Michigan MAC Trophy On the Line Friday, Nov. 25, as EMU Hosts CMU

Football vs. Central Michigan
Date	Friday, Nov. 25 \| 12 p.m. ET
Venue	Ypsilanti, Mich. \| Rynearson Stadium
Preview Info	EMU Notes (PDF) \| Media Guide (PDF) \| Press Conference Video
Live Stats	Fan Stats \| Media Stats
Watch	CBS Sports Network \| Channel Finder for CBSSN
Listen	WEMU (89.1 WEMU-FM) \| The Varsity Network App \| Eastern Insider Podcast
Twitter	@EMUFB \| @EMUAthletics

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University football team is set to close the 2022 regular season with a match up against its in-state and Mid-American Conference rival, Central Michigan University Friday, Nov. 25. The Black Friday affair will kick off at noon inside "The Factory" at Rynearson Stadium.
   Eastern Michigan (7-4, 4-3 MAC) is looking to secure a season-best three-game win streak and cap an eight-win regular season for the first time since 1987 with a victory over the Chippewas (4-7, 3-4 MAC). Meanwhile, Central is hoping to retain possession of the Michigan MAC Trophy and secure a win in what will be its final game of the season.
   The game is set to air nationally on CBS Sports Network with Alex Del Barrio and Donte Whitner in the booth. WEMU (89.1 FM) and the Varsity Network app will also broadcast the game with Tom Helmer and Rob Rubick providing the entertainment.

SENIOR SALUTE: Friday's game will serve as Senior Day for Richard Bates Jr., Brandon Benson, Hassan Beydoun, Blake Bogan, Jordan Crawford, Dylan Drummond, Michael Foor, Gunnar Oakes, Taylor Powell, Jose Ramirez, Sidy Sow, Tariq Speights, Grant Trueman, and Russell Vaden IV.

TROPHY HUNTING: CMU and EMU meet with more than bragging rights on the line. The winner will take possession of the Michigan MAC Trophy. Given annually to one of the Michigan-based, Mid-American Conference institutions (EMU, WMU, CMU), the trophy is awarded to the team which has the best head-to-head record against each other. It is one of just two regularly-awarded trophies between three teams (the other is the Commander-in-Chief's trophy between Army, Navy, and Air Force).
   Originating in 2005, EMU has claimed ownership of the award four times (2007, 2008, 2011, 2012). Eastern will take ownership of the trophy with a win, while Central will retain possession with a victory.

FIVE STRAIGHT ON THE ROAD: EMU has been outstanding when playing on the road this season. The Green and White will officially finish the 2022 regular-season campaign 5-1 away from Rynearson Stadium, including a five-game win streak in road contests. Additionally, Eastern's five-consecutive road wins are a program record. EMU's 1925, 1927, 1954, and 1955 teams each won four straight road games.
   Eastern has not played five 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.

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.

STILL CHASING EIGHT: If the Eagles are able to win their remaining regular-season game versus 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 14-11 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 .667 (14-7).

ONE AND ONLY: In securing a seventh win in 2022, ninth-year Head Coach Chris Creighton is officially 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.

PICKED UP NO. 7: EMU's win at Kent State, Nov. 16, marked seven regular-season wins for just the 15th time in the 131-year history of the program. Of Eastern's 15 seven-plus win seasons since 1891, Chris Creighton has been at the helm for four (27%). Furthermore, EMU has now won 41 games since the 2016 season began. The program combined for just 42 wins in the 16 seasons prior (2000-15).

NO STRANGER TO CLOSE GAMES: EMU is accustomed to close games since 2016, as 48 of the team's last 81 games (59%) have been decided by eight-or-less points. Furthermore, 33 of those contests have come in MAC play. Eastern has played six one possession games in 2022, only Ball State (7) and Northern Illinois (7) have played in a tighter window.

THIS IS MACTION: Of the 42 Mid-American Conference games played in 2022, 25 have been decided by one possession (59%). Furthermore, the average margin of victory in those 25 contests has been just 5.0 points.

IT'S STILL ON THE TABLE: EMU can still accomplish a rare feat in Mid-American Conference play: finish with a winning record. If EMU wins its final regular-season game, 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.

A CHANCE TO SHARE THE WEST: An Eastern Michigan win over Central Michigan, and a Toledo loss to Western Michigan, would give the Eagles a share of the MAC West Division title. Although EMU would not represent the West Division in the MAC championship due to a head-to-head tiebreaker with Toledo, it would officially mark the team's first-ever divisional championship in the conference. EMU's lone league championship came in 1987.

EVANS MOVES UP: Senior running back Samson Evans continued to climb up the EMU record books Wednesday, Nov. 16, when he rushed for a touchdown against Kent State. Evans now has 26 total scores in his career, which ties for fourth-most in program history, alongside Larry Ratcliff (1969-71). Evans would move into the No. 1 spot with 32 touchdowns. Eastern legend Gary Patton (1984-87) currently holds the top spot with 31. Additionally, Evans is now tied for first all-time in EMU career rushing touchdowns. He joins Patton and Anthony Sherrell (2002-05) on that list.

EVANS KEEPS ON EATING: Senior running back Samson Evans was impressive yet again in Eastern's 31-24 win over Kent State, Nov. 16. Evans led all EMU rushers with 94 yards on 33 carries, adding a touchdown along the way. Evans is second in the Mid-American Conference with a 7.2 points per game average in 2022. He is also tied for second in the league for total touchdowns with 12. Ohio's Sieh Bangura has also found the pay dirt one dozen times this season.

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 29th in the nation with 949 rushing yards. He is third in the MAC and 22nd in the country with a 94.9 rushing yards per game average. Additionally, Evans ranks seventh in the MAC in all-purpose yards, where he has averaged 103.9 per game in 2022.

SAMSON APPROACHING 1,000: Samson Evans needs just 51 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 seven games, and the statistics show. Eastern has improved in every major statistical category, most notably in points allowed, and opponent passing yardage. A comparative chart between EMU's first four games and most recent seven games can be found below.

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 Kent State for the entirety of the third frame, Nov. 16.
    The third-quarter shutout marks the 17th time in Eastern's last 53 contests (32%) that its opponent has failed to score in the first quarter out of the break. Eastern has emerged victorious in 10 of the 17 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 marks consecutive contests with the accomplishment for the first time this season. EMU held Akron without a third-quarter point, Nov. 8. Additionally, Eastern has now held an opponent scoreless in the third quarter in consecutive games for the first time since the 2018 campaign, when it did so in back-to-back games against Illinois, Sept. 14, and Central Connecticut State, Sept. 21, respectively.

CLEAR SOME MORE SPACE IN THE CABINET: Sophomore Mitchell Tomasek is the first Eastern Michigan player to earn Mid-American Conference Player of the Week honors four or more times in a single season since 2018, when former Eagle punter, Jake Julien (2017-21), collected the honor five times in 12 weeks.

DRUMMOND BOUNCES BACK: Senior Dylan Drummond was outstanding on the outside against Kent State as he hauled in seven receptions for 97 yards, both season bests. It was Drummond's first game with seven or more receptions since Nov. 9, 2021 against Ohio. He has not eclipsed 97 receiving yards since Oct. 16, 2021, when he had 105 yards against Ball State. Drummond now has 16 games with five-plus receptions in his EMU career, the second-most of any Eagle on the roster, just behind fellow upperclassman Hassan Beydoun, with 19. Additionally, Drummond has recorded five-plus receptions in consecutive contests for the first time since the 2021 season, when he hauled in seven catches in back-to-back weeks against Miami, Oct. 9, and Ball State, Oct. 16, respectively.
   Drummond is one of the most reliable pass catchers in the nation. He currently ranks 25th among all active NCAA players with 176 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 seven-reception game against Kent State, fellow senior wide receiver, Hassan Beydoun now has 211 in his career. That number ranks 11th among all active players in the NCAA.
   He is also just one of 40 active FBS players with more than 2,000 yards receiving in a career. He ranks 22nd on that list with 2,293 yards to his credit. Drummond is not far behind, sitting at No. 50 with 1,883 yards.

FANTASTIC FOUR: Senior wideout Hassan Beydoun has become part of an elite group at Eastern Michigan: The 2,000-yard receiving club. With 2,293 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).
   If Dylan Drummond can add 117 yards to his resume before the seasons end, it will mark the first time in EMU program history that the team has two, 2,000-yard receivers on the roster at the same time.

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 11 games, he has a 44.1 yards per punt average, a number which sits atop the Mid-American Conference and ranks 19th nationally. Furthermore, he has on four occasions been named West Division Special Teams Player of the Week (Sept. 5, Oct. 3, Oct. 31, and Nov. 14)
   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 103 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 38-for-38 after Chad Ryland made 65 consecutive PATs.

THIRD TO FIRST: Eastern Michigan has been efficient on third down this season, where it converts 46.62 percent (69-for-148) of its attempts. That number ranks first in the MAC and 24th nationally. EMU was 5-for-16 (31.25%) in its latest contest, at Kent State, Nov. 16. The Eagles have 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.

RED HOT IN THE RED ZONE: Red zone scoring continues to be a highlight for the Eastern Michigan offense. The Green and White were 4-for-5 in its chances inside Kent State's, Nov. 16, elevating its season total to 39-for-41 (95%). That number ranks fourth in the nation.

EFFICIENT OFFENSE: Eastern Michigan's offense has scored 20+ points in 11 of its last 12 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 Kent State, Nov. 16, scoring a touchdown on its first drive of the game. The Eagles' score in the first quarter marks the sixth 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, Toledo, Oct. 29, and Akron, Nov. 8

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 Kent State, Nov. 16. He finished with a team-high seven tackles, including 3.5 tackles for loss. His TFL total is his second-best of the season, just behind the four he registered at WMU, Oct. 8.
   Ramirez has 17.5 sacks in his career, which ties for fourth all-time in program history. Additionally, the 3.5 TFLs Ramirez recorded against Kent State moved him up to 31.0 TFLs in his career, moving him to No. 7 all-time at EMU. He currently ranks seventh in the nation with 9.0 sacks this season.

WIN THE TURNOVER BATTLE: A common goal in Head Coach Chris Creighton's program, Eastern has won or tied (31 wins, 7 ties) the turnover battle in 38 of its last 40 victories under Creighton. The trend held in EMU's latest win, a 31-24 decision over Kent State, Nov. 16. EMU won the turnover-takeaway battle, 1-0.

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 45 of the last 77 (58%) contests decided by eight points or less. Eight games have been decided in overtime with 19 coming down to the final play.

400 YARDS OF FUN: The Eastern Michigan offense was firing on all cylinders against Kent State, going for 31 points on a season-best 459 yards of total offense. The second 400+-yard game of the season, the effort was one yard better than the 458 the unit posted at Arizona State, Sept. 17. The EMU offense has put up more than 400 yards of offense in 12 of the 30 (40%) games the team has played since Chris Creighton took over the play calling duties at the start of the 2020 campaign.

SNAP BACK: The EMU offense ran a season-high 84 plays from scrimmage against Kent State, Nov. 16, eclipsing its previous season-best of 80, which came at Ball state, Oct. 22. The 84 plays is the most by Eastern Michigan since Dec. 26, 2019, when the Green and White ran 87 offensive snaps against Pittsburgh in the 2019 Quick Lane Bowl in Detroit, Mich. Prior to that game, EMU had not run 84-plus plays since the 2016 Bahamas Bowl, against Old Dominion.

APPROACHING 4,000: Eastern Michigan has 3,888 yards of total offense heading into the final week of the 2022 regular season. With 112 against Central Michigan, Nov. 25, this year's team would become just the 18th in the 131-year history of the program to eclipse the 4,000-yard plateau. Last year's squad finished with 4,958 yards in 13 games, the fourth-best mark in program history. Chris Creighton-led teams account for six of the 15-best offensive seasons, in terms of total yardage, in school history.

HIGH-POWERED 300: Eastern Michigan has scored 308 points through 11 games this season. That number is good for the 11th-best output in program history, just one point away from cracking the top-10. Eastern's program-record 390 points came just one season ago, in 2021.

PROTECTING THE ROCK: Eastern Michigan protected the ball against Kent State, going the distance without a turnover in the game. The second game this season without a turnover, EMU's first since its game at Ball State, Oct. 22, it goes down as the 12th game in the Chris Creighton Era (2014-Pres.) without a turnover. After going just three games in his first four complete seasons without a turnover (8% of games) EMU has recorded nine games of the sort since (17%).

CHANGE OF PACE ON THIRD: After starting its game at Kent State 1-of-10 (10%) on third downs, the Eastern Michigan offense was able to change its tune. The Green and White converted four of its final six (67%) third-down tries to finish the contest 5-of-15.

HOLDING THE ROCK: Eastern Michigan dominated the time of possession in its game against Kent State, Nov. 16, controlling the rock for 39:19 of the game's 60 minutes. It is EMU's highest time of possession since the 2011 season, when it held the ball for 40:11 in a game against Ball State, Nov. 5.

FOUR-STRAIGHT SCORES: The Eastern Michigan offense put together four-consecutive scoring drives to begin the second half of play against Kent State, Nov. 17, its best stretch since scoring on five straight possessions against Buffalo, Sept. 24. The five-possession scoring stretch is the team's best this season.

WE SEE YOU, MR. MCCARTY: Junior defensive back Josh McCarty has made a noticeable impact on the Eagles' special-teams efforts this season. McCarty currently has nine special teams tackles this year on EMU kickoffs and punts. That number is the most of any player in the country, one ahead of NIU's Quinton Urwiler. McCarty has 10 total tackle, including seven solo stops, in his 11 games this season, his first action with the Green and White.

ONE, TWO, THREE, KICK: The EMU defense forced a three-and-out to begin the game against Kent State, the fifth time this season EMU has accomplished that feat. The 22nd time in the Chris Creighton Era (2014-Pres.) the defense has forced a three-and-out to begin the game overall, four times in a season marks the second most in a single season under the current regime. Additionally, it forced a three-and-out to begin both the first and second half as well. It is the fifth time under Creighton the defense has forced its opponent to go three-and-out on their first possession of each half. The Eagles last did it in their game at Western Michigan, Oct. 8. Prior to the 2022 campaign, the most recent occurrence was Nov. 3, 2018, at home against Central Michigan.

FIVE GUYS: The Eastern Michigan offense utilized multiple weapons early in the contest against Kent State as its first five completed passes were to five different receivers. The Eagles have completed passes to five or more players in each game this season. Eastern Michigan has now completed passes to at least five different pass catchers in 24 consecutive contests dating back to the first game of the 2021 season. The last game that EMU did not see five-plus pass catchers on the box score was Dec. 12, 2020, versus Northern Illinois.

PARTY TIME, POWELL STYLE: Appearing for the first time since EMU's game against Toledo, Oct. 29, senior quarterback Taylor Powell had a hot hand to begin the game at Kent State. He completed seven of his first 10 passes, finding fellow upperclassmen Hassan Beydoun on a 13-yard TD strike to cap EMU's third offensive possession. Powell's ninth touchdown toss of the season, it was his first since Eastern played Northern Illinois, Oct. 5.

POWELL'S PINPOINT PASSING: Taylor Powell was incredibly efficient through the air at Kent State Nov. 16, completing a career-best 76.9-percent of his passes (30-of-39). That percentage is the best by any EMU quarterback since Ben Bryant hit at the same clip against Bowling Green State, Oct. 23, 2021. Powell threw for a career-best 315 yards through the air against KSU. His previous best through the air was 293, against Western Michigan, Oct. 8. His three passing touchdowns is also ties a career-best mark for Powell. He has hit that total in three contests this season.

BACK IN THE PAY DIRT: Senior wide out Hassan Beydoun's touchdown grab with 5:16 remaining in the first quarter at Kent State, Nov. 16, goes down as his first trip to the pay dirt since EMU's game at Western Michigan, Oct. 8. His score snapped a four-game skid without a touchdown; Beydoun has only incurred three stretches of four or more games without a score during his time at Eastern Michigan (2018-Pres.). Despite the stretch this season, he is second on the team with four touchdowns, just three behind leader Tanner Knue.

SIX KICKS: Eastern Michigan forced six consecutive Kent State punts between its final two drives of the second quarter and its first four drives of the second half at Kent State, Nov. 16. The six straight stops ties a season-best for the Eastern Michigan defense. The Green and White previously did it against Louisiana, Sept. 10.

IT'S TRUE, MAN: Senior defensive lineman Grant Trueman made an immediate impact for Eastern's defense to start the third quarter when he took down Kent State's quarterback for a nine-yard sack on the second play out of the locker room. The sack, which gives Trueman 2.5 for his career, is his first since Sept. 18, 2021, in EMU's game at Massachusetts.

TOP-NOTCH TANNER: Senior pass catcher Tanner Knue finished EMU's contest at Kent State with 77 yards receiving on five receptions, his third game with five-plus receptions this season and first since he hauled in the same number against Massachusetts, Oct. 1. Knue's evening included two touchdowns, his first multi-touchdown game since EMU's season debut against Eastern Kentucky, Sept. 2. The two touchdowns ties a single-game career high for Knue.

YOU GOT LOSSED: EMU's 7.0 tackles for loss against Kent State, Nov. 16, ties for the second-most for the team this season. EMU had 8.0 plays of the sort against WMU, Oct. 8, and also had 7.0 against UMass, Oct. 1.

100TH CHIP DIP: EMU and CMU will meet on the gridiron for the 100th time in history between the two programs, with the Chippewas holding the series lead, 63-30-6. The EMU-CMU series is the longest-running rivalry between any two MAC schools.

LAST YEAR AGAINST THE CHIPS: Former EMU QB Ben Bryant tossed for 221 yards through the air, while Bryson Moss totaled 26 yards to lead the Eastern rushing attack, all while the EMU defense held Central Michigan to just 130 yards through the air. Still, it was not enough to upend the Chippewas, who used a 21-7 second-half surge to close out a 31-10 victory inside their own Kelly/Shorts Stadium in Mount Pleasant, Mich.

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

ON THE HORIZON: Following its contest against Central Michigan, EMU will await its bowl selection and matchup information, which will come the afternoon of Sunday, Dec. 4. Stay tuned to EMUEagles.com and @EMUFB on social media that day, and in the days leading up, for the most up-to-date information regarding Eastern's 2022 postseason bowl game.

Michigan MAC Trophy On the Line Friday, Nov. 25, as EMU Hosts CMU

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Richard Bates Jr.

Brandon Benson

Hassan Beydoun

Blake Bogan

Jordan Crawford

Dylan Drummond

Samson Evans

Michael Foor

Tanner Knue

Josh McCarty

Bryson Moss

Gunnar Oakes

Taylor Powell

Jose Ramirez

Sidy Sow

Tariq Speights

Mitchell Tomasek

Grant Trueman

Russell Vaden IV

Eastern Michigan Athletics