Eastern Michigan Athletics
Saturday, October 29
Ypsilanti, Mich.
12 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
vs
Toledo
EMU and Toledo Square Off With Division Implications On The Line
10/24/2022 1:20:00 PM | Football
Game 9 • Oct. 29, 2022 • 12 p.m. • Ypsilanti, Mich. • Rynearson Stadium (30,200)
| Football vs. Toledo | |
| Date | Saturday, Oct. 29 | 12 p.m. ET |
| Venue | Ypsilanti, Mich. | Rynearson Stadium |
| Preview Info | EMU Notes | Media Guide | Press Conference Video |
| Live Stats | Fan Stats | Media Stats |
| Watch | ESPNU |
| Listen | WEMU (89.1 WEMU-FM) | The Varsity Network App | Eastern Insider Podcast |
| @EMUFB | @EMUAthletics | |
| Attendance Info | Purchase Tickets - Help Fill The Factory |
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University football team is set to return home for one of the most high-stakes games in its recent history as it welcomes the University of Toledo to town for a nationally-televised showdown Saturday, Oct. 29, inside "The Factory" at Rynearson Stadium. The game will kick off at noon.
Eastern Michigan (5-3, 2-2 MAC) is looking to build on the momentum from a 20-16 road triumph at Ball State University, Oct. 22. Meanwhile, the Rockets (5-3, 3-1 MAC) hope to bounce back after a 34-27 setback on the road at the University at Buffalo on the same day.
The game will be aired nationally on ESPNU where Jay Alter and Dustin Fox will be in the booth. The game can be heard on both WEMU (89.1 FM) and the Varsity Network app with Tom Helmer (play-by-play) and Rob Rubick (analyst) providing the entertainment.
AN EMU WIN WOULD: A win would lift Eastern Michigan into a tie for first place in the Mid-American Conference West Division standings. Moreover, it would give EMU a tie break advantage over the Rockets in the event the two programs finished the regular season with the same league record. Although four games still remain in the regular season, Eastern hopes to position itself for a run to the MAC Championship game. EMU is the only conference member to have never made an appearance in the annual event.
Eastern's lone conference championship came in 1987, when the then-Hurons went 10-2 overall, including a 7-2 mark in MAC play, en route to the title.
ONE MORE FOR A BOWL: A win over Toledo would give Eastern Michigan bowl eligibility for the fifth time in the previous six full seasons, and just the seventh time in program history. A win would also give EMU bowl eligibility in four consecutive seasons for the first time in program history (excluding COVID-shortened 2020 season).
HALL OF FAME: The EMU-UT game will be part of EMU's annual Hall of Fame Weekend. Alums Autumn Bragg (Women's Swimming & Diving), Carrie Gould Hatfield (Women's Track & Field and Cross Country), T.J. Lang (Football), and Carl E. Lowe (Men's Track & Field) will all be enshrined. This year's class will mark the 46th anniversary of the E-Club Athletic Hall of Fame with a ceremony Friday, Oct. 28, at 6 p.m. The Class of 2022 will then be recognized during halftime of the game.
Lang earned four letters in football at EMU from 2005-08. He started his EMU career on the defensive line (2005) and then moved to the offensive line (2006). Lang served as team captain for the 2008 season and earned Second Team All-MAC in 2008 and ranks 11th on EMU's all-time list for games played (47) and 14th for game started (37). He was selected in the fourth round, 109th overall pick, of the 2009 NFL Draft by the Green Bay Packers. Lang played 10 years in the NFL for the Green Bay Packers (2009-16) and the Detroit Lions (2017-18). He earned a Super Bowl ring in 2011 and was a two-time NFL Pro-Bowl Selection (2017 and 2018).
DIALING DR. NEATHERY: Defensive Coordinator Neal Neathery has made significant adjustments to the EMU defense over its last four games, and the statistics show. Eastern has improved in every major statistical category, most notably in points allowed, and opponent passing yardage.
FAST TO FIVE: EMU has five wins in its first eight games for the 37th time in its 131-season history. Just eight of those hot starts have come since Eastern began play as a member of the Mid-American Conference in 1976. In its time as a MAC member, just 12 EMU teams have reached five-or-more wins for the entirety of a season. Chris Creighton has led six of those teams, including this year's squad.
ANOTHER "FIRST" UNDER CREIGHTON: EMU is off to a 5-3 start for the second consecutive season. Prior to the 2021 campaign, EMU had not started 5-3 since the 2016 season. EMU has won five of its first eight games three times under ninth-year Head Coach Chris Creighton. Before Creighton's arrival, the Green and White had not accomplished the feat since the 1995 season.
BACK-TO-BACK WITH MULTIPLE SACKS: Senior defensive end Jose Ramirez contributed two sacks against Northern Illinois, Oct. 15. He has recorded multiple sacks in back-to-back games (recorded program-record four at Western Michigan, Oct. 15) for the first time in his career. Ramirez did not play in EMU's most recent game, at Ball State, Oct. 22.
Ramirez is averaging 1.0 sacks per game this season, which leads the nation.
JESUS HOLDS THE RECORD: Sophomore kicker Jesus Gomez hit an impressive personal and program milestone against Ball State. He drilled a career-long 55-yard field goal as time expired in the first half to give EMU a 10-7 advantage after 30 minutes. 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, Nov. 9, 2021. Dylan Mulder also drilled from the same distance in a game at Miami, Nov. 7, 2015. Gomez's kick is tied with just two others as the second-longest field goal make in the NCAA this season. The longest make in the NCAA this season is 56 yards, netted by Missouri's Harrison Mevis. Gomez is now 8-of-10 on the season in field goal attempts. He is one of just five players in the league to be converting at an 80-percent clip this season.
GOT THE MILES MAGIC: Junior Sterling Miles made a special teams mark yet again, this time against BSU, Oct. 22. 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. His two blocks rank second nationally. With Miles' PAT block, Eastern Michigan has now blocked 20 kicks during the Chris Creighton era (2014-present). 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.
STAND TALL AND PROTECT THE BALL: Eastern Michigan did not relinquish a turnover against Ball State, Oct. 22, the first game of the 2022 season in which the Eagles did not surrender the ball at any point to its opponent. In fact, the game against the Cardinals is the first game for Eastern Michigan without a turnover since Nov. 16, 2021, when EMU bested Western Michigan 2-0 in the turnover battle and defeated the Broncos, 22-21.
BEYDOUN BOUNCES BACK: Senior wideout Hassan Beydoun was electric for the EMU offense in its game at Ball State. 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, Dec. 18, 2021 in the LendingTree Bowl. Beydoun now has five career games with 10+ catches. Prior to the contest in Muncie, Beydoun had just 19 receptions of the season. His effort at Ball State accounts for 34 percent of his total receptions this season (29), and 29 percent of his total yardage (297).
FANTASTIC FOUR: Senior wideout Hassan Beydoun has become part of an elite group at Eastern Michigan: The 2,000-yard receiving club. With 2,169 yards through the air in his career, Beydoun is just one of four players to cross into that territory. He currently ranks third all-time in program history, behind Kevin Walter (2,838 yards from 1999-02) and Eric Deslauriers (3,250 yards from 2003-06).
SMITH STARTS AND DELIVERS: Sophomore quarterback Austin Smith got the starting nod for the Green and White against Ball State, Oct. 22. His third start of the season for the Green and White saw Smith throw for a career-high 197 yards on 20-of-34 passing. The 20 completions are also a 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. Smith added a team-high 52 yards on the ground for Eastern against the Cardinals. He has 218 yards rushing during the 2022 campaign, which ranks third on the team and first among non-running backs. Smith is 19th in the league among players at all positions with a 36.3 rushing yards per game average this season - that number is third among quarterbacks.
EFFICIENT OFFENSE: Eastern Michigan's offense has scored 20+ points in eight of its last nine games, including a stretch of seven consecutive games dating between Dec. 18, 2021, against Liberty in the LendingTree Bowl, and Oct. 8, 2022, at Western Michigan. The best stretch of consecutive 20+-point games under Chris Creighton came between Oct. 26, 2017-Nov. 3, 2018, when the Eagles accomplished the feat in 14 straight games.
BACK ON TRACK IN THE RED ZONE: One week after failing to get into the red zone (for the first time since 2014), the EMU offense bounced back against Ball State, Oct. 22. The Eagles were a perfect 3-for-3 when getting inside the Cardinal 20-yard line Saturday, bringing their season total to 28-for-29, which equates to
97 percent. That number is the best of any team in the Mid-American Conference and fifth nationally.
NO STRANGER TO CLOSE GAMES: Eastern Michigan (and its fans) have become accustomed to close games over the last several years. As of Oct. 22, a total of 37 of EMU's last 44 MAC games (34%) and 53 of its last 68 (78%) games overall have either been a win or a one-possession loss. The trend held strong against Ball State, where EMU won, 20-16.
PAASKE PEAKING: After two total receptions over EMU's first five games, sophomore tight end Andreas Paaske 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, 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.
I LIKE BIG PUNTS: 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 Buffalo, Sept. 24, and Massachusetts, Oct. 1, have scored on their respective first drives.
NO SOUP FOR YOU: 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, Oct. 8. Last season, EMU only held opponents off the board in the first quarter three times in 13 games.
BACK ON TRACK: After a season-low 2-of-13 on third-down conversions a week ago against Northern Illinois, Oct. 15, EMU needed just three third-down attempts to match that total number against the Cardinals of Ball State. The Green and White converted two of its first three third-down tries to begin the game, and finished the contest at a 9-of-16 mark. The 56.3-percent rate of conversion marks the fourth time the Eagles have moved the chains on third down at a better than 55 percent rate this season. The Eagles are 49-of-102 (48%) on third-down tries this season, which ranks first in the MAC and 25th nationally.
MOVING AWAY FROM THE TREND: The EMU-Ball State match up has been characterized by high-scoring affairs as of late, which the two most recent games in the series prior to last week finishing with a 38-31 tally. The Oct. 22 meeting 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.
BRYSON BROUGHT IT: Sophomore running back Bryson Moss had a drive to remember during Eastern's first possession of the second quarter at Ball State, Oct. 22. After a career-long eight-yard rush to 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 pay dirt. The score helped EMU tie the game, 7-7, and also goes down as Moss' first collegiate touchdown.
WE LIKA MIKAH: Junior defensive lineman Mikah Coleman put forth a career-best effort in his first career start, against Ball State, Oct. 22. 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 last week's game Coleman had four total tackles in 11 career games, including a previous personal-best two stops against Buffalo, Sept. 24.
SAY IT AIN'T JOE: Senior linebacker Joe Sparacio was outstanding for Eastern Michigan against Ball State. The first-year Eagle had a career-best day in tackles, finishing with a team-high 15 (3 solo, 12 assisted). Prior to last week's game, his previous career-best (including his three-year stint at Boston College) was nine, set 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.
SCANDRETT SEES IT IN: Sophomore defensive back Quentavius Scandrett recorded his first career interception with 0:34 remaining in the first half in Eastern's game at Ball State. It was the third interception of the season for Eastern Michigan, its first since recording one against Massachusetts, Oct. 1.
ROBBED BY ROBERT: Senior defensive back Robert Daniel Jr. 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 of EMU's 20-16 win over the Cardinals. The play was the second interception of his career, the first since he picked off a pass at Central Michigan, Nov. 26, 2021.
FIRST TIME SINCE 2019: The EMU defense forced two interceptions against Ball State, Oct. 22. 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.
WIN THE TURNOVER BATTLE: A common goal in Head Coach Chris Creighton's program, Eastern has won or tied (29 wins, 7 ties) the turnover battle in 36 of its last 39 victories under Creighton. The trend held in EMU's latest win, a 20-16 victory over Ball State, Oct. 22. Eastern forced three turnovers against the Cardinals, and never surrendered the ball.
THE CREIGHTON DIFFERENCE: Head Coach Chris Creighton has won nearly 50 percent (39-of-80) of his games since the start of the 2016 season. In the three seasons prior to his arrival in Ypsilanti, the Eagles were victorious in just 28 percent (10-of-36) of their games.
ALL ALONE IN FOURTH: With his win at Ball State, Oct. 22, EMU Head Coach Chris 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.
Creighton will match another Harkema milestone against Toledo; It will mark his 103rd game as the bench boss at Eastern Michigan, which will tie Harkema for the third-most games coached in program history. Elton J. Rynearson paces that category with 187 games at the helm of the program.
SERVED BY SAMSON: Senior Samson Evans is off to a great start through seven games in 2022. One of the most consistently good backs in the nation, he currently ranks 34th in the nation with 634 rushing yards. He is fourth in the MAC and 31st in the country with a 91 rushing yards per game average. Additionally, Evans ranks seventh in the MAC in all-purpose yards, where he has averaged 101 per game in 2022.
BEAT THE DRUM(MOND): Dylan Drummond is among the nation's most impactful wideouts. After one reception at Ball State, Oct. 22, the Cleveland, Ohio, native now has 164 for his career, which ranks 28th among all active FBS players (teammate Hassan Beydoun ranks 8th with 196). Additionally, he has recorded a reception in 36 consecutive games, which is fourth-best among active FBS players.
Last season, Drummond had 64 catches for 704 yards and a team-best six receiving touchdowns - a number that ranks tied for 10th all-time in a single season at EMU. Drummond now has 12 career receiving touchdowns, tied for fifth-most in EMU history.
IT'S BEEN HOW LONG?: Last season, Eastern Michigan overcame a program drought against Toledo, capturing its first victory inside Toledo's home venue, the Glass Bowl, since the 1998 season with a thrilling, 52-49 outcome over the Rockets, Nov. 2. EMU will try to add to the accomplishments this year. If the Eagles can best UT, it will mark the first consecutive wins for the program over its border-state rival since the 1998-99 seasons, respectively.
ALL-TIME VS TOLEDO: The contest on Saturday will mark the 50th meeting between EMU and Toledo. The two programs met on the gridiron for the first time in 1923. The Rockets lead the all-time head-to-head series against the Eagles 36-13. Despite the record, the Eagles prevailed in the last meeting between the two schools. Recently, EMU split the last four meetings with UT, dating back to 2017.
LAST TIME VS THE ROCKETS: The last time the two programs met, EMU defeated Toledo, 52-49, inside UT's Glass Bowl, Nov. 3, 2021. The victory gave Eastern its sixth win on the season making the Eagles bowl eligible for the fourth time under Head Coach Chris Creighton and the sixth time in program history.
EMU's wideout duo of Hassan Beydoun and Tanner Knue each had impressive performances in the victory. Beydoun caught 12 passes for 197 yards (both career highs) and two scores while Knue hauled in six passes for 55 yards and one touchdown.
LAST TIME AT THE FACTORY: Quarterback Preston Hutchison completed 25-of-38 pass attempts for 244 yards and four touchdowns while Hassan Beydoun grabbed eight receptions for 64 yards, but ultimately, the Rockets proved too strong in a 45-28 decision, Nov. 18, 2020.
Down 14-0, EMU rallied to make it 14-7 early in the second quarter. Toledo took over from there, as it held a 24-7 lead heading into the break. EMU was never able to catch up, matching Toledo in total points (21) in the second half.
CLOSE CONNECTIONS: The Eastern Michigan athletic department has multiple staff members with ties to the Rockets. Associate Athletic Director/Sports Medicine Gretchen Fox spent eight years at Toledo (2009-18), most recently serving as the Rocket' assistant director of sports medicine and associate head athletic trainer. Fox went on to earn her second master's degree in business administration from Toledo (2016).
Assistant Director of Sports Medicine/Associate Head Athletic Trainer Katie Marttila earned her bachelor's degree from Toledo in 2010. Additionally, Assistant Athletic Trainer Steven Berning earned his bachelor's from the university in 2014 before arriving in Ypsilanti. Also, EMU's Director of Facilities and Event Operations, Kevin Fischer, joined the department in the fall of 2022 after serving as an equipment manager at UT.
On the Rockets' end of the equation, their Associate AD for Communications, Paul Helgren, has deep EMU roots. He served EMU as an assistant media relations director and was later promoted to director of promotions and ticket sales.
THE ESPNU SNAFU: Eastern Michigan is no stranger to playing in front of a national audience on ESPNU. The game against Toledo will mark the program's 13th all-time appearance on the network since its founding in 2005. Eastern, however, has never won a game when it has been aired on the network. The Eagles most recently played on ESPNU during the 2021 campaign, in a road contest at Central Michigan, Nov. 26. The Chippewas bested Eastern, 31-10, in that game.
Eastern has never faced Toledo in a game broadcast on ESPNU, however, the Eagles and Rockets have squared off on ESPN2 (2021).
CHECKING IN ON THE PAC-12: According to ESPN's Chris Falica, PAC-12 home favorites are 30-1 this year as of Oct. 22. The lone loss? EMU's 31-20 triumph over Arizona State, Sept. 17.
ON THE HORIZON: Eastern will begin its final road stretch of the season with a Tuesday night, Nov. 8 #MACtion contest at Akron inside InfoCision Stadium.
Eastern Michigan (5-3, 2-2 MAC) is looking to build on the momentum from a 20-16 road triumph at Ball State University, Oct. 22. Meanwhile, the Rockets (5-3, 3-1 MAC) hope to bounce back after a 34-27 setback on the road at the University at Buffalo on the same day.
The game will be aired nationally on ESPNU where Jay Alter and Dustin Fox will be in the booth. The game can be heard on both WEMU (89.1 FM) and the Varsity Network app with Tom Helmer (play-by-play) and Rob Rubick (analyst) providing the entertainment.
AN EMU WIN WOULD: A win would lift Eastern Michigan into a tie for first place in the Mid-American Conference West Division standings. Moreover, it would give EMU a tie break advantage over the Rockets in the event the two programs finished the regular season with the same league record. Although four games still remain in the regular season, Eastern hopes to position itself for a run to the MAC Championship game. EMU is the only conference member to have never made an appearance in the annual event.
Eastern's lone conference championship came in 1987, when the then-Hurons went 10-2 overall, including a 7-2 mark in MAC play, en route to the title.
ONE MORE FOR A BOWL: A win over Toledo would give Eastern Michigan bowl eligibility for the fifth time in the previous six full seasons, and just the seventh time in program history. A win would also give EMU bowl eligibility in four consecutive seasons for the first time in program history (excluding COVID-shortened 2020 season).
HALL OF FAME: The EMU-UT game will be part of EMU's annual Hall of Fame Weekend. Alums Autumn Bragg (Women's Swimming & Diving), Carrie Gould Hatfield (Women's Track & Field and Cross Country), T.J. Lang (Football), and Carl E. Lowe (Men's Track & Field) will all be enshrined. This year's class will mark the 46th anniversary of the E-Club Athletic Hall of Fame with a ceremony Friday, Oct. 28, at 6 p.m. The Class of 2022 will then be recognized during halftime of the game.
Lang earned four letters in football at EMU from 2005-08. He started his EMU career on the defensive line (2005) and then moved to the offensive line (2006). Lang served as team captain for the 2008 season and earned Second Team All-MAC in 2008 and ranks 11th on EMU's all-time list for games played (47) and 14th for game started (37). He was selected in the fourth round, 109th overall pick, of the 2009 NFL Draft by the Green Bay Packers. Lang played 10 years in the NFL for the Green Bay Packers (2009-16) and the Detroit Lions (2017-18). He earned a Super Bowl ring in 2011 and was a two-time NFL Pro-Bowl Selection (2017 and 2018).
DIALING DR. NEATHERY: Defensive Coordinator Neal Neathery has made significant adjustments to the EMU defense over its last four games, and the statistics show. Eastern has improved in every major statistical category, most notably in points allowed, and opponent passing yardage.
FAST TO FIVE: EMU has five wins in its first eight games for the 37th time in its 131-season history. Just eight of those hot starts have come since Eastern began play as a member of the Mid-American Conference in 1976. In its time as a MAC member, just 12 EMU teams have reached five-or-more wins for the entirety of a season. Chris Creighton has led six of those teams, including this year's squad.
ANOTHER "FIRST" UNDER CREIGHTON: EMU is off to a 5-3 start for the second consecutive season. Prior to the 2021 campaign, EMU had not started 5-3 since the 2016 season. EMU has won five of its first eight games three times under ninth-year Head Coach Chris Creighton. Before Creighton's arrival, the Green and White had not accomplished the feat since the 1995 season.
BACK-TO-BACK WITH MULTIPLE SACKS: Senior defensive end Jose Ramirez contributed two sacks against Northern Illinois, Oct. 15. He has recorded multiple sacks in back-to-back games (recorded program-record four at Western Michigan, Oct. 15) for the first time in his career. Ramirez did not play in EMU's most recent game, at Ball State, Oct. 22.
Ramirez is averaging 1.0 sacks per game this season, which leads the nation.
JESUS HOLDS THE RECORD: Sophomore kicker Jesus Gomez hit an impressive personal and program milestone against Ball State. He drilled a career-long 55-yard field goal as time expired in the first half to give EMU a 10-7 advantage after 30 minutes. 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, Nov. 9, 2021. Dylan Mulder also drilled from the same distance in a game at Miami, Nov. 7, 2015. Gomez's kick is tied with just two others as the second-longest field goal make in the NCAA this season. The longest make in the NCAA this season is 56 yards, netted by Missouri's Harrison Mevis. Gomez is now 8-of-10 on the season in field goal attempts. He is one of just five players in the league to be converting at an 80-percent clip this season.
GOT THE MILES MAGIC: Junior Sterling Miles made a special teams mark yet again, this time against BSU, Oct. 22. 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. His two blocks rank second nationally. With Miles' PAT block, Eastern Michigan has now blocked 20 kicks during the Chris Creighton era (2014-present). 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.
STAND TALL AND PROTECT THE BALL: Eastern Michigan did not relinquish a turnover against Ball State, Oct. 22, the first game of the 2022 season in which the Eagles did not surrender the ball at any point to its opponent. In fact, the game against the Cardinals is the first game for Eastern Michigan without a turnover since Nov. 16, 2021, when EMU bested Western Michigan 2-0 in the turnover battle and defeated the Broncos, 22-21.
BEYDOUN BOUNCES BACK: Senior wideout Hassan Beydoun was electric for the EMU offense in its game at Ball State. 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, Dec. 18, 2021 in the LendingTree Bowl. Beydoun now has five career games with 10+ catches. Prior to the contest in Muncie, Beydoun had just 19 receptions of the season. His effort at Ball State accounts for 34 percent of his total receptions this season (29), and 29 percent of his total yardage (297).
FANTASTIC FOUR: Senior wideout Hassan Beydoun has become part of an elite group at Eastern Michigan: The 2,000-yard receiving club. With 2,169 yards through the air in his career, Beydoun is just one of four players to cross into that territory. He currently ranks third all-time in program history, behind Kevin Walter (2,838 yards from 1999-02) and Eric Deslauriers (3,250 yards from 2003-06).
SMITH STARTS AND DELIVERS: Sophomore quarterback Austin Smith got the starting nod for the Green and White against Ball State, Oct. 22. His third start of the season for the Green and White saw Smith throw for a career-high 197 yards on 20-of-34 passing. The 20 completions are also a 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. Smith added a team-high 52 yards on the ground for Eastern against the Cardinals. He has 218 yards rushing during the 2022 campaign, which ranks third on the team and first among non-running backs. Smith is 19th in the league among players at all positions with a 36.3 rushing yards per game average this season - that number is third among quarterbacks.
EFFICIENT OFFENSE: Eastern Michigan's offense has scored 20+ points in eight of its last nine games, including a stretch of seven consecutive games dating between Dec. 18, 2021, against Liberty in the LendingTree Bowl, and Oct. 8, 2022, at Western Michigan. The best stretch of consecutive 20+-point games under Chris Creighton came between Oct. 26, 2017-Nov. 3, 2018, when the Eagles accomplished the feat in 14 straight games.
BACK ON TRACK IN THE RED ZONE: One week after failing to get into the red zone (for the first time since 2014), the EMU offense bounced back against Ball State, Oct. 22. The Eagles were a perfect 3-for-3 when getting inside the Cardinal 20-yard line Saturday, bringing their season total to 28-for-29, which equates to
97 percent. That number is the best of any team in the Mid-American Conference and fifth nationally.
NO STRANGER TO CLOSE GAMES: Eastern Michigan (and its fans) have become accustomed to close games over the last several years. As of Oct. 22, a total of 37 of EMU's last 44 MAC games (34%) and 53 of its last 68 (78%) games overall have either been a win or a one-possession loss. The trend held strong against Ball State, where EMU won, 20-16.
PAASKE PEAKING: After two total receptions over EMU's first five games, sophomore tight end Andreas Paaske 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, 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.
I LIKE BIG PUNTS: 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 Buffalo, Sept. 24, and Massachusetts, Oct. 1, have scored on their respective first drives.
NO SOUP FOR YOU: 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, Oct. 8. Last season, EMU only held opponents off the board in the first quarter three times in 13 games.
BACK ON TRACK: After a season-low 2-of-13 on third-down conversions a week ago against Northern Illinois, Oct. 15, EMU needed just three third-down attempts to match that total number against the Cardinals of Ball State. The Green and White converted two of its first three third-down tries to begin the game, and finished the contest at a 9-of-16 mark. The 56.3-percent rate of conversion marks the fourth time the Eagles have moved the chains on third down at a better than 55 percent rate this season. The Eagles are 49-of-102 (48%) on third-down tries this season, which ranks first in the MAC and 25th nationally.
MOVING AWAY FROM THE TREND: The EMU-Ball State match up has been characterized by high-scoring affairs as of late, which the two most recent games in the series prior to last week finishing with a 38-31 tally. The Oct. 22 meeting 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.
BRYSON BROUGHT IT: Sophomore running back Bryson Moss had a drive to remember during Eastern's first possession of the second quarter at Ball State, Oct. 22. After a career-long eight-yard rush to 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 pay dirt. The score helped EMU tie the game, 7-7, and also goes down as Moss' first collegiate touchdown.
WE LIKA MIKAH: Junior defensive lineman Mikah Coleman put forth a career-best effort in his first career start, against Ball State, Oct. 22. 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 last week's game Coleman had four total tackles in 11 career games, including a previous personal-best two stops against Buffalo, Sept. 24.
SAY IT AIN'T JOE: Senior linebacker Joe Sparacio was outstanding for Eastern Michigan against Ball State. The first-year Eagle had a career-best day in tackles, finishing with a team-high 15 (3 solo, 12 assisted). Prior to last week's game, his previous career-best (including his three-year stint at Boston College) was nine, set 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.
SCANDRETT SEES IT IN: Sophomore defensive back Quentavius Scandrett recorded his first career interception with 0:34 remaining in the first half in Eastern's game at Ball State. It was the third interception of the season for Eastern Michigan, its first since recording one against Massachusetts, Oct. 1.
ROBBED BY ROBERT: Senior defensive back Robert Daniel Jr. 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 of EMU's 20-16 win over the Cardinals. The play was the second interception of his career, the first since he picked off a pass at Central Michigan, Nov. 26, 2021.
FIRST TIME SINCE 2019: The EMU defense forced two interceptions against Ball State, Oct. 22. 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.
WIN THE TURNOVER BATTLE: A common goal in Head Coach Chris Creighton's program, Eastern has won or tied (29 wins, 7 ties) the turnover battle in 36 of its last 39 victories under Creighton. The trend held in EMU's latest win, a 20-16 victory over Ball State, Oct. 22. Eastern forced three turnovers against the Cardinals, and never surrendered the ball.
THE CREIGHTON DIFFERENCE: Head Coach Chris Creighton has won nearly 50 percent (39-of-80) of his games since the start of the 2016 season. In the three seasons prior to his arrival in Ypsilanti, the Eagles were victorious in just 28 percent (10-of-36) of their games.
ALL ALONE IN FOURTH: With his win at Ball State, Oct. 22, EMU Head Coach Chris 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.
Creighton will match another Harkema milestone against Toledo; It will mark his 103rd game as the bench boss at Eastern Michigan, which will tie Harkema for the third-most games coached in program history. Elton J. Rynearson paces that category with 187 games at the helm of the program.
SERVED BY SAMSON: Senior Samson Evans is off to a great start through seven games in 2022. One of the most consistently good backs in the nation, he currently ranks 34th in the nation with 634 rushing yards. He is fourth in the MAC and 31st in the country with a 91 rushing yards per game average. Additionally, Evans ranks seventh in the MAC in all-purpose yards, where he has averaged 101 per game in 2022.
BEAT THE DRUM(MOND): Dylan Drummond is among the nation's most impactful wideouts. After one reception at Ball State, Oct. 22, the Cleveland, Ohio, native now has 164 for his career, which ranks 28th among all active FBS players (teammate Hassan Beydoun ranks 8th with 196). Additionally, he has recorded a reception in 36 consecutive games, which is fourth-best among active FBS players.
Last season, Drummond had 64 catches for 704 yards and a team-best six receiving touchdowns - a number that ranks tied for 10th all-time in a single season at EMU. Drummond now has 12 career receiving touchdowns, tied for fifth-most in EMU history.
IT'S BEEN HOW LONG?: Last season, Eastern Michigan overcame a program drought against Toledo, capturing its first victory inside Toledo's home venue, the Glass Bowl, since the 1998 season with a thrilling, 52-49 outcome over the Rockets, Nov. 2. EMU will try to add to the accomplishments this year. If the Eagles can best UT, it will mark the first consecutive wins for the program over its border-state rival since the 1998-99 seasons, respectively.
ALL-TIME VS TOLEDO: The contest on Saturday will mark the 50th meeting between EMU and Toledo. The two programs met on the gridiron for the first time in 1923. The Rockets lead the all-time head-to-head series against the Eagles 36-13. Despite the record, the Eagles prevailed in the last meeting between the two schools. Recently, EMU split the last four meetings with UT, dating back to 2017.
LAST TIME VS THE ROCKETS: The last time the two programs met, EMU defeated Toledo, 52-49, inside UT's Glass Bowl, Nov. 3, 2021. The victory gave Eastern its sixth win on the season making the Eagles bowl eligible for the fourth time under Head Coach Chris Creighton and the sixth time in program history.
EMU's wideout duo of Hassan Beydoun and Tanner Knue each had impressive performances in the victory. Beydoun caught 12 passes for 197 yards (both career highs) and two scores while Knue hauled in six passes for 55 yards and one touchdown.
LAST TIME AT THE FACTORY: Quarterback Preston Hutchison completed 25-of-38 pass attempts for 244 yards and four touchdowns while Hassan Beydoun grabbed eight receptions for 64 yards, but ultimately, the Rockets proved too strong in a 45-28 decision, Nov. 18, 2020.
Down 14-0, EMU rallied to make it 14-7 early in the second quarter. Toledo took over from there, as it held a 24-7 lead heading into the break. EMU was never able to catch up, matching Toledo in total points (21) in the second half.
CLOSE CONNECTIONS: The Eastern Michigan athletic department has multiple staff members with ties to the Rockets. Associate Athletic Director/Sports Medicine Gretchen Fox spent eight years at Toledo (2009-18), most recently serving as the Rocket' assistant director of sports medicine and associate head athletic trainer. Fox went on to earn her second master's degree in business administration from Toledo (2016).
Assistant Director of Sports Medicine/Associate Head Athletic Trainer Katie Marttila earned her bachelor's degree from Toledo in 2010. Additionally, Assistant Athletic Trainer Steven Berning earned his bachelor's from the university in 2014 before arriving in Ypsilanti. Also, EMU's Director of Facilities and Event Operations, Kevin Fischer, joined the department in the fall of 2022 after serving as an equipment manager at UT.
On the Rockets' end of the equation, their Associate AD for Communications, Paul Helgren, has deep EMU roots. He served EMU as an assistant media relations director and was later promoted to director of promotions and ticket sales.
THE ESPNU SNAFU: Eastern Michigan is no stranger to playing in front of a national audience on ESPNU. The game against Toledo will mark the program's 13th all-time appearance on the network since its founding in 2005. Eastern, however, has never won a game when it has been aired on the network. The Eagles most recently played on ESPNU during the 2021 campaign, in a road contest at Central Michigan, Nov. 26. The Chippewas bested Eastern, 31-10, in that game.
Eastern has never faced Toledo in a game broadcast on ESPNU, however, the Eagles and Rockets have squared off on ESPN2 (2021).
CHECKING IN ON THE PAC-12: According to ESPN's Chris Falica, PAC-12 home favorites are 30-1 this year as of Oct. 22. The lone loss? EMU's 31-20 triumph over Arizona State, Sept. 17.
ON THE HORIZON: Eastern will begin its final road stretch of the season with a Tuesday night, Nov. 8 #MACtion contest at Akron inside InfoCision Stadium.
Players Mentioned
WR
/ Football
DL
/ Football
DB
/ Football
WR
/ Football
RB
/ Football
WR
/ Football
DL
/ Football
RB
/ Football
TE
/ Football
DL
/ Football
K
/ Football
DB
/ Football
QB
/ Football
LB
/ Football2025 Football Week 5 Hype vs. Central Michigan
Saturday, September 27
EMU Football Pregame Press Conference: Week 5 vs. Central Michigan
Monday, September 22
Louisiana: Cinematic Recap
Monday, September 22
⏳ The wait is almost over ⏳
Sunday, September 21