Football Looks for Win No. 7 Wednesday, Nov. 16, at Kent State

Football at Kent State
Date	Wednesday, Nov. 16 \| 6 p.m. ET
Venue	Kent, Ohio \| Dix Stadium
Preview Info	EMU Notes (PDF) \| Media Guide (PDF) \| Press Conference Video
Live Stats	Fan Stats \| Media Stats
Watch	ESPN2
Listen	WEMU (89.1 WEMU-FM) \| The Varsity Network App \| Eastern Insider Podcast
Twitter	@EMUFB \| @EMUAthletics

KENT, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University football team will look to secure its fifth-consecutive road victory when it travels to Kent State University for a game with the Golden Flashes Wednesday, Nov. 16. Kickoff of the midweek, Mid-American Conference matchup is slated for 6 p.m. inside Dix Stadium.
   Following its 34-28 win at Akron, Nov. 8, Eastern Michigan (6-4, 3-3 MAC) is bowl eligible for the fifth time under ninth-year Head Coach Chris Creighton. Additionally, the Eagles are still hoping to eclipse eight regular-season wins for the first time since 1987. Eastern will need to win at Kent State and against Central Michigan, Nov. 25, in order to accomplish that feat. Meanwhile, Kent State (4-6, 3-3 MAC) is looking to remain in the hunt for a bowl game appearance after picking up a 40-6 victory at Bowling Green, Nov. 9.
   The game will be aired on ESPN2. Bill Roth and Cole Cubelic will be in the booth, while Taylor McGregor reports from the sideline. The game can also be heard on WEMU (89.1 FM) and the Varsity Network app, where veteran broadcasters Tom Helmer (play-play-play) and Rob Rubick (analyst) will patrol the airwaves.

FOUR STRAIGHT ON THE ROAD: EMU has been outstanding when playing on the road this season. The Green and White are currently 4-1 away from Rynearson Stadium and have a current four-game win streak in road contests. Eastern's four-consecutive road wins tie for the program record. EMU's 1925, 1927, 1954, and 1955 teams also accomplished the feat.
   Additionally, Eastern has not played four consecutive road games without a loss since it did so between Oct. 15, 1988-Sept. 30, 1989, when it went 4-0-2 during six road contests within that stretch. Moreover, the team has not emerged victorious in four straight away games since the 1955 season.

JUST 30: EMU has six wins for just the 30th time in the 131-year program history, and just the 11th time since the team began MAC play in 1976. Chris Creighton has led five of those teams since 2016.

LET'S ROCK AND BOWL: Eastern Michigan's 34-28 win over Akron, Nov. 8, gave the program bowl eligibility for the fifth time in the previous six full seasons and just the sixth time in program history. The win also gives EMU bowl eligibility in four consecutive seasons for the first time in program history (excluding COVID-shortened 2020 season).
   Of note, EMU's 1971 appearance in the Pioneer Bowl does not figure into the bowl count since it was an NCAA Division II regional final contest and not part of the bowl system.

LOOKING FOR NO. 7: An EMU win would mark seven regular-season wins for just the 15th time in the 131-year history of the program. Of Eastern's 14 seven-plus win seasons since 1891, Chris Creighton has been at the helm for three (21%). If Creighton is able to secure a seventh victory in 2022, he will become the only coach in program history to have seven-or-more victories in four seasons at EMU. Former coaches Elton J. Rynearson (1917, 1919-20, 1925-48) and Dan Boisture (1967-73) each had three such campaigns.

STILL CHASING EIGHT: If the Eagles are able to win their remaining regular-season games, at Kent State, Nov. 16, and vs. Central Michigan, Nov. 25, the Green and White would secure its first eight-win regular season since 1987, and just the seventh in program history.

CLOSING IN NOVEMBER: EMU is 13-11 in the month of November since the beginning of 2016. In the six seasons prior, Eastern combined for a total of 15 wins across all regular-season games. Furthermore, if you exclude 2020's COVID-adjusted season when the schedule began in November, EMU's winning percentage jumps to .650 (13-7).

NO STRANGER TO CLOSE GAMES: EMU is accustomed to close games since 2016, as 47 of the team's last 80 games (59%) have been decided by eight-or-less points. Furthermore, 32 of those contests have come in MAC play. Eastern has played five one possession games in 2022, only Ball State (7) and Northern Illinois (6) have played in a tighter window.

THIS IS MACTION: Of the 38 Mid-American Conference games played in 2022, 21 have been decided by one possession (55.3 percent). Furthermore, the average margin of victory in those 21 contests has been just 5.1 points.

IT'S STILL ON THE TABLE: Despite being officially eliminated from MAC West Division title contention, EMU can still accomplish a rare feat in Mid-American Conference play: finish with a winning record. If EMU wins its final two regular-season games, it would finish with a 5-3 ledger in conference play and secure a winning record in its conference games for just the eighth time since joining the league in 1976. Chris Creighton-led Eagle teams have finished above .500 in MAC play one time, going 5-3 against league opponents in 2018. EMU's best-ever MAC ledger came in 1987, when the Green and White finished 7-1 against its conference opponents.

EVANS MOVES UP: Senior running back Samson Evans continued to climb up the EMU record books Tuesday, Nov. 8, when he rushed for two touchdowns against Akron. Evans now has 25 total scores in his career, which ties for fifth-most in program history, alongside Kerry Keating (1954-57). Evans would move into the No. 1 spot with 32 touchdowns. Eastern legend Gary Patton (1984-87) currently holds the top spot, with 31.

EVANS KEEPS ON EATING: Senior running back Samson Evans was impressive yet again in Eastern's 34-28 win over Akron, Nov. 8. Evans led all EMU rushers with 133 yards on 24 carries, adding two touchdowns along the way. The effort was the third of Evans' career of more than 100 yards, all of which have come this season. Combined with his trio of touchdowns scored against Toledo, Oct. 29, Evans has scored multiple touchdowns in back-to-back weeks for the first time since the 2021 season, when he notched two scores at Toledo, Nov. 2, and another pair against Ohio, Nov. 9.
   Evans is tied with Kent State's Devontez Walker for second in the Mid-American Conference with 11 total touchdowns this season. Ball State' Carson Steele holds the top spot with 13 trips to pay dirt.

SERVED BY SAMSON: Senior Samson Evans is having a MAC Player of the Year-caliber season for Eastern Michigan. One of the most consistent backs in the nation, he currently ranks 24th in the nation with 855 rushing yards. He is fourth in the MAC and 24th in the country with a 95.0 rushing yards per game average. Additionally, Evans ranks seventh in the MAC in all-purpose yards, where he has averaged 104.6 per game in 2022.

SAMSON APPROACHING 1,000: Samson Evans needs just 145 yards on the ground to reach 1,000 for the season. If Evans is able to reach that mark, it will mark just the 14th single-season rushing total of 1,000 yards or more by a player in program history, the most recent of which came in 2015, when Darius Jackson (2012-15) ran for 1,078 yards. Evans' current total is already good for 20th all-time in single-season laurels at EMU.

DIALING DR. NEATHERY: Defensive Coordinator Neal Neathery has made significant adjustments to the EMU defense over its last six games, and the statistics show. Eastern has improved in every major statistical category, most notably in points allowed, and opponent passing yardage.

HOT OUT OF HALFTIME: Defensive coordinator Neal Neathery continues to prove that his halftime adjustments are spot-on, as the EMU defense held an opponent scoreless in the third quarter yet again when it blanked Akron in the third quarter, Nov. 8.
   The third-quarter shutout marks the 16th time in Eastern's last 52 contests (31%) that its opponent has failed to score out of the intermission. Eastern has emerged victorious in nine of the 16 games in which it has held opponents scoreless in the third quarter during that stretch, with one loss coming in overtime.
    The third-quarter shutout against UA was the team's first since Sept. 17, 2022, against Arizona State.

A THREE-PICK TRIP: The Eastern Michigan defense caused havoc for the Akron offense, Nov. 8, picking off three Zip passes en route to a 34-28 EMU win. The three interceptions are the most for the team since the 2019 season, when it collected the same amount in a game against Northern Illinois, Nov. 19. EMU has forced multiple interceptions in two games this season (at Ball State, Oct. 22; at Akron, Nov. 8). EMU has not recorded multiple games with multiple interceptions in a season since the 2019 campaign. The Green and White picked off Coastal Carolina four times, Aug. 31, before intercepting three NIU passes, Nov. 19.

KEMPTON SHINE(S): Defensive back Kempton Shine added another "first" to his list of career accomplishments at Eastern Michigan in the second quarter against Akron, Nov. 8, when he stepped in front of a Zip pass to collect his first collegiate interception. Shine had 13 pass break ups in four seasons with Eastern before recording the pick against the Zips.

GREAT SCOTT: The EMU defense came up big in the third quarter of its game at Akron, Nov. 8. The highlight of the frame came with 2:30 remaining in the quarter when sophomore defensive back Joshua Scott nabbed his first career interception. The pick was the second of the game for Eastern. Scott, in his first year with Eastern Michigan, has recorded 23 total tackles (12 solo, 11 assisted), and has four pass break ups, which ranks second on the team.

FINE AS KLINE: Senior linebacker Chase Kline notched his first sack as an Eagle when he hauled down Akron's Jeff Undercuffler for a 10-yard loss with just over two minutes remaining in the first half of EMU's game against the Zips. Kline, who entered the game as Eastern's second-leading tackler (60 total), had not recorded a collegiate sack since the 2019 season, when he earned one in a game against Western Michigan while a member of the Michigan State football team, Sept. 7. Kline now has 2.5 collegiate sacks.

NOT YOUR AVERAGE JOE: Senior Joe Sparacio helped seal the game at Akron for the EMU defense with his interception late in the fourth quarter. The third of the night for the Green and White, it goes down as the first for Sparacio in his EMU career. He now has two in his collegiate career, with his last coming against Virginia Tech, Aug. 31, 2019, while playing for Boston College.
   The interception was the first by an EMU linebacker since the 2018 season. The last Eastern linebacker to collect an interception was Jaylen Pickett (2015-18), who did so against Western Michigan, Oct. 6.

QUICK-STRIKE OFFENSE: Eastern Michigan's offense was hot to start the game against Akron. The Green and White put together a 14-play, 70 yard drive that finished with a field goal to put the Eagles ahead, 3-0. It was the fifth opening-drive score of the season for Eastern, its first time since it went 75 yards for a TD at Western Michigan, Oct. 8. EMU has three touchdowns and two field goals in those game-opening scoring drives.

HOT IN THE FIRST HALF: Tuesday's game against Akron was the fifth time this season EMU has scored at least 17 points by halftime (Arizona State, Buffalo, Western Michigan, Toledo). Eastern is now 3-2 in those games in 2022. The Eastern Michigan offense scored 17-or-more first half points just five times in 13 games a season ago.

DRUMMOND BOUNCES BACK: After failing to bring in a reception for the first time in 36 games against Toledo, Oct. 29, senior Dylan Drummond got right back to work against the Zips. The Buckeye State native hauled in a 40-yard touchdown pass, his second-longest reception of the season, on EMU's second drive. The play was good for Drummond's second touchdown of the season, his first since EMU's game at WMU, Oct. 8.
   Drummond finished the game with a season-best five receptions for 90 yards. It was Drummond's first game with five or more receptions since Dec. 18, 2021, when he hauled in six catches against Liberty in the LendingTree Bowl. Drummond now has 15 games with five-plus receptions in his EMU career, the second-most of any Eagle on the roster, just behind fellow upperclassman Hassan Beydoun (Dearborn, Mich.-Dearborn), with 18.
   Drummond is one of the most reliable pass catchers in the nation. He currently ranks 25th among all active NCAA players with 169 receptions in his career.

WAY TO BE(YDOUN): Senior wide out Dylan Drummond is not the only Eagle that is named on a nationally-scoped list. After a five-reception game against Toledo, fellow senior wide receiver, Hassan Beydoun now has 204 in his career. That number ranks eighth among all active players in the NCAA.
   He is also just one of 30 active FBS players with more than 2,00 yards receiving in a career.

FANTASTIC FOUR: Senior wideout Hassan Beydoun has become part of an elite group at Eastern Michigan: The 2,000-yard receiving club. With 2,223 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).

ON PACE FOR A FOURTH: EMU special teams continue to be a strong point for the team this season, and that is aided by sophomore punter Mitchell Tomasek. Through 10 games, he has a 45.33 yards per punt average, a number which sits atop the Mid-American Conference and ranks
11th nationally. Furthermore, he has on three occasions been named West Division Special Teams Player of the Week (Sept. 5, Oct. 3, and Oct. 31)
   If Tomasek finishes the season as the MAC's leading punter, it will mark the fourth consecutive season in which an Eastern Michigan punter has held that title. Former Eagle Jake Julien (2017-21) led the conference in punting average in each of the previous three seasons, respectively. Julien is the program record holder for career punting average, at 44.0 yards.

SPLITTING THE UPRIGHTS: EMU kickers have made their last 99 point-after touchdown attempts, coincidentally the last time EMU missed an extra point was at Kent State, Nov. 4, 2020. This season, Jesus Gomez is a perfect 34-for-34 after Chad Ryland made 65 consecutive PATs.

THIRD TO FIRST: Eastern Michigan has been efficient on third down this season, where it converts 48.5 percent (64-for-132) of its attempts. That number ranks first in the MAC and 19th nationally. EMU was 7-for-14 (50%) in its latest contest, at Akron, Nov. 8. The Eagles have now converted at 50 percent or better on third down in five contests. Last season, Eastern converted third downs at a clip of 50 percent or better just three times in 13 games.

OH SO CLOSE: The Eagles have played in 45 one-score games since the beginning of the 2016 season and hold a 22-23 record in those contests. Overall, 22 of the 45 games have been decided by three points or less.

RED HOT IN THE RED ZONE: Red zone scoring continues to be a highlight for the Eastern Michigan offense. The Green and White was a perfect 3-for-3 in its chances inside Akron's 20-yard line, Nov. 8, elevating its season total to 35-for-36 (97%). That number ranks third in the nation.

EFFICIENT OFFENSE: Eastern Michigan's offense has scored 20+ points in 10 of its last 11 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.

FIRST TO SCORE: EMU was first on the board in its matchup with Akron, Nov. 8, scoring a field goal on its first drive of the game. The Eagles' score in the first quarter marks the fifth contest of the season the Green and White have scored before its opponent, the previous three coming against Sun Belt Conference member Louisiana, Sept. 10, PAC-12 member Arizona State, Sept. 17, MAC rival Western Michigan, Oct. 8, and Toledo, Oct. 29.

ZIP ZAPPERS: EMU's win at Akron, Nov. 8, is the program's third consecutive over the Zips. The Eagles had not won three-or-more consecutive games against Akron since the 1994-97 seasons, respectively, when they tabbed four victories in a row over Akron. The three-game win streak is the second-best for Eastern Michigan in the 34-game series history between the two institutions.

JOSE STAYS RED HOT: Already one of the most dominant pass rushers in college football, senior defensive end Jose Ramirez was outstanding in EMU's game against Toledo, Oct. 29. He led the team with a season-best nine tackles, including two tackles for loss, one sack, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. Ramirez was in on two fumbles in the game, first recovering a Jacquez Stewart miscue in the second quarter that set the Eagles up with goal-to-go from the Rocket five-yard-line, leading to a one-yard Samson Evans touchdown that gave the Eagles a 17-10 lead. Later in the game, Ramirez recorded a strip sack that UT recovered. Overall, his two tackles for loss today moved him into the MAC lead with 12.5 on the season and also leads in TFL yardage with 70 on the season.
   Ramirez has 16.5 sacks in his career, which moved him up to seventh all-time in program history, moving past Jeremiah Harris (2014-18), who totaled 16.0 in his career. Additionally, the 2.0 TFLs Ramirez recorded against the Rockets moved him up to 27.0 TFLs in his career, tying him with Josh Hunt (2005-08) for eighth in program history. He also recorded two quarterback hurries and batted down one pass at the line.
   He currently ranks seventh in the nation with 8.0 sacks this season.

POSTSEASON APPEARANCE: Senior defensive end Jose Ramirez accepted an invitation for the 2023 East-West Shrine Bowl. The postseason all-star game will take place on Feb. 2, 2023, at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. The postseason all-star game has been played annually since the 1925 season and features some of the top senior college football players across the country.

CLOSE CONNECTIONS: Eastern Michigan Assistant Coach Ben Needham has coaching ties to the Golden Flashes. Before arriving to Ypsilanti, Needham spent the past five years (2013-17) on KSU's coaching staff, serving most recently as the team's associate head coach and special teams coordinator in 2017.

ALL-TIME VS KENT STATE: The contest on Wednesday will mark the 34th meeting between EMU and KSU. The Golden Flashes lead the all-time head-to-head series against the Eagles, 19-14. Eastern has dropped four of the last five meetings against Kent State, and is looking to snap a two-game losing skid to the Golden Flashes.
   EMU's last victory over KSU came inside Dix Stadium when Eastern scored four touchdowns on its way to a 28-20 victory, Nov. 23, 2018. The victory was EMU's fifth straight conference win, the longest MAC win streak for the program since 1989.

LAST TIME VS KSU: The two teams haven't met on the gridiron since the COVID-shortened 2020 season. In the season-opening contest, Nov. 4, 2020, the Green and White fell to Kent State 27-23 despite a second-half surge by the Eagles. Former Eagle Preston Hutchison completed 21-of-35 pass attempts and amassed 241 yards through the air, which marks the best aerial performance for an EMU QB in a season-opener since Brogan Roback tossed for 267 yards against Charlotte in 2017. Hutchison added a rushing touchdown to his pair of passing touchdowns. Hassan Beydoun hauled in nine passes for 112 yards, while former Eagle Thomas Odukoya notched two receiving touchdowns.

A DOZEN WILL MAKE HISTORY: When EMU plays in its postseason bowl game this season (game and opponent to be determined), 12 players will make program history. The group, which includes Hassan Beydoun, Steve Bird, Blake Bogan, Robert Daniel Jr., Brian Dooley, Dylan Drummond, Alex Howie, Marcellus Johnson, Tanner Knue, Sidy Sow, Russell Vaden IV, and EJ Williams, will be the first in program history to suit up for four different postseason bowl games.

WIN THE TURNOVER BATTLE: A common goal in Head Coach Chris Creighton's program, Eastern has won or tied (30 wins, 7 ties) the turnover battle in 37 of its last 39 victories under Creighton. The trend held in EMU's latest win, a 34-28 decision over Akron, Nov. 8. EMU forced three Zip turnovers, and only gave the ball away once.

TURNOVERS TO PRODUCTION: Eastern's offense has been efficient when driving after a turnover this season. The Eagles have scored touchdowns directly after six of the teams 13 turnovers, which equates to 46 percent. The offense has elected not to drive (able to take the victory formation) on two of those 13 subsequent drives. When adjusting for that number, EMU has scored touchdowns on 55 percent of its drives following a defensive takeaway.

TRENDING TOWARDS TWO: Eastern Michigan is on pace to see two quarterbacks toss for 1,000-plus yards this season. Through 10 weeks, quarterbacks Taylor Powell (1,232 yards), and Austin Smith (774 yards) have found success through the air. Eastern has not had a pair of 1,000-yard passers since the 2018 campaign, when former signal callers Tyler Wiegers (1,887 yards) and Mike Glass III (1,024) each eclipsed that total.

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 44 of the last 76 (58%) contests decided by eight points or less. Eight games have been decided in overtime with 19 coming down to the final play.

ON THE HORIZON: Eastern returns to Ypsilanti for the team's final home game of 2022, hosting in-state rival Central Michigan, Nov. 25. The game will serve as Eastern's Senior Day, where the program will honor the 2022 Senior Class. Kickoff inside Rynearson Stadium is set for 12 p.m.
    Richard Bates Jr., Brandon Benson, Hassan Beydoun, Blake Bogan, Jordan Crawford, Dylan Drummond, Gunnar Oakes, Taylor Powell, Jose Ramirez, Sidy Sow, Tariq Speights, Grant Trueman, Russell Vaden IV, and Jalen Weathers will take part in the festivities with their families.

Football Looks for Win No. 7 Wednesday, Nov. 16, at Kent State

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Richard Bates Jr.

Brandon Benson

Hassan Beydoun

Steve Bird

Blake Bogan

Jordan Crawford

Robert Daniel Jr.

Brian Dooley

Dylan Drummond

Samson Evans

Alex Howie

Marcellus Johnson

Chase Kline

Tanner Knue

Gunnar Oakes

Taylor Powell

Jose Ramirez

Joshua Scott

Kempton Shine

Austin Smith

Sidy Sow

Joe Sparacio

Tariq Speights

Mitchell Tomasek

Grant Trueman

Russell Vaden IV

Jalen Weathers

Elijah Williams

Eastern Michigan Athletics