for a Black Friday matchup with Central Michigan University, Nov. 26. Game time is set for 12 p.m. inside Kelly/Shorts Stadium.
   Eastern Michigan (7-4, 4-3 MAC) is coming off a thrilling, 22-21, come-from-behind victory over I-94 rival, Western Michigan, Nov. 16.The Chippewas (7-4, 5-2 MAC) have won three-in-a-row after last week upending Ball State, 37-17, in Muncie, Ind., Nov. 17.
   The game will be televised on ESPNU. WEMU (89.1 FM) and the Varsity Network app will provide audio coverage of the game with Matt Shepard and Tom Helmer calling the action from the field.

BATTLE FOR THE MICHIGAN MAC: EMU's game at Central Michigan, Nov. 27, will officially be a trophy game, as the "Michigan MAC Trophy" will be awarded to the winner. Given annually to one of the Michigan-based, Mid-American Conference institutions (EMU, WMU, CMU), the trophy is awarded to the team which has the best head-to-head record against each other. It is one of just two regularly-awarded trophies between three teams (the other is the Commander-in-Chief's trophy between Army, Navy, and Air Force).
   Because both EMU and CMU have already defeated WMU this season, the game between the Eagles and Chippewas will decide the winner of this year's trophy.
   Originated in 2005, EMU has claimed ownership four times (2007, 2008, 2011, 2012). Western Michigan has retained the trophy in each of the last three seasons.

WINNER, WINNER, CREIGHTON DINNER: With its win over Western Michigan, EMU guaranteed its third winning season in the last 25 years. All have come under Chris Creighton (2016, 2018, 2021).

SEVEN-11: EMU's 22-21 win over Western Michigan moved the Eagles' record to 7-4 on the season. EMU has not won seven of its first 11 games in a season since the 1989 season. Eastern has a chance to get to eight regular-season wins for the first time since the 1987 season when it finished with nine regular-season wins en route to the school's only football MAC championship.
   Overall, only 14 teams in the 130-year history of EMU football have finished with seven-or-more wins. Only two teams have done it in the 21st century; they have both been coached by Chris Creighton (2016, 2018). Prior to Creighton's arrival in 2014, EMU had produced 13 seasons with seven-or-more losses since 2000.
   Additionally, 2021 now officially marks the first time that the program has had three seven-plus win seasons in a six-year span since the Green and White did it three times between 1968-71.

ONE POINT WINNERS: Eastern Michigan is one of just three FBS teams to have multiple wins by a one-point margin this season (Miami, 13-12; WMU, 22-21). Coincidentally, the other two teams that can make that claim also reside in the Mid-American Conference (Northern Illinois 3, Buffalo 2).

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 41 of the last 68 (61%) 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 41 one-score games since the beginning of the 2016 season, and hold an 18-23 record in those contests. The setbacks have been by an average of fewer than six points. Overall, 21 of the 41 games have been decided by three points-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 has 15.

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, 36 of EMU's last 40 MAC games and 49 of its last 59 games overall have either been a win or a one-possession loss. That trend continued with EMU's comeback win over Western Michigan, Nov. 16.

CLOSING IN NOVEMBER: EMU is 12-9 in the month of November over the last six years. In the five seasons prior, Eastern combined for a total of seven wins during the entire 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015 campaigns. Furthermore, if you exclude last year's COVID-adjusted season when the schedule began in November, EMU's winning percentage jumps to .710 (12-5).

RYLAND'S RECORD WATCH: Chad Ryland had 16 points in EMU's game against Western Michigan, Nov. 16 (5 FG, 1 extra point). He is now just two points behind Andrew Wellock (2003-07) for the most points in EMU history (299).

RECORD BREAKER FOR RYLAND: Junior kicker Chad Ryland, already the program's all-time record holder in PAT attempts (142), PAT makes (138), and longest field goal (t-1; 55 yards), set yet another record against Western Michigan, Nov. 16. The Lebanon, Pa. native hit five field goals, the most ever in a single game for the program.
   EMU has had a kicker convert four field goals in a game on eight different occasions. Ryland is now one of only two players in program history to have multiple games with four-or-more field goal makes. He joins Andrew Wellock (2003-07) on that shortlist.

RIGHT ON, RYLAND: Junior kicker Chad Ryland continues to prove he is one of the best assets in the conference. Ryland was 5-for-5 on FG attempts against WMU, Nov. 16. After starting the season just 3-for-6, the Lebanon, Pa. native has hit his stride, knocking in his last 15 attempts. Ryland is now 16-for-19 on the season. He is sixth in the MAC in terms of points responsible for, with 96 on the season, while his 8.7 points per game average is eighth in the league.

WIN THE TURNOVER BATTLE: A common goal in Head Coach Chris Creighton's program, Eastern has won or tied (28 wins, 4 ties) the turnover battle in 32 of its last 34 victories under Creighton.

THREE-PEAT: EMU's win over Western Michigan gives the Eagles their first three-peat over the Broncos since EMU won in consecutive contests between the 2011-13 seasons. The current stretch marks only the third time in the 57 game history of the series that Eastern has won three games in a row. Prior to the 2011-13 streak, EMU has not beaten Western in three consecutive games since between 1989-91, respectively.

TAKING ADVANTAGE OF TAKEAWAYS: EMU has forced 15 turnovers in 2021, and has scored points off of 13 (9 touchdowns, 4 field goals). EMU has scored 75 points off those turnovers, twice as a direct result of the play, and 11 times in its subsequent offensive possession. The Eagles turned Western Michigan over twice, and scored the game-winning field goal off of the first, Nov. 16. EMU did not attempt to score off the second, as it was able to run out the clock and secure victory.

PASS ATTACK: EMU has had no shortage of creative scoring in 2021. Four different Eagles have thrown touchdown passes for the Green and White, the most in any year during the modern statistical era (1998-Pres.). Regular signal called Ben Bryant leads the way with 14 TD strikes, while running back Samson Evans has delivered three. Preston Hutchinson and Dylan Drummond have each tossed one.

BRYANT'S NATIONAL RANKINGS: Senior quarterback Ben Bryant ranks first in the MAC and 15th nationally with a 69 percent completion clip in 2021. His 2,700 yards passing ranks second in the league and 20th in the country, while his 245.2 passing yards per contest also sits at second in the MAC, and ranks 34th in the NCAA. Furthermore, he ranks fourth in the MAC with 247.2 yards of total offense per game average. If he keeps pace, 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.

CLOSING IN ON 3,000: Ben Bryant needs just 300 more yards through the air to reach the 3,000-yard plateau for the season. Only two other EMU signal callers have reached the rarified air - Charlie Batch (1997 - 3,280; 1995 - 3,177) and Mike Glass III (2019 - 3,169).

NEATHERY EARNS BROYLES AWARD NOMINATION: Associate Head Coach and Defensive Coordinator Neal Neathery has been named a nominee for the 2021 Frank Broyles Award, the Frank and Barbara Broyles Foundation announced Nov. 15.    The Broyles Award was created in 1996, recognizing Coach Frank Broyles' legacy of selecting and developing great assistants during his hall of fame career as head coach at Arkansas. Given annually to the nation's top assistant coach, the award will be presented for the 26th time in 2021. Overall, 59 nominees from across the nation were selected.

DRUMMOND, VAN HOEVEN EARN CoSIDA ACADEMIC ALL-DISTRICT HONORS: Recognized for success on and off the field, Eastern Michigan University football junior wide receiver Dylan Drummond and senior center Mike Van Hoeven earned 2021 Academic All-District honors, the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) announced Nov. 18. EMU was one of just two MAC programs to have multiple representatives on the all-district teams.
   Van Hoeven – who was a 2020 CoSIDA Academic All-American, one of just three in program history, becomes the first Eastern Michigan football student-athlete to be recognized four times in a career (2018-21). Meanwhile, Drummond is the first EMU wide receiver to collect the accolade since Blake Banham did it in 2018.

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 nine loose balls this season, which ranks second in the MAC and 18th nationally.

BALANCED PRODUCTION: Eastern Michigan's offense has been incredibly consistent from half to half this season. The Eagles have scored a total of 362 points this season, 174 of which have been registered in the first half of contest. EMU has scored 48 percent of its total points in the first half this season, and 52 percent in the second half of contests.

FIRST TIME FOR HUBBARD: Senior defensive back Jeff Hubbard recorded the first sack of his college career in the form of a sack assist with sophomore defensive lineman Mikey Haney against Western Michigan, Nov. 9.

CAREER DAY FOR HANEY: Defensive lineman Mikey Haney achieved a career-high 1.5 sacks against WMU, Nov. 16, which led the team against the Broncos. Prior to the game against Western, Haney had not recorded a sack since EMU's game vs. Miami, Oct. 9.

FIRST TIME FOR RUSS: Junior defensive back Russell Vaden IV, already the team and Mid-American Conference leader in interceptions (3), notched a new "first," against WMU, Nov. 16. The Louisville, Ky. native picked up his first-ever fumble recovery, late in the fourth quarter. The play was monumental, as Eastern was down, 21-19. The offense then drove and converted the game-winning field goal.

SMITH SEALS IT: Senior defensive lineman Mike Smith Jr. picked a good time to record his first career interception. The Lakeland, Fla. native hauled in a tipped ball with 2:24 left on the clock against Western Michigan, Nov. 16. The turnover was critical, as WMU was driving with a chance to take the lead. Ultimately, EMU ran out the clock for a 22-21 victory.

MOVING THE CHAINS: No team in the Mid-American Conference is more successful on third down than Eastern Michigan. As an offense, Eastern converts 45 percent (65-of-146) of its third down tries. That number ranks 35th in the nation. EMU was 2-of-14 in its most recent contest, against Western Michigan, Nov. 16.

HUGE DAY FOR HAMILTON: Senior running back Jawon Hamilton was electric against WMU, Nov. 16. He wrapped up his night with a career-high 179 yards on the ground, the best single-game total of any Eagle so far this season. Hamilton had a career-long rush of 60 yards, almost doubling his previous best of 32 yards on Nov. 2 at Toledo. The seniors' effort was the first 170+ yards game for an Eagle since Bronson Hill ran for 257 against Ohio, Oct. 19, 2013.

ANOTHER TEN FOR TERRY: Senior linebacker Terry Myrick has found his stride late in the season. One week after leading the team with 11 total tackles against Ohio, Nov. 9, the Austell, Ga. native again registered 11 tackles to lead the team, vs. Western Michigan, Nov. 16.

DEEP-SHOT DENNIS: Junior wide out Dennis Smith had a season-long 46-yard reception against Western Michigan, Nov. 16. Prior to the game against Western, Smith had only caught two previous passes, for 23 total yards. His 46-yarder accounts for 50 percent of his total receiving yards this season.

FOR THE FIRST TIME: Eastern Michigan won a game when trailing after the third quarter for the first time this season, when they did so against Western Michigan, Nov. 16. The Eagles came back from a 21-16 deficit to win, 22-21. EMU is now 1-4 this season when trailing after the third quarter.
   The Eagles are 4-3 in MAC play despite not having a single lead after a first quarter in MAC play.

EIGHT IN-A-ROW: Junior wide receiver Hassan Beydoun hauled in a team-high five receptions against Western Michigan, Nov. 16. Beydoun now has five-plus receptions in eight games this season for EMU.

HIGH-FLYING OFFENSE: Eastern Michigan's offense is the best scoring unit in the Mid-American Conference. Averaging 32.9 points per game, EMU has put up 362 total points on 45 touchdowns, 14 field goals, and 44 extra points. In total, 14 different Eagles have found the pay dirt in 2021, including five players who have scored multiple touchdowns. Sophomore Samson Evans leads all Eagles with 11 touchdowns.

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 penalties per game (3.64), second in fewest penalty yards per game (32.0), fifth in fewest penalties (40), and fifth in fewest penalty yards (351).

SPECIAL TEAMS SUCCESS: EMU's 42.55 net yards per punt ranks first in the MAC and 15th nationally. EMU is also one of only five teams in the league, and 73 teams in the nation, to have not allowed a blocked punt this season.

BLOCK PARTY: EMU's special teams once again proved clutch against Western Michigan, Nov. 16, as it blocked a 29-yard field goal. During the Chris Creighton era, Eastern has blocked 18 field goal or punts.

LET THE GOOD TIMES BOWL: With its 52-49 win over Toledo, Nov. 2, Eastern Michigan is bowl eligible for the fourth time in the previous five (full) seasons, and just the sixth time in program history. EMU has now claimed bowl eligibility in three consecutive seasons for the first time in program history (excluding COVID-shortened 2020 season).

CHIP DIP: EMU and CMU will meet on the gridiron for the 99th time in history between the two programs, with the Chippewas holding the series lead, 62-30-6. The EMU-CMU series is the longest-running rivalry between any two MAC schools.

LAST YEAR AGAINST CMU: Quarterback Preston Hutchinson was stellar, throwing for a career-best 365 yards on 23-of-37 passing while wide out Hassan Beydoun hauled in 10 catches for 100 yards, but EMU was unable to overcome the strong scoring of CMU, who emerged with a 31-23 win, Nov. 27, 2020.
   Defensively, five Eagles recorded double-digit stops, led by senior linebacker Terry Myrick with 17 total tackles. Despite having the ball with a chance to tie, EMU was unable to complete the comeback, as CMU picked off Hutchinson on the final drive of the game.

LAST TIME IN MOUNT PLEASANT: Big plays proved too much for Eastern as the Chippewas tallied three touchdowns of 60-or-more yards en route to 587 yards of offense in the 42-16 decision.
    Quarterback Mike Glass III paced the EMU offense with 206 yards of total offense, throwing for one touchdown, and running for his eighth-career rushing TD. Wide out Mathew Sexton contributed his second touchdown of the season, while then-junior defensive back Alvinoski LaFleur recorded his first-career interception.

A WIN WOULD: A win over Central Michigan would mark the first for Eastern Michigan inside Kelly-Shorts stadium since the 2011 season,when it defeated the Chippewas, 35-28, Oct. 15 of that year. EMU has emerged victorious in Mount Pleasant just three times since the turn of the century (2011, 2007, 2005).

ON THE HORIZON: With the regular season coming to a close, Eastern will now await its postseason bowl game selection. Game matchups will be announced Sunday, Dec. 5. Stay tuned to EMUEagles.com and @EMUFB on social media for the most up-to-date information.

Michigan MAC Trophy On the Line Friday, Nov. 26, as EMU Travels to CMU

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Players Mentioned

Hassan Beydoun

Ben Bryant

Dylan Drummond

Samson Evans

Jawon Hamilton

Mikey Haney

Jeff Hubbard

Preston Hutchinson

Alvinoski LaFleur

Terry Myrick

Chad Ryland

Dennis Smith

Russell Vaden IV

Mike Van Hoeven

Eastern Michigan Athletics