Eastern Michigan Athletics
Saturday, October 22
Muncie, Ind.
2 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
5-3 , 2-2
20
at
16
Ball State
4-4 , 2-2
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
Eastern Michigan
0
10
0
10
20
Ball State
0
7
9
0
16
Photo by: Walt Middleton Photography
Football Battles Back to Secure 20-16 Road Win at Ball State
10/22/2022 7:04:00 PM | Football
The Eagles will play Toledo, Oct. 29, for first place in the MAC West standings
Postgame Press Conference
Photo Gallery | Postgame Highlight Video
MUNCIE, Ind. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University football team used timely offense and high-caliber defense to earn a 20-16, Mid-American Conference road victory over Ball State University today, Oct. 22, at Scheumann Stadium.
The victory moves Eastern (5-3, 2-2 MAC) ahead of Ball State (4-4, 2-2 MAC) in the MAC West Division. The Eagles now have sole possession of second place via tiebreakers, and could overtake the University of Toledo for first place in the division with a win over the Rockets one week from today, Oct. 29.
The Eagles were led by sophomore quarterback Austin Smith (Ellenwood, Ga.-Cedar Grove), who completed 20-of-34 passes for a career-best 197 yards through the air. The Eastern Michigan defense was incredibly stout, allowing just 16 points (second-best total in 2022) while forcing three turnovers. Senior Joe Sparacio (Naples, Fla.-First Baptist Academy-Boston College) paced the team with 15 stops.
How it Happened
After three consecutive possessions without scores, two by EMU and one by BSU, it was the Cardinals that found the end zone first, with 14:56 left in the second quarter. Down, 7-0, Eastern responded, going 76 yards in 10 plays to knot things up at seven apiece.
With just four seconds remaining in the half, it was Eastern Michigan that took advantage. After quick-strike offense allowed the Eagles to move the ball into Ball State territory, sophomore place kicker Jesús Gómez (Puebla, Mexico-Prepa Tec Puebla) drilled a program-record-tying 55-yard field goal as time expired to move EMU in front, 10-7.
Down 16-13 in the fourth quarter, Eastern put together the last scoring drive of the contest. The Green and White used 2:58 to go 28 yards and find the pay dirt on a Smith rushing touchdown. One more defensive stop by the Eagles allowed EMU to secure the 20-16 decision.
Game Notes
» After two total receptions over EMU's fist five games, sophomore tight end Andreas Paaske (Copenhagen, Denmark-Søllerød Senior) has become a hot target for EMU during its last three contests. The second-year Eagle has a reception in each contest dating back to Eastern's game at Western Michigan University, Oct. 8, the first stretch of consecutive games with a catch in his career.
» Paaske finished the game with a career-best two receptions for 24 total yards, including 17 after the catch.
» The Eastern Michigan defense was stout to start the game against the Cardinals, forcing Ball State to punt on its first possession of the game. EMU has now stopped its opponent on the first drive of contests in six of its eight contests this season, forcing five punts and corralling one interception during those occurrences. Additionally, five of the six have been three-and-outs. Only the University at Buffalo, Sept. 24, and the University of Massachusetts, Oct. 1, have scored on their respective first drives.
» Eastern Michigan kept the Ball State offense off the scoreboard for the entirety of the first quarter. It marks the fifth time this season that EMU has held an opponent scoreless in the first 15 minutes of play, and the first time since the Eagles did so against Western Michigan University, Oct. 8. Last season, EMU only held opponents off the board in the first quarter three times in 13 games.
» After a season-low 2-of-13 on third-down conversions a week ago, against Northern Illinois University, Oct. 22, EMU needed just three third-down attempts to match that total number against the Cardinals. The Green and White converted two of its first three third-down tries to begin the game.
» Sophomore running back Bryson Moss (Newnan, Ga.-Newnan) had a drive to remember during Eastern's first possession of the second quarter. After a career-long eight-yard rush to help get the team close the red zone, it was moss who was handed the rock on the Ball State four-yard line with just under 11 minutes on the clock. After dodging a defender, Moss found the pay dirt. The score helped EMU tie the game, 7-7, and also goes down as Moss' first collegiate touchdown.
» Junior defensive lineman Mikah Coleman (Reynoldsburg, Ohio-Reynoldsburg) put forth a career-best effort in his first career start against Ball State. In addition to recording his first career sack, an eight-yard stop, in the second quarter, he finished with four total tackles, also a career-best. Prior to today's game, Coleman had four total tackles in 11 career games, including a previous personal-best two stops against Buffalo, Sept. 24.
» Sparacio was outstanding for Eastern Michigan. The first-year Eagle had a career-best day in tackles, finishing with a team-high 15 (3 solo, 12 assist). Prior to today's game, his previous career-best (including his three-year stint as Boston College University) was nine, set last week against NIU, Oct. 15. Sparacio also added his first career fumble recovery with 5:10 left in the second quarter and NIU inside the EMU 35-yard line. It was the team's first fumble recovery since Oct. 8 at WMU.
» Sophomore defensive back Quentavius Scandrett (Hampton, Ga.-Lovejoy) recorded his first career interception with 0:34 remaining in the first half. It was the third interception of the season for Eastern Michigan, its first since recording one against the University of Massachusetts, Oct. 1.
» Senior Hassan Beydoun (Dearborn, Mich.-Dearborn) was electric for the EMU offense in today's game. Beydoun led EMU with a season-high 10 receptions for 85 yards. It is the most receptions for Beydoun since he hauled in 11 in a game against Liberty University, Dec. 18, 2021 in the LendingTree Bowl. Beydoun now has five career games with 10+ catches.
» Gomez hit another personal milestone in today's game against Ball State. He drilled a career-long 55-yard field goal as time expired to give EMU a 10-7 advantage at the end of the first half. The kick ties the program record and is the longest for EMU since Chad Ryland hit from the same spot in the team's game against Ohio University, Nov. 9, 2021.
» Junior Sterling Miles (West Bloomfield, Mich.-West Bloomfield-Cincinnati) made a special teams mark yet again, this time against BSU. The first-year Eagle busted through to block his second PAT attempt of the season in the third quarter against the Cardinals. His previous block came against Buffalo, Sept. 24. He has the only two PAT blocks for the team this season, and two of the three during the Chris Creighton era (2014-Pres.).
» Senior defensive back Robert Daniel Jr. (Oak Park, Mich.-Oak Park) made one of the biggest plays of the game when he intercepted a Ball State pass with just over 10 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. The play was the second interception of his career, the first since he picked off a pass at Central Michigan University, Nov. 26, 2021.
» The EMU defense forced two interceptions in today's contest. It was the first multi-pick day for the Green and White since Nov. 19, 2019 at Northern Illinois. The Eagles forced three Huskie interceptions in that game.
» A. Smith threw for a career-high 197 yards on 20-of-34 passing. The 20 completions are also a new personal standard for the EMU signal caller. His previous best total in terms of pass yardage was 190 yards, which came against Buffalo, Sept. 24.
» Junior running back Darius Boone Jr. finished with a season-high 43 rushing yards against Ball State, the most of any non-EMU quarterback in the game. It is the most yards on the ground for Boone since he went for 51 against Liberty, Dec. 18, 2021.
Historical Notes
» The EMU-Ball State matchup has been characterized by high-scoring affairs as of late, which the two most recent games in the series prior to today finishing with a 38-31 tally. Today bucked that trend. EMU's 20 points is its fewest total in a win over the Cardinals since the 1998 season, when Eastern won 13-7 over BSU, Sept. 12.
» Gomez's kick as time expired in the first half ties a school record. Prior to today's game, EMU had twice made 55-yard field goal attempts. In addition to Ryland's in 2021, former Eagle Dylan Mulder also drilled from the same distance in a game at Miami University, Nov. 7, 2015.
» With today's win, Creighton now has 42 in his EMU tenure. He takes sole possession of the No. 4 spot in the all-time win count at the University, one ahead of Jim Harkema, who coached from 1983-92.
» With Miles' PAT block, Eastern Michigan has now blocked 20 kicks during the Creighton Era (2014-Pres.). Just the third overall PAT block of the nine-year stretch, Eastern Michigan has blocked at least one opponent kick in each season since 2014.
» EMU can move into sole possession of first place in the MAC West standings with a win over Toledo, Oct. 29. EMU is the only Mid-American Conference Institution to have never played in the MAC Championship game.
Up Next
EMU will battle Toledo at noon Saturday, Oct. 29. The game will be nationally televised on ESPNU.
Photo Gallery | Postgame Highlight Video
MUNCIE, Ind. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University football team used timely offense and high-caliber defense to earn a 20-16, Mid-American Conference road victory over Ball State University today, Oct. 22, at Scheumann Stadium.
The victory moves Eastern (5-3, 2-2 MAC) ahead of Ball State (4-4, 2-2 MAC) in the MAC West Division. The Eagles now have sole possession of second place via tiebreakers, and could overtake the University of Toledo for first place in the division with a win over the Rockets one week from today, Oct. 29.
The Eagles were led by sophomore quarterback Austin Smith (Ellenwood, Ga.-Cedar Grove), who completed 20-of-34 passes for a career-best 197 yards through the air. The Eastern Michigan defense was incredibly stout, allowing just 16 points (second-best total in 2022) while forcing three turnovers. Senior Joe Sparacio (Naples, Fla.-First Baptist Academy-Boston College) paced the team with 15 stops.
How it Happened
After three consecutive possessions without scores, two by EMU and one by BSU, it was the Cardinals that found the end zone first, with 14:56 left in the second quarter. Down, 7-0, Eastern responded, going 76 yards in 10 plays to knot things up at seven apiece.
With just four seconds remaining in the half, it was Eastern Michigan that took advantage. After quick-strike offense allowed the Eagles to move the ball into Ball State territory, sophomore place kicker Jesús Gómez (Puebla, Mexico-Prepa Tec Puebla) drilled a program-record-tying 55-yard field goal as time expired to move EMU in front, 10-7.
Down 16-13 in the fourth quarter, Eastern put together the last scoring drive of the contest. The Green and White used 2:58 to go 28 yards and find the pay dirt on a Smith rushing touchdown. One more defensive stop by the Eagles allowed EMU to secure the 20-16 decision.
Game Notes
» After two total receptions over EMU's fist five games, sophomore tight end Andreas Paaske (Copenhagen, Denmark-Søllerød Senior) has become a hot target for EMU during its last three contests. The second-year Eagle has a reception in each contest dating back to Eastern's game at Western Michigan University, Oct. 8, the first stretch of consecutive games with a catch in his career.
» Paaske finished the game with a career-best two receptions for 24 total yards, including 17 after the catch.
» The Eastern Michigan defense was stout to start the game against the Cardinals, forcing Ball State to punt on its first possession of the game. EMU has now stopped its opponent on the first drive of contests in six of its eight contests this season, forcing five punts and corralling one interception during those occurrences. Additionally, five of the six have been three-and-outs. Only the University at Buffalo, Sept. 24, and the University of Massachusetts, Oct. 1, have scored on their respective first drives.
» Eastern Michigan kept the Ball State offense off the scoreboard for the entirety of the first quarter. It marks the fifth time this season that EMU has held an opponent scoreless in the first 15 minutes of play, and the first time since the Eagles did so against Western Michigan University, Oct. 8. Last season, EMU only held opponents off the board in the first quarter three times in 13 games.
» After a season-low 2-of-13 on third-down conversions a week ago, against Northern Illinois University, Oct. 22, EMU needed just three third-down attempts to match that total number against the Cardinals. The Green and White converted two of its first three third-down tries to begin the game.
» Sophomore running back Bryson Moss (Newnan, Ga.-Newnan) had a drive to remember during Eastern's first possession of the second quarter. After a career-long eight-yard rush to help get the team close the red zone, it was moss who was handed the rock on the Ball State four-yard line with just under 11 minutes on the clock. After dodging a defender, Moss found the pay dirt. The score helped EMU tie the game, 7-7, and also goes down as Moss' first collegiate touchdown.
» Junior defensive lineman Mikah Coleman (Reynoldsburg, Ohio-Reynoldsburg) put forth a career-best effort in his first career start against Ball State. In addition to recording his first career sack, an eight-yard stop, in the second quarter, he finished with four total tackles, also a career-best. Prior to today's game, Coleman had four total tackles in 11 career games, including a previous personal-best two stops against Buffalo, Sept. 24.
» Sparacio was outstanding for Eastern Michigan. The first-year Eagle had a career-best day in tackles, finishing with a team-high 15 (3 solo, 12 assist). Prior to today's game, his previous career-best (including his three-year stint as Boston College University) was nine, set last week against NIU, Oct. 15. Sparacio also added his first career fumble recovery with 5:10 left in the second quarter and NIU inside the EMU 35-yard line. It was the team's first fumble recovery since Oct. 8 at WMU.
» Sophomore defensive back Quentavius Scandrett (Hampton, Ga.-Lovejoy) recorded his first career interception with 0:34 remaining in the first half. It was the third interception of the season for Eastern Michigan, its first since recording one against the University of Massachusetts, Oct. 1.
» Senior Hassan Beydoun (Dearborn, Mich.-Dearborn) was electric for the EMU offense in today's game. Beydoun led EMU with a season-high 10 receptions for 85 yards. It is the most receptions for Beydoun since he hauled in 11 in a game against Liberty University, Dec. 18, 2021 in the LendingTree Bowl. Beydoun now has five career games with 10+ catches.
» Gomez hit another personal milestone in today's game against Ball State. He drilled a career-long 55-yard field goal as time expired to give EMU a 10-7 advantage at the end of the first half. The kick ties the program record and is the longest for EMU since Chad Ryland hit from the same spot in the team's game against Ohio University, Nov. 9, 2021.
» Junior Sterling Miles (West Bloomfield, Mich.-West Bloomfield-Cincinnati) made a special teams mark yet again, this time against BSU. The first-year Eagle busted through to block his second PAT attempt of the season in the third quarter against the Cardinals. His previous block came against Buffalo, Sept. 24. He has the only two PAT blocks for the team this season, and two of the three during the Chris Creighton era (2014-Pres.).
» Senior defensive back Robert Daniel Jr. (Oak Park, Mich.-Oak Park) made one of the biggest plays of the game when he intercepted a Ball State pass with just over 10 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. The play was the second interception of his career, the first since he picked off a pass at Central Michigan University, Nov. 26, 2021.
» The EMU defense forced two interceptions in today's contest. It was the first multi-pick day for the Green and White since Nov. 19, 2019 at Northern Illinois. The Eagles forced three Huskie interceptions in that game.
» A. Smith threw for a career-high 197 yards on 20-of-34 passing. The 20 completions are also a new personal standard for the EMU signal caller. His previous best total in terms of pass yardage was 190 yards, which came against Buffalo, Sept. 24.
» Junior running back Darius Boone Jr. finished with a season-high 43 rushing yards against Ball State, the most of any non-EMU quarterback in the game. It is the most yards on the ground for Boone since he went for 51 against Liberty, Dec. 18, 2021.
Historical Notes
» The EMU-Ball State matchup has been characterized by high-scoring affairs as of late, which the two most recent games in the series prior to today finishing with a 38-31 tally. Today bucked that trend. EMU's 20 points is its fewest total in a win over the Cardinals since the 1998 season, when Eastern won 13-7 over BSU, Sept. 12.
» Gomez's kick as time expired in the first half ties a school record. Prior to today's game, EMU had twice made 55-yard field goal attempts. In addition to Ryland's in 2021, former Eagle Dylan Mulder also drilled from the same distance in a game at Miami University, Nov. 7, 2015.
» With today's win, Creighton now has 42 in his EMU tenure. He takes sole possession of the No. 4 spot in the all-time win count at the University, one ahead of Jim Harkema, who coached from 1983-92.
» With Miles' PAT block, Eastern Michigan has now blocked 20 kicks during the Creighton Era (2014-Pres.). Just the third overall PAT block of the nine-year stretch, Eastern Michigan has blocked at least one opponent kick in each season since 2014.
» EMU can move into sole possession of first place in the MAC West standings with a win over Toledo, Oct. 29. EMU is the only Mid-American Conference Institution to have never played in the MAC Championship game.
Up Next
EMU will battle Toledo at noon Saturday, Oct. 29. The game will be nationally televised on ESPNU.
Team Stats
EMU
BALL
Total Yards
348
292
Pass Yards
197
178
Rushing Yards
151
114
Penalty Yards
112
57
1st Downs
24
20
3rd Downs
10
6
4th Downs
1
0
TOP
37:09
22:51
2nd Quarter
EMU 0, BALL 7
BALL - Steele, Carson 8 yd pass from Paddock, John (VonGunten, Ben kick) 7 plays, 75 yards, TOP 1:57
EMU 7, BALL 7
EMU - MOSS, Bryson 4 yd run (GOMEZ, Jesus kick), 10 plays, 76 yards, TOP 3:54
EMU 10, BALL 7
EMU - GOMEZ, Jesus 55 yd field goal 4 plays, 18 yards, TOP 0:19
3rd Quarter
EMU 10, BALL 10
BALL - VonGunten, Ben 24 yd field goal 12 plays, 65 yards, TOP 4:41
EMU 10, BALL 16
BALL - Hunt, Brady 18 yd pass from Paddock, John (VonGunten, Ben kickblocked) 5 plays, 60 yards, TOP 1:46
4th Quarter
EMU 13, BALL 16
EMU - GOMEZ, Jesus 38 yd field goal 13 plays, 55 yards, TOP 8:05
EMU 20, BALL 16
EMU - SMITH, Austin 2 yd run (GOMEZ, Jesus kick), 8 plays, 28 yards, TOP 2:58
Game Leaders
Passing Leaders
CMP
20
TD
0
YDS
197
INT
0
Players Mentioned
WR
/ Football
RB
/ Football
DL
/ Football
DB
/ Football
DL
/ Football
RB
/ Football
TE
/ Football
K
/ Football
DB
/ FootballQB
/ Football
LB
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