Eastern Michigan Athletics
Saturday, September 25
Rynearson Stadium
2 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
3-1
59
vs
21
Texas State
1-3
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
Texas State
7
7
7
0
21
Eastern Michigan
14
14
10
21
59
Photo by: Walt Middleton Photography 2021
Historic Performance Propels Football Past Texas State, 59-21
9/25/2021 5:49:00 PM | Football
EMU's points scored (59) were the most over a non-conference FBS opponent
Photo Gallery
Postgame Highlight Video | Postgame Press Conference
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) --Seven different players scored touchdowns, led by two scores from sophomore Samson Evans (Crystal Lake, Ill.-Prairie Ridge (Iowa)), as the Eastern Michigan University football team routed Texas State University, 59-21, Saturday, Sept. 25, inside Rynearson Stadium.
The win improved Eastern Michigan's record to 3-1 on the season while the Bobcats fell to 1-3.
Senior quarterback Ben Bryant (La Grange, Ill.-Lyons Township (Cincinnati)) led Eastern Michigan's passing attack with 228 yards through the air, tossing three touchdowns without throwing an interception. The signal caller also added 52 yards and one touchdown on the ground.
Freshman Darius Boone Jr. (Tulsa, Okla.-Union) paced the Eagles' rushing attack by accumulating 86 yards over the course of the game, averaging 6.6 yards per carry. Senior Jawon Hamilton (Miami, Fla.-South Dade (James Madison)) also added 53 yards and one touchdown on the ground, averaging 5.3 yards per carry.
Junior wide out Dylan Drummond (Cleveland, Ohio-Cuyahoga Heights) reeled in five catches for 59 yards and one score. First-year Eagle Latrell Fordham (Davison, Mich.-Davison) got in on the action in the passing game as well, hauling in four balls for 58 yards and one touchdown. The Eagles also got 50 yards receiving from newcomer Zach Westmoreland (Joplin, Mo.-Joplin) in the contest.
Sophomore Robert Daniel Jr. (Oak Park, Mich.-Oak Park) showed out for the Eastern Michigan defense, totaling three tackles and one recovered fumble. Senior Turan Rush (Charleston West Side, W. Va.-Capital (Antelope Valley)) added five tackles, 3.5 TFL, and 1.5 sacks in the win.
The Eagles won the turnover battle in Saturday's game, forcing one turnover while avoiding any giveaways, with Eastern Michigan turning that takeaway into three points. Eastern Michigan put together a big showing on the ground, racking up 242 rushing yards while averaging 5.5 yards per carry and out-rushing Texas State by 130 yards. Eastern Michigan converted on 73.3 percent of third-down attempts going 11-for-15 on the day.
Eastern Michigan's defense was stout against the run, limiting Texas State to 112 yards on the ground. The Eagles defense disrupted Texas State's backfield all game, piling up four sacks and nine total tackles for loss.
Eastern Michigan's offense took advantage of its visits to the red zone, scoring on six of its six trips, with five of those scores being touchdowns.
How It Happened
Eastern Michigan put up 59 points on nine different scoring plays. The Eagles got on the board first, taking the lead for good at 7-0 with 8:06 left in the first quarter when Evans carried it for a four-yard touchdown run to end a 10-play, 66-yard drive. The Eagles then rode that lead to victory, increasing their advantage by 31 points along the way.
Game Notes
» Eastern Michigan won the turnover battle, 1-0, after recovering one fumble.
» The Eagles scored first with 8:06 remaining in the first quarter and never trailed the rest of the game on their way to victory.
» Eastern Michigan had their highest scoring quarter in the fourth period, when they put up 21 points.
» Eastern Michigan converted 11-of-15 third downs while Texas State was successful on 3-of-11.
» Eastern Michigan scored three fourth-quarter touchdowns.
» The Eagles totaled nine tackles for loss and added four sacks.
» Eastern Michigan won the time of possession battle 34:33 to 25:27.
» The Eagles ended the game on a strong note, scoring 31 unanswered points to close out the contest.
» Evans tallied his fifth touchdown of the season, which leads the team.
» Bryant rushed for 39 yards into the endzone for his first rushing touchdown in an Eagle uniform.
» Drummond pulled in a 12-yard catch for his first score of the 2021 season. The touchdown was the sixth receiving TD of his career.
» Senior tight end Thomas Odukoya (Almere, Netherlands-Helen Parkhurst (Garden City)) notched his first touchdown of the season off a 13-yard pass from Drummond. It was the first time since the 2018 season that an EMU non-quarterback threw for a TD. Former Eagle tight end Isaac Holder threw a 34-yard score to Bryce Kemp versus Monmouth, Aug.31, 2018.
» Hamilton rushed 22 yards into the endzone for his third EMU-career touchdown.
» Daniel Jr. recovered his first career fumble.
» Fordham caught a 24-yard pass from Bryant in the endzone for his first career touchdown.
» Junior wide out Hassan Beydoun (Dearborn, Mich.-Dearborn) pulled in a four-yard pass for his first TD of the season and the second of his career.
» Junior kicker Chad Ryland (Lebanon, Pa-Cedar Crest) tallied a career-high 597 kickoff yards (59.7 avg.) with four touchbacks.
» Freshman Austin Smith (Ellenwood, Ga.-Cedar Grove) made his collegiate debut as he appeared as the EMU quarterback with five minutes left in the game. The freshman completed a pass for 16 yards.
»The Eagle defense opened the contest with a Bobcat three-and-out, which is the first time this season EMU has held its opponents to a three-play drive to start a game.
Historical Notes
» Today's contest was the first meeting between the Eagles and Bobcats in program history.
» Eastern Michigan tallied 33 first downs against Texas State, which ranks third in the EMU record books for a single game. The last time EMU posted 30-or-more first downs was on Nov. 22, 2014, at Ball State.
» The Eagles threw four touchdown passes, which is tied for seventh in program history.
» EMU's 59 points scored is the most this season and ranks seventh in program history for a single game. The most points an Eastern team has scored was against Toledo A.A. with 76, Nov. 3, 1894.
» The 59 points is the most EMU has scored in a non-conference FBS game since the Green and White scored 51 points against UNLV, Sept. 16, 1995.
» With his final extra point of the game, Ryland passed former Eagle Justin Ventura (1995-98) for the all-time program record in point-after makes (114).
» Ryland's eight PAT makes are tied for the most in a single game in program history. The last player to hit the mark was Paulie Fricano, who did it versus Ball State, Nov. 15, 2017.
» EMU's 59 points scored are the fifth-most in program history at home, and the third most inside Rynearson Stadium, which is in its 53rd season of operation.
» Six former EMU student-athletes were enshrined in the E-Club Hall of Fame Friday, Sept. 24. The 2021 class was honored at halftime against Texas State.
» Former football player, Jason Jones was a member of this year's Hall of Fame class. Jones completed his four-year EMU career with an outstanding senior season (2007) when he led the Mid-American Conference in tackles-for-loss with 1.63 per game. He also ranks second in EMU history with 50.0 TFLs and seventh in sacks with 14.0.
Up Next
»Eastern Michigan will begin its 45th year as part of the Mid-American Conference, when the Eagles travel to DeKalb, Ill. to take on Northern Illinois University Saturday, Oct. 2.
»The contest is slated to begin at 1:30 p.m. CT (2:30 ET) on ESPN+ inside NIU's Huskie Stadium.
Postgame Highlight Video | Postgame Press Conference
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) --Seven different players scored touchdowns, led by two scores from sophomore Samson Evans (Crystal Lake, Ill.-Prairie Ridge (Iowa)), as the Eastern Michigan University football team routed Texas State University, 59-21, Saturday, Sept. 25, inside Rynearson Stadium.
The win improved Eastern Michigan's record to 3-1 on the season while the Bobcats fell to 1-3.
Senior quarterback Ben Bryant (La Grange, Ill.-Lyons Township (Cincinnati)) led Eastern Michigan's passing attack with 228 yards through the air, tossing three touchdowns without throwing an interception. The signal caller also added 52 yards and one touchdown on the ground.
Freshman Darius Boone Jr. (Tulsa, Okla.-Union) paced the Eagles' rushing attack by accumulating 86 yards over the course of the game, averaging 6.6 yards per carry. Senior Jawon Hamilton (Miami, Fla.-South Dade (James Madison)) also added 53 yards and one touchdown on the ground, averaging 5.3 yards per carry.
Junior wide out Dylan Drummond (Cleveland, Ohio-Cuyahoga Heights) reeled in five catches for 59 yards and one score. First-year Eagle Latrell Fordham (Davison, Mich.-Davison) got in on the action in the passing game as well, hauling in four balls for 58 yards and one touchdown. The Eagles also got 50 yards receiving from newcomer Zach Westmoreland (Joplin, Mo.-Joplin) in the contest.
Sophomore Robert Daniel Jr. (Oak Park, Mich.-Oak Park) showed out for the Eastern Michigan defense, totaling three tackles and one recovered fumble. Senior Turan Rush (Charleston West Side, W. Va.-Capital (Antelope Valley)) added five tackles, 3.5 TFL, and 1.5 sacks in the win.
The Eagles won the turnover battle in Saturday's game, forcing one turnover while avoiding any giveaways, with Eastern Michigan turning that takeaway into three points. Eastern Michigan put together a big showing on the ground, racking up 242 rushing yards while averaging 5.5 yards per carry and out-rushing Texas State by 130 yards. Eastern Michigan converted on 73.3 percent of third-down attempts going 11-for-15 on the day.
Eastern Michigan's defense was stout against the run, limiting Texas State to 112 yards on the ground. The Eagles defense disrupted Texas State's backfield all game, piling up four sacks and nine total tackles for loss.
Eastern Michigan's offense took advantage of its visits to the red zone, scoring on six of its six trips, with five of those scores being touchdowns.
How It Happened
Eastern Michigan put up 59 points on nine different scoring plays. The Eagles got on the board first, taking the lead for good at 7-0 with 8:06 left in the first quarter when Evans carried it for a four-yard touchdown run to end a 10-play, 66-yard drive. The Eagles then rode that lead to victory, increasing their advantage by 31 points along the way.
Game Notes
» Eastern Michigan won the turnover battle, 1-0, after recovering one fumble.
» The Eagles scored first with 8:06 remaining in the first quarter and never trailed the rest of the game on their way to victory.
» Eastern Michigan had their highest scoring quarter in the fourth period, when they put up 21 points.
» Eastern Michigan converted 11-of-15 third downs while Texas State was successful on 3-of-11.
» Eastern Michigan scored three fourth-quarter touchdowns.
» The Eagles totaled nine tackles for loss and added four sacks.
» Eastern Michigan won the time of possession battle 34:33 to 25:27.
» The Eagles ended the game on a strong note, scoring 31 unanswered points to close out the contest.
» Evans tallied his fifth touchdown of the season, which leads the team.
» Bryant rushed for 39 yards into the endzone for his first rushing touchdown in an Eagle uniform.
» Drummond pulled in a 12-yard catch for his first score of the 2021 season. The touchdown was the sixth receiving TD of his career.
» Senior tight end Thomas Odukoya (Almere, Netherlands-Helen Parkhurst (Garden City)) notched his first touchdown of the season off a 13-yard pass from Drummond. It was the first time since the 2018 season that an EMU non-quarterback threw for a TD. Former Eagle tight end Isaac Holder threw a 34-yard score to Bryce Kemp versus Monmouth, Aug.31, 2018.
» Hamilton rushed 22 yards into the endzone for his third EMU-career touchdown.
» Daniel Jr. recovered his first career fumble.
» Fordham caught a 24-yard pass from Bryant in the endzone for his first career touchdown.
» Junior wide out Hassan Beydoun (Dearborn, Mich.-Dearborn) pulled in a four-yard pass for his first TD of the season and the second of his career.
» Junior kicker Chad Ryland (Lebanon, Pa-Cedar Crest) tallied a career-high 597 kickoff yards (59.7 avg.) with four touchbacks.
» Freshman Austin Smith (Ellenwood, Ga.-Cedar Grove) made his collegiate debut as he appeared as the EMU quarterback with five minutes left in the game. The freshman completed a pass for 16 yards.
»The Eagle defense opened the contest with a Bobcat three-and-out, which is the first time this season EMU has held its opponents to a three-play drive to start a game.
Historical Notes
» Today's contest was the first meeting between the Eagles and Bobcats in program history.
» Eastern Michigan tallied 33 first downs against Texas State, which ranks third in the EMU record books for a single game. The last time EMU posted 30-or-more first downs was on Nov. 22, 2014, at Ball State.
» The Eagles threw four touchdown passes, which is tied for seventh in program history.
» EMU's 59 points scored is the most this season and ranks seventh in program history for a single game. The most points an Eastern team has scored was against Toledo A.A. with 76, Nov. 3, 1894.
» The 59 points is the most EMU has scored in a non-conference FBS game since the Green and White scored 51 points against UNLV, Sept. 16, 1995.
» With his final extra point of the game, Ryland passed former Eagle Justin Ventura (1995-98) for the all-time program record in point-after makes (114).
» Ryland's eight PAT makes are tied for the most in a single game in program history. The last player to hit the mark was Paulie Fricano, who did it versus Ball State, Nov. 15, 2017.
» EMU's 59 points scored are the fifth-most in program history at home, and the third most inside Rynearson Stadium, which is in its 53rd season of operation.
» Six former EMU student-athletes were enshrined in the E-Club Hall of Fame Friday, Sept. 24. The 2021 class was honored at halftime against Texas State.
» Former football player, Jason Jones was a member of this year's Hall of Fame class. Jones completed his four-year EMU career with an outstanding senior season (2007) when he led the Mid-American Conference in tackles-for-loss with 1.63 per game. He also ranks second in EMU history with 50.0 TFLs and seventh in sacks with 14.0.
Up Next
»Eastern Michigan will begin its 45th year as part of the Mid-American Conference, when the Eagles travel to DeKalb, Ill. to take on Northern Illinois University Saturday, Oct. 2.
»The contest is slated to begin at 1:30 p.m. CT (2:30 ET) on ESPN+ inside NIU's Huskie Stadium.
Team Stats
TXST
EMU
Total Yards
299
499
Pass Yards
187
257
Rushing Yards
112
242
Penalty Yards
95
5
1st Downs
18
33
3rd Downs
3
11
4th Downs
1
0
TOP
25:27
34:33
1st Quarter
TXST 0, EMU 7
EMU - EVANS, Samson 4 yd run (RYLAND, Chad kick), 10 plays, 66 yards, TOP 4:47
TXST 0, EMU 14
EMU - BRYANT, Ben 39 yd run (RYLAND, Chad kick), 6 plays, 85 yards, TOP 2:12
TXST 7, EMU 14
TXST - Banks,Javen 5 yd pass from McBride,Brady (Keller,Seth kick) 5 plays, 38 yards, TOP 1:37
2nd Quarter
TXST 7, EMU 21
EMU - DRUMMOND, Dylan 12 yd pass from BRYANT, Ben (RYLAND, Chad kick) 8 plays, 74 yards, TOP 3:01
TXST 7, EMU 28
EMU - ODUKOYA, Thomas 13 yd pass from DRUMMOND, Dylan (RYLAND, Chad kick) 7 plays, 55 yards, TOP 2:32
TXST 14, EMU 28
TXST - Graham, Jr.,Tre 29 yd pass from McBride,Brady (Keller,Seth kick) 8 plays, 75 yards, TOP 1:50
3rd Quarter
TXST 21, EMU 28
TXST - Banks,Javen 29 yd pass from McBride,Brady (Keller,Seth kick) 6 plays, 76 yards, TOP 2:42
TXST 21, EMU 35
EMU - HAMILTON, Jawon 22 yd run (RYLAND, Chad kick), 6 plays, 57 yards, TOP 2:35
TXST 21, EMU 38
EMU - RYLAND, Chad 36 yd field goal 5 plays, 12 yards, TOP 2:32
4th Quarter
TXST 21, EMU 45
EMU - FORDHAM, L. 24 yd pass from BRYANT, Ben (RYLAND, Chad kick) 7 plays, 66 yards, TOP 3:05
TXST 21, EMU 52
EMU - BEYDOUN, Hassan 4 yd pass from BRYANT, Ben (RYLAND, Chad kick) 5 plays, 27 yards, TOP 2:19
TXST 21, EMU 59
EMU - EVANS, Samson 2 yd run (RYLAND, Chad kick), 9 plays, 54 yards, TOP 5:44
Game Leaders
Players Mentioned
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