Football Has a Homecoming Date Saturday, Oct. 7, with Ball State

Football vs. Ball State
Date	Saturday, Oct. 7 \| 3:30 p.m.
Venue	'The Factory' inside Rynearson Stadium (30,200) \| Ypsilanti, Mich.
Events	Homecoming - Tailgate Information \| Schedule of Events
Preview Info	EMU Notes (PDF) \| Media Guide (PDF) \| Press Conference Video
Live Stats	Fan Stats \| Media Stats
Watch	ESPN+
Listen	WEMU (89.1 WEMU-FM) \| The Varsity Network App \| Eastern Insider Podcast
Twitter	@EMUFB \| @EMUAthletics
Fan Information	Purchase Tickets \| Gameday Guide \| Season Yearbook

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University football team returns home after two weeks on the road and will have a true celebration to welcome it back, as the Eagles will play host to Ball State University on Homecoming, Oct. 7. The home Mid-American Conference opener for the Eagles is set to kick off at 3:30 p.m. at 'The Factory' inside Rynearson Stadium to highlight a week of festivities on the Ypsilanti campus.
   Eastern enters the game with a 2-3 record and 0-1 mark in the MAC following a close, 26-23, loss at Central Michigan University last week, Sept. 30, while Ball State comes to town at 1-4 and 0-1 in the MAC following a 42-24 setback at Western Michigan University, Sept. 30.
   The game will be streamed live on ESPN+ where Jason Ross, Jr. and Ryan Cavanagh will have the call. As always, fans can hear the game for free on WEMU (89.1 FM) or the Varsity Network app with veteran broadcasters Tom Helmer and Rob Rubick calling the action from the press box.

HOMECOMING: PAINT IT GREEN
Homecoming Week is set to begin Monday, Oct. 2, and will culminate with the Eagles facing Ball State on the gridiron, Oct. 7. Numerous events are planned on campus throughout the week to celebrate everything that makes Eastern Michigan unique and special. For more information and a full schedule of events, visit emich.edu/homecoming.

PITTANCE OF POINTS
The Eastern defense has played well in 2023, ranking second in the MAC and 46th nationally at 22.8 points per game allowed. Through five games, opponents have scored 112 points on the Eagles and, for just the eighth time since joining the MAC in 1976, EMU has allowed 115 or fewer points in those opening contests. The other teams to do so include the squads from 1977, 1983, 1986, 1987, 1989, 1993, and 2017 to go along with the 2023 Eagles.

TOUGH OUT THE GATE
The Eagles allowed one touchdown from Central Michigan in the first quarter. This season, Eastern is allowing just 2.8 points on average during the opening quarter of play, tying the Eagles for 36th nationally in points allowed in the first quarter. Additionally, the Chippewas' first quarter touchdown was just the second allowed in the first frame of the 2023 season. The first came when Jacksonville State drove 80 yards in five plays late in the first quarter, Sept. 23.

TOUGH START
Through five games, four of EMU's opponents have combined to post a 13-12 record on the year, winning at a 52.0 percent clip, making for the 90th-toughest schedule in the nation. The final seven opponents on the regular season slate enter the weekend with an 11-24 combined record, a winning percentage of 31.4 percent.

HARD TO CRACK
Along with being tough to score on in the first quarter, the Eagles have shown they are tough to score on in each half. Through last week's games, the Eagles rank 41st nationally by allowing just 10.3 points per game to be scored in the opening half of play while sitting tied for 60th for second-half scoring by allowing 12.0 points per game. Michigan leads the nation in first-half scoring defense at 2.6 points per game while UCLA is the standard bearer for the second half at 2.3.

DYNAMIC DUO
Through the game at CMU, Sept. 30, two Eagle linebackers have made their names known nationally as the duo of Chase Kline and Joe Sparacio rank fourth and fifth, respectively, in the FBS for total tackles. Kline is averaging 12.2 per game and his 23 solo tackles ranks tied for ninth nationally while Sparacio is averaging 12.0 and ranks tied for fourth with 60 total tackles in 2023, which continues to lead the MAC. Kline and Sparacio are the only teammates ranked in the top five nationally and join the Old Dominion duo of Jason Henderson (1st at 15.0) and Terry Jones (8th at 11.2) as the only schools with two in the top 10.

FINDING A GROOVE
Heading into the Sept. 30 game, the EMU offense was averaging 240.0 yards of total offense per game with a season-best 371 yards accumulated against UMass, Sept. 16. Against the Chippewas, the Eagles collected 341 total yards of offense, including 155 yards rushing and 186 yards passing, the most through the air this season (175 vs. Howard, Sept. 1). Additionally, the team tallied 21 first downs, five more than its previous single-game high for the year, while converting 7-of-14 third-down attempts, a 50-percent clip that also stands as the best percentage this season and two more conversions than the next best.

HITTING THE GROUND RUNNING
The EMU rushing attack started strong as it put up 78 yards on the ground in the first quarter of play against Central Michigan, Sept. 30. The 78 yards in the first frame is the most from the Eagles in the first quarter of play this season and the most in the first since it rushed for 76 yards in the first quarter in last season's road win over Arizona State, Sept. 17. The game at ASU saw a career-outing from Samson Evans as he put up 96 on the ground in the first half and ended the game with 258.

EVANS TIES THE MARK
With 2:14 remaining in the third quarter at Central Michigan, Sept. 30, Samson Evans pushed his way into the endzone to not only give the Eagles a late lead (23-19), but also tie the program's all-time record for touchdowns scored with the 31st of his career. The powerful running back has tallied all 31 of his scores at Eastern on the ground and is tied with Gary Patton (1984-87) for the scoring record. Evans already owns the all-time rushing touchdowns record after he surpassed the previous mark of 26 held by both Patton and Anthony Sherrell (2002-05) last season.

SAMSON 2K
Samson Evans tallied 22 yards at Central Michigan, Sept. 30, to bring his career total to 1,926 yards on the ground for the Eagles. Evans, who is currently 14th on the program's all-time rushing ledger, is 74 yards away from reaching the 2,000-yard plateau, which would make him just the 12th Eastern rusher to accomplish the feat.

IRON MAN
Brian Dooley is closing in on the top spot for games started in program history as the offensive lineman has now started 52-of-54 games he has played for the Eagles. Only the second player to reach 50 career starts, Dooley is currently four shy of tying Sidy Sow (2018-22) for the top spot for both starts (55) and games played (57). Should Dooley continue to start in each coming game, he would tie Sow's record at home against Western Michigan, Oct. 28, and break the record one game later, at Toledo, Nov. 8.

SMITH SURGICAL
Austin Smith was surgical through the air at Central Michigan, Sept. 30, as the junior quarterback set a career-high in completion percentage. Smith completed 20-of-26 passes equaling a 76.9 completion percentage, which ranks as the 10th-best single-game completion percentage in the MAC thus far in the 2023 season. Furthermore, Smith's 20 completions tied a career-high. He also completed 20 last season against Ball State, Oct. 22.

STRONG SMITH
Austin Smith also was strong with his legs at Central Michigan, Sept. 30, as he carried the ball a team-high 19 times for 71 yards and one touchdown. Smith tied his career high in attempts he set Oct. 22, 2022, at Ball State while his rushing total came up three yards short of equaling his best performance, which came at home last year against Buffalo, Sept. 24, 2022, when he collected 74 yards. Overall, Smith accumulated 257 yards of offense (71 rushing yards and 186 passing yards), which was seven yards shy of his career-high 264 total yards accumulated against the Bulls last year.

ONE IF BY AIR...
Austin Smith accounted for a pair of touchdowns at Central Michigan, Sept. 30, as the junior signal caller connected with Tanner Knue for a passing touchdown after running one in earlier in the game. The two scores marked the fourth time in his career Smith accounted for two touchdowns in a game and just the second time in which he ran one in and threw for another. The first instance came Sept. 24, 2022, at home against Buffalo. It was the same in both games as Smith ran for a 1-yard score and connected with Knue, this time for a 10-yard touchdown.

JACKSON'S ON THE JOB
Jaylon Jackson finished the game at CMU, Sept. 30, with a career-high 139 total yards (62 rushing, 32 receiving, 45 return). It marked the third time he has eclipsed 100 total yards in 2023 as he also did so against Howard (125), Sept. 1, and UMass (119), Sept. 16. Through five games, Jackson is averaging 30.3 yards per kickoff return, which ranks him ninth nationally.
   His running game also has been turned up in 2023 as he is averaging 5.3 yards per carry and 51.6 yards per game after posting averages of 4.4 and 30.6 one year ago. Last year, he toted the rock 90 times for 398 yards. In 2023, he has already carried the ball 49 times for 258 yards.

TARGETING TANNER
Tanner Knue pulled in seven passes for 68 yards and one touchdown at Central Michigan, Sept. 30, to lead the team in receptions and yards. With those receptions, Knue pushed his streak to 29 games in a row with at least one grab, tying him for the 14th-longest active streak in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS). Knue is one of just two players from the Mid-American Conference on the list as he joins Odieu Hiliare of Bowling Green (40 in a row).

KNUE SCORING IN THE AIR
Midway through the third quarter at Central Michigan, Sept. 30, and with the Eagles trailing, 14-10, Eastern drove down the field, covering 62 yards on 10 plays, culminating in Austin Smith hitting Tanner Knue in the back corner of the end zone for the touchdown. The score was Knue's second of the season and brought his career total to 16, which moved him into a tie for the third most in program history with Sergio Bailey II (2016-17). Knue needs four more scoring grabs to join Kevin Walter (1999-02) for second on the ledger behind Eric Deslauriers (2003-06), who leads the way with 27.

RISING IN THE RANKINGS
With 22 receptions and 187 yards in 2023, Tanner Knue has brought his career totals to 126 grabs and 1,574 yards, respectively, during his time to rise up two more charts in program history. His 126 catches ranks tied for the eighth-most in program history with both Jermaine Sheffield (1997-99) and Dustin Creel (2012-15) and is 10 grabs away from moving into sixth. On the yardage side of things, he currently ranks 10th all-time is 426 yards shy of becoming the sixth EMU player to reach 2,000 career receiving yards.

JB TRENDING UPWARD
Wide receiver JB Mitchell III had a career game at Central Michigan, Sept. 30, as the junior pulled down a career-high five passes for a career-best 48 yards. It marks the third game in a row in which the receiver has improved upon his career numbers in receptions. After recording one grab for 16 yards in the opener against Howard, Sept. 1, Mitchell pulled in two passes for 16 yards at home against UMass, Sept. 16. He followed one game later at Jacksonville State, Sept. 23, with three grabs and 23 yards before finishing his most recent game with five catches and 48 yards.

KEEPING IT CLOSE
Following the 26-23 loss at Central Michigan, Sept. 30, the Eagles fell to 175-171 all-time in one-score games, 13-11 in such contests under Chris Creighton, and 1-1 in 2023 following a 19-17 victory over visiting UMass, Sept. 16. The one-score loss on the road was the first for EMU since Oct. 26, 2019, a 37-34 overtime loss at Toledo. Overall, the Eagles are 6-4 in their last 10 one-score games.

DON'T GO FOR IT
Opposing offenses have gone for it on fourth down against the Eagles' defense 11 times in 2023 and have been successful just three times for a 27.3 percent conversion rate. That rate leads the MAC and ranks ninth nationally out of 130 defenses on the list. Of the teams listed in the top 10, only Michigan (1-of-10) has seen its opponent go for it on fourth down a double-digit amount of times this year.

WHO'S BALL?
A question Chris Creighton and his staff regularly ask the team is simply, "Who's Ball?" A call to the players and the team's desire to win the turnover battle, the Eagles currently rank 49th nationally. Through five games, Eastern has recovered two fumbles and intercepted five passes for a turnover gain of seven.

PICKING POCKETS
Quentavius Scandrett completed the tip drill at Central Michigan, Sept. 30, with Joe Sparacio tipping a CMU pass and Scandrett intercepting the ball for his second pick of the year. The Eagles, as a team, have five interceptions in 2023 with Bennett Walker recording three, the most in the MAC, while Scandrett is one of seven players tied for second with two. Walker remains in the top 10 of the FBS rankings this week at seventh with 0.6 interceptions per game while Scandrett's 0.4 per game average is tied for 37th nationally.

SPARACIO SURPASSES 200
With his fourth tackle of the day at Central Michigan, Sept. 30, Joe Sparacio surpassed 200 tackles in his career. He would end the day with eight tackles and currently sits with 206 tackles in his five seasons played. Sparacio entered the contest with 197 dating back to his days playing for Boston College (2019-21). Reaching the 200 mark, Sparacio joins 88 other EMU greats to have reached the 200 career tackles milestone donning the block E. He also tabbed a career-high with two pass breakups in the contest. Prior to the CMU game, Sparacio had one PBU in his career, coming last season in Eastern's first road contest at Louisiana, Sept. 10.

JEFFERSON NEARS THE TOP
Justin Jefferson remains tied for the league lead with two fumbles recovered in 2023, sharing the top spot in the MAC with Nate Bauer of Toledo. Jefferson, who is tied for second nationally with two recoveries, is one of just 21 players in the FBS to have recorded multiple recoveries this season.

HAPPY RETURNS
Eastern special teams have been strong once again in 2023 with its return game standing out. In kick returns, the Eagles lead the MAC and rank third nationally at 33.2 yards per return while the punt return unit leads the MAC and is 18th nationally at 14.8 per return. Both Hamze El-Zayat and Jaylon Jackson are among 16 players nationally to have scored a kick return touchdown in 2023 with Jackson ranking first in the MAC and ninth nationally with his 30.3 yards per kick return average.

GOMEZ GOES DEEP... AGAIN
For the second time in his career, Jesús Gómez connected on a 55-yard field goal attempt as he booted the ball through the uprights for three points at Central Michigan, Sept. 30. The longest field goal in the MAC and tied for the 10th-longest in the FBS in 2023, Gomez tied his career-long conversion set Oct. 22, 2022, with his 55-yarder at Ball State. With the score, Gomez joined Buffalo's Alex McNutty (53-yards at Wisconsin, Sept. 2) as the only MAC kickers with a field goal of 50-yards-plus this year.

LONG RANGE LEFTY
Jesús Gómez' 55-yard field goal at Central Michigan, Sept. 30, is nothing new for the left-legged kicker from Mexico as the conversion was his third, 50-yard-plus made field goal in two seasons as the team's primary placekicker. Gomez, who hit from 55-yards at Ball State, Oct. 22, and for 51-yards in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl in Boise, Idaho, Dec. 20, ranks second all-time in program history for makes from 50-yards or further in a career at EMU. Chad Ryland (2018-21) leads the way with four makes from distance, including one at 55-yards and three from 52. Three other EMU kickers rank third with two makes from distance, including Dylan Mulder (2012-15), Don Vesling (1984-85), and Andrew Wellock (2003-06).

TOMASEK BOOMS
Mitchell Tomasek, a two-time MAC West Division Special Teams Player of the Week honoree in 2023, continues to rank among the best in the nation for punting as the junior's 46.5 average ranks second in the MAC and 11th nationally. Tomasek's average is currently the highest in single-season history at EMU, surpassing the 45.9 average Jake Julien accumulated in 2021. For his career, Tomasek currently has amassed 3,321 total yards on 74 career punts for an average of 44.9 per boot. He is currently ranked 17th all-time for career punting yardage in program history and his career average ranks first, just ahead of Julien, who averaged 44.0 per punt (2017-21).

QUICK BOUNCE BACK IN THE MAC
Despite falling in its conference opener in the last two seasons, Eastern has flipped the switch quickly, winning its second conference game in both seasons. The Green and White topped Miami, 13-12, Oct. 9, 2021, and lassoed the Broncos of Western Michigan, 45-23, Oct. 8, 2022.

HOME MAC OPENER
The Eagles hold an all-time record of 15-32 in their first MAC home game of the year and are looking to rebound off last year's 50-31 defeat to Buffalo, Sept. 24, 2022. The last time Eastern won its home conference opener came Oct. 9, 2021, when it slipped past Miami, 13-12. That win snapped a six-game losing streak in home MAC lid lifters.

HOMECOMING
The game with Ball State will mark the 95th Homecoming contest in Eastern history with the Eagles holding an all-time record of 47-45-2. Winners of two in a row in the special game, including a 20-13 victory over UMass, Sept. 24, 2022, that followed a close, 13-12, win over visiting Miami, Oct. 9, 2021, the Eagles will look to make it three consecutive Homecoming victories for the first time since the 2005, 2006, and 2007 campaigns.

ONCE AGAIN
Eastern is no stranger to welcoming Ball State to town for Homecoming as this year's contest will mark the seventh time the two teams have met on the special day. The last time Ball State was EMU's Homecoming opponent came Oct. 12, 2019, with the Cardinals escaping Rynearson Stadium with a 29-23 win to take a 5-1 lead in the series when playing on EMU's Homecoming. The lone Homecoming victory over the Cardinals came Oct. 17, 1987, in a 35-28 win for EMU.

IN THE SERIES: BALL STATE
The Eagles and Cardinals will be meeting on the gridiron for the 65th time with Ball State holding a 37-25-2 all-time lead in the series and lead, 20-12-0, when the game is played in Ypsilanti. Eastern took the win in the last meeting, a 20-16 decision in Muncie, Ind., Oct. 22, 2022, a victory that snapped the Cardinals' three-game winning streak over EMU. The Eagles have lost the last two in a row when playing host to the game, including a 38-31 decision Oct. 16, 2021, with the last win coming Nov. 2, 2017, in a 56-14 victory for EMU.

LAST TIME: BALL STATE
The Eagles used timely offense and high-caliber defense to earn a 20-16, MAC road victory over Ball State at Scheumann Stadium last season, Oct. 22, 2022. 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 a quick-strike offense allowed the Eagles to move the ball into Ball State territory, then-sophomore place kicker Jesús Gómez 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 pay dirt on an Austin Smith rushing touchdown. One more defensive stop by the Eagles allowed EMU to secure the 20-16 decision.

DOUBLE DIPPING
Saturday's contest will mark the 13th time Eastern has played its MAC home opener on Homecoming, holding a 6-6 record in those games. The last time it happened came Oct. 9, 2021, in EMU's 13-12 win over the RedHawks. Eastern and Ball State will be meeting for the fourth time when Eastern plays its opener on Homecoming with the Cardinals holding a 2-1 record with wins in the last two meetings, Oct. 12, 2019 (29-23) and Sept. 21, 2013 (51-20). The lone win came Oct. 17, 1987, in a 35-28 score.

ON THE HORIZON
Eastern will stay put in Ypsilanti next time out as it is slated to welcome Kent State University to "The Factory," Oct. 14, with kickoff being announced soon on all EMU football social platforms and EMUEagles.com. On a day designed to showcase the pride of Michigan and its residents, Mitten Made will focus on the best aspects of the state and highlight local businesses and people that make us proud to be from Michigan. BeerFest and FallFest return to Rynearson Stadium this season and fans will be able to join in the fun for both of these events.

Football Has a Homecoming Date Saturday, Oct. 7, with Ball State

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Players Mentioned

Brian Dooley

Hamze El-Zayat

Samson Evans

Jaylon Jackson

Justin Jefferson

Chase Kline

Tanner Knue

JB Mitchell III

Quentavius Scandrett

Austin Smith

Sidy Sow

Joe Sparacio

Mitchell Tomasek

Bennett Walker

Eastern Michigan Athletics