WMU Comes to Town for Hall of Fame Day Saturday, Oct. 28

Football vs. Western Michigan
Date	Saturday, Oct. 28 \| 1 p.m.
Venue	'The Factory' inside Rynearson Stadium (30,200) \| Ypsilanti, Mich.
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) – For the last time in 2023, the Eastern Michigan University football team will play a Saturday game as the Eagles are set to welcome rival Western Michigan University to 'The Factory' inside Rynearson Stadium, Oct. 28, for a Mid-American Conference contest. The game, which will be followed by three midweek MACtion games to close the regular season, is set to kick at 1 p.m.
   Eastern (4-4, 2-2 MAC) is coming off a tough 20-13 road loss at Northern Illinois University, Oct. 21, that saw the Huskies scoring the winning touchdown in the final minute of a windy contest played in DeKalb. The Broncos (2-6, 1-3 MAC) are also entering the game on the heels of a close road loss after falling at Ohio University, 20-17, Oct. 21.
   The game will be streamed live on ESPN+ with Michael Reghi (play-by-play) and Marcus Ray (analyst) on 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.

PROTECTING 'THE FACTORY'
Eastern Michigan has notched five home victories in a row dating back to Nov. 25, 2022, a 38-19 regular-season finale over Central Michigan. Overall, it is EMU's longest stretch of success at home since posting 10 consecutive wins inside Rynearson Stadium from Oct. 18, 1986-Oct. 17, 1988. Furthermore, the streak is tied for the 14th-longest active mark in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) and the second longest in the Mid-American Conference.

HALL OF FAME WEEKEND
The EMU-WMU game will be part of EMU's annual Hall of Fame Weekend. The Class of 2023 includes exceptional athletes who have left an enduring mark at Eastern Michigan University. Eric Alejandro, a track and field champion, that excelled in hurdles and represented Puerto Rico at the Olympics. Ryan Coleman, a women's basketball legend, who rewrote records and earned All-American honors. Charles Gordon, a football star, that shone as a defensive back on the 1987 championship squad and continued his success in the CFL. Natalie Hashimoto, a gymnastics standout, who achieved numerous accolades, including a perfect 10. Camila Olaio, a volleyball sensation, that earned All-MAC recognition and set records for aces and assists, leaving a lasting legacy. This year's class will mark the 47th anniversary of the E-Club Athletic Hall of Fame with a ceremony Friday, Oct. 27, at 6:30 p.m. The Class of 2023 will then be recognized during halftime of the game.

IRON MAN
With his start against Northern Illinois, Oct. 21, Brian Dooley tied the school records for games started at 55 and games played at 57, equaling the marks set by Sidy Sow (2018-22). Should Dooley start against Western Michigan, Oct. 28, he would take the record by himself.

STRIVING FOR FIVE
For the first time in program history, Eastern has taken four straight from Western dating back to 2019. In those victories, the Eagles have out-scored the Broncos, 154-113. The battle between the two Michigan schools has come in stretches with EMU taking three consecutive from 2011-13, while WMU won five straight from 2014-18.

KEEPING IT CLOSE
Following the 20-13 loss at Northern Illinois, Oct. 21, the Eagles fell to 175-172 all-time in one-score games, 25-28 in such contests under Chris Creighton, and 1-2 in 2023 following a 26-23 loss at Central Michigan, Sept. 30. The one-score loss on the road was the second for EMU in the 2023 season. Overall, the Eagles are 7-3 in their last 10, one-score games.

NO STRANGER TO CLOSE GAMES
Eastern is accustomed to close games since 2016 as 51 of the team's last 89 games (57.3%) have been decided by eight-or-less points, including the 20-13 setback at NIU, Oct. 21. Furthermore, 35 of those contests have come in MAC play. Eastern played six one possession games in 2022, only Ball State (8) and Northern Illinois (7) played in a tighter window.

PITTANCE OF POINTS
Through eight games, the EMU defense has been stout, allowing just 156 points (19.5 points per game). The 156 points are the fourth-fewest points allowed through the first eight games of the season in the MAC Era (since 1976) with the 1977 (102), 1989 (142), and 1979 (154) squads allowing fewer. The current team is one of just seven EMU squads that have relinquished 170 or fewer points through eight games with the 1984 and 1986 teams each allowing 166 and the 1987 team allowing 167. Eastern ranks third in the MAC for points allowed with Ohio (111) and Miami (155) just ahead of the Eagles.

TOUGH OUT OF THE GATE
The EMU defense continues to limit teams in scoring to start the game as opponents are now averaging just 2.8 points in the first quarter of the game, including not allowing any points in four of those contests, which ranks 17th nationally. Additionally, the defense is allowing an average of just 8.5 points to be scored in the first half of play, the 17th-best average in the FBS, down from 10.0 following the game with Kent State. Overall, the defense is limiting opponents to 19.5 points per game, the third best in the MAC and 31st-best nationally.

DON'T GO FOR IT
Through eight games, opposing offenses have gone for it on fourth down 21 times against the Eagles, but have found success just seven times for a 33-percent conversion rate, tied for the 14th-best stop rate in the nation and second in the MAC behind Western Michigan's 20-percent rate (1-for-5). One of just 12 teams nationally that have faced 20+ fourth-down conversion attempts, EMU ranks tied for second in the FBS with 21 attempts, joining both SMU and California, while Western Kentucky has faced the most with 23.

STOP RIGHT THERE
The Eastern defense has allowed 388.9 yards per game, which ranks 83rd in the FBS and ninth in the MAC. Despite the yardage, opponents have not been able to turn those yards into points as the Eagles rank 31st nationally in points allowed (19.5) and 39th in red zone defense (77.8 percent), values that rank the team third and fourth, respectively, in the MAC. Opponents have found their way into the red zone 27 times, but managed to score just 21 times, including only 13 touchdowns.

SMALL BUT MIGHTY
The Eagles' offense is averaging 251.1 yards of total offense per game. One of seven teams nationally that is averaging under 300 yards per contest, Eastern is one of just two teams in that group that holds a record of .500 or better, joining 6-2 Iowa, who is averaging 232.4 yards per game. Additionally, of those seven teams, EMU and Iowa are the only teams that have not recorded 400+ yards of total offense in a single game this season.

NEXT MAN UP
Entering the game at NIU, Oct. 21, Elijah Williams' career totals included 35 tackles (24 solo; 11 assisted) with 2.5 tackles-for-loss. Called into action for a majority of the game against the Huskies, Williams posted a career day as he was second on the team with six tackles, while adding 3.5 TFLs, the most of any Eagle this season and the most by any player in the MAC, surpassing the 3.0 TFLs recorded by nine others in the league, including teammates Chase Kline against UMass, Sept. 16, and Alex Merritt last week against Kent State, Oct. 14.

SCARCITY OF YARDS
The Eagles played some of their best defense of the season as they held NIU to just 289 yards of offense, marking the fewest yards allowed in Eastern's 2023 campaign and the fewest since it held Central Michigan to 229 yards in a 38-19 victory, Nov. 25, 2022. Additionally, the 289 yards were the second-fewest for NIU this season after accumulating 149 at Nebraska, Sept. 16.

TOUGH TO CRACK EARLY
The Eastern defense allowed a touchdown in the first stanza in the contest versus the Huskies, Oct. 21, for just the third time this season. The Eagles also gave up first-quarter TDs at Jacksonville State, Sept. 23, and at Central Michigan, Sept. 30. Additionally, EMU has not relinquished a touchdown in the first quarter at home in the 2023 season.

SHINE'S STOPS
Kempton Shine led the team in tackles with nine against the Huskies for a season-high output. The nine stops rank tied for the second-highest total he has recorded in a game behind the 14 he tallied at home against Central Michigan, Nov. 27, 2020. Shine previously recorded nine tackles two seasons ago in a nail-biting 22-21 win over Western Michigan, Nov. 16, 2021.

SHINING STAR
Kempton Shine continues his march towards becoming the EMU all-time leader for passes defended in a career. He added three more against Kent State, Oct. 14, tying Daiquan White for the team lead against the Golden Flashes. With 25 career breakups, Shine is three shy of tying DaQuan Pace (2013-16) for the most in program history. While he did not add to his total at Northern Illinois, Oct. 28, Shine led the team with nine total tackles – all solo – for his second-highest total in a single game, bettered only by the 14 stops he recorded at home against Central Michigan, Nov. 27, 2020.

BREAKOUT SEASON
While ranking tied for fifth in the nation with two fumble recoveries in the 2023 campaign, Eagles' linebacker Justin Jefferson has added another layer to his game. The senior notched the second pass break up of his season and career against Northern Illinois, Oct. 21. Prior to this season, Jefferson had not recorded a PBU, forced fumble, or recovered fumble. Through the NIU game, he has put a scratch in each category this year with two PBUs to go with two forced fumbles and two recovered fumbles.

WIN THE TURNOVER BATTLE
Eastern has won or tied (36 wins, 7 ties) the turnover battle in 43 of its last 46 victories under Chris Creighton. The trend held in EMU's latest win, a 28-14 decision over Kent State, Oct. 14, as EMU recovered three fumbles while turning the ball over once. The three fumbles recovered also were the first three fumbles lost on the year for Kent State, who had led the nation entering the game.

DYNAMIC DUO
Chase Kline and Joe Sparacio continue to be one of the best tackling tandems in the nation as the duo rank seventh and eighth, respectively, in tackles per game average nationally. The duo are each averaging 10.4 tackles per game and are the top-two stoppers in the MAC as well. The two are one of two tandems nationally to be ranked in the top 20 in the FBS, with Old Dominion being the other. The Monarchs have two players also ranked in the top 10 with Jason Henderson first (15.4) and Terry Jones sixth (10.6).

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 40th nationally in turnover margin and second in the MAC at 0.38. Eastern is 33rd in the FBS and fifth in MAC with 12 turnovers gained and ranks second in the league in turnovers lost with just nine.

ACTIVELY SCORING
Samson Evans ranks highly among touchdowns scored by active FBS players as the Eastern running back currently ranks tied for second nationally for rushing touchdowns (35) and sits tied for fifth for overall touchdowns scored (35). On the ground, Evans joins both Rasheen Ali (Marshall) and Garrett Shrader (Syracuse) with 35 rushing scores while Blake Corum (Michigan) leads with 44. One of 15 current players with at least 30 touchdowns scored on the all-time active list, Evans' 35 total touchdowns sit him behind four other players, including Devonta Smith (Alabama) with 48, Corum with 46, Ali with 39, and Zakhari Franklin (Ole Miss) with 38.

60 IMPORTANT YARDS
Samson Evans had a productive day on the ground at Northern Illinois, Oct. 21, rushing for 68 yards on a season-high 19 carries with one touchdown. Evans rushing for 60+ typically bodes well for the Eagles; after the contest against the Huskies, they hold a 10-5 record when Evans goes for 60 or more on the ground.

BEST WHEN IT COUNTS
The Eastern offense stepped it up on third down against NIU as the Eagles made the line to gain on 7-of-14 (50%) third-down opportunities. The conversions tied for EMU's best third down output of the season as it also converted on half of its third down opportunities against the Chippewas, Sept. 30.

GOMEZ GETS TWO
Jesús Gómez knocked in two field goals, one from 34 yards and 37 yards against Northern Illinois, marking his third game with multiple made field goals in 2023 as he previously did so against Minnesota, Sept. 9, and UMass, Sept. 16. Overall, it is the junior's sixth game making multiple field goals in his three-year college football career. The Mexico native plays a large role in the Eagles ranking fourth in the conference in field goal percentage (81.8%) as they have put 9-of-11 through the uprights this season.
   Additionally, Gómez is one of just five FBS players to connect on multiple field goals of 50 or more yards. Others on the list includes Cam Little, Arkansas, Spencer Shrader, Notre Dame, Alex Hale, Oklahoma State, and John Hoyland, Wyoming.

TOMASEK TAKING OFF
Mitchell Tomasek continues to help the Eagles flip the field as the punter has boomed a pair of 70+ yard kicks in 2023 while averaging 45.2 yards per kick, the 15th-best average nationally and the best in the MAC. Through the Northern Illinois game, Oct. 21, Tomasek remains the only punter in the FBS to record multiple punts of 70-yards or more, including his 72-yarder at Jacksonville State, Sept. 23, and 70-yarder against Ball State, Oct. 7, kicks that rank 7th and 14th, respectively, by distance nationally in 2023. A two-time MAC West Division Special Teams Player of the Week this year, Tomasek's 45.2 average is a mark that would rank second for a single season behind Jake Julien's 45.9 average in 2021. Tomasek currently has amassed 4,149 total yards on 93 career punts for an average of 44.6 per boot and is currently ranked 15th all-time for career punting yardage in program history. Tomasek became the 15th EMU player to record 4,000+ punting yards in a career when he totaled 186 punting yards against NIU, Oct. 21. Overall, his career average ranks first, just ahead of Julien, who averaged 44.0 per punt (2017-21).

EL-ZAYAT LEVELS UP
Hamze El-Zayat set a season-high with six receptions and 74 receiving yards throughout the game against the Huskies, Oct. 21. El-Zayat totaled five receptions for 81 yards in Eastern's first three games of the season. In EMU's previous three contests, the Fordham transfer rose to the occasion, hauling in 11 catches for 166 yards, both marking the most of any EMU pass catcher in last three games.

EFFICIENT SPECIAL TEAMS
According to ESPN data, the Eastern Michigan special teams unit ranks fifth nationally and second in the MAC in efficiency, which are based on the point contributions of each unit to the team's scoring margin, on a per-play basis. The values are adjusted for strength of schedule and down-weighted for "garbage time" (based on win probability). Through the game at Northern Illinois, Oct. 21, EMU carries a 71.7 efficiency with Miami leading the FBS at 77.7.

TARGETING TANNER
Tanner Knue caught two passes for 10 yards against Northern Illinois, Oct. 21, to run his streak to 32 games in a row with at least one reception. He is one of 16 current active players in the FBS with a streak of at least 30 games in a row with at least one catch and is tied for the 10th-longest active streak.

RISING IN THE RANKINGS
With 29 receptions and 305 yards in 2023, Tanner Knue has brought his career totals to 136 grabs and 1,692 yards. His 136 catches ranks as the sixth-most in program history and is 44 grabs away from tying former Eagle Jacory Stone (2006-09). On the yardage side of things, he currently ranks 10th all-time and is 308 yards shy of becoming the sixth EMU player to reach 2,000 career receiving yards.

KNUE SCORING IN THE AIR
Midway through the third quarter versus Kent State, Oct. 14, and with the Eagles leading, 14-0, 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 third of the season and brought his career total to 17, which granted him the third most in program history. Knue needs three 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.

JACKSON OF ALL TRADES
EMU all-purpose back Jaylon Jackson has proved himself versatile on the gridiron week-in and week-out for the Eagles as he has reached 100+ all-purpose yards in 9-of-20 (45%) games played donning the Block E. Prior to arriving in Ypsilanti, Jackson notched just one contest where he reached 100+ all-purpose yards in his time with Lamar. This occurrence coincidentally came against Jacksonville State, where Jackson totaled 127 yards in the tilt against the Gamecocks, Nov. 13, 2021.

DEFENDING THE MICHIGAN MAC TROPHY
The game versus WMU will mark the final leg of the Eagles' defense of the Michigan MAC Trophy, which Eastern captured in 2022 by sweeping the three-way series with Central Michigan and Western Michigan. Given annually to one of the Michigan-based, MAC institutions, 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). Since the inception of the trophy in 2005, Eastern has won the crown five times with the 2022 victory the program's first since winning back-to-back crowns in 2011 and 2012.
   EMU lost to CMU, 26-23, earlier this season in Mount Pleasant, so the Eagles need a win over Broncos combined with a WMU triumph over Chippewas, Nov. 7, in order to retain the trophy.

IN THE SERIES: WESTERN MICHIGAN
Western Michigan holds a 34-22-2 lead in the all-time series, however Eastern has rattled off four straight against the Broncos, including a 45-23 decision in Kalamazoo in the last meeting, Oct. 8, 2022. The Eagles lead, 13-12-1, when playing in Ypsilanti and took the last meeting, 22-21, Nov. 16, 2021, to win back-to-back home games over the Broncos since the 2011 and 2013 meetings.

CLOSE CONNECTIONS
Wide receivers coach Chris Chestnut will square off against his alma mater Saturday when Western Michigan comes to town. As a junior, Chestnut started all 11 games and was a two-year letterman for the Broncos. He capped his career, which included 30 catches for 412 yards, by earning a captain's role as a senior in 2003.
   Chestnut was also on staff at WMU as recently as last year working with the tight ends (2021) and wide receivers (2022).

LAST TIME AGAINST WMU
EMU used dominant performances on both sides of the ball en route to a 45-23 win over WMU, Oct. 8, 2022, inside Waldo Stadium. The victory was a program-best fourth straight in the annual "Battle for I-94."
   Senior gunslinger Taylor Powell led Eastern Michigan's passing attack with 293 yards through the air, tossing for a career-best-tying three touchdowns without throwing an interception. Samson Evans led all EMU rushers with 90 yards and three touchdowns in the contest while Jaylon Jackson added 32 yards on the ground, averaging 5.3 yards per carry.
   Powell's most prolific target in the ballgame was Darius Lassiter, who caught six passes for 104 yards and one score. Hassan Beydoun got in on the action, hauling in three balls for 57 yards and one touchdown.
   Jose Ramirez led the Eastern Michigan defensive effort, collecting six tackles, 4.0 TFLs, 4.0 sacks, and one forced fumble while Jordan Crawford added 0.5 TFL, 0.5 sacks, and one recovered fumble. Eastern Michigan was stout against the normally high-powered Bronco scoring unit, holding WMU to 299 total yards. The EMU defense took up residence in Western Michigan's backfield all game, collecting seven sacks.

LAST TIME IN YPSILANTI AGAINST WMU
EMU picked up its seventh win of the year with a win over Western Michigan in comeback-fashion, 22-21, inside "The Factory" at Rynearson Stadium, Nov. 16, 2021.
No one had a bigger impact than kicker Chad Ryland, who knocked through 5-of-5 field goals and one extra point to give him 16 of EMU's 22 points.
   The Eagles were paced by Terry Myrick with 11 stops, marking the second time this season he's reached double figures in the category. Additionally, Jose Ramirez tied his career-high in tackles with 10 to go along with one solo sack.
    Jawon Hamilton proved to be the spark for Eastern's offense, racking up 179 yards on 19 attempts while Hassan Beydoun led the team in receptions with five for 48 yards and EMU's only touchdown of the game.

ON THE HORIZON
Following the game with Western Michigan, the Eagles will play their final three games during midweek MACtion, starting Wednesday, Nov. 8, with a trip to the University of Toledo. The Eagles and Rockets will kick at either 7 p.m. or 7:30 p.m. with the game airing on either ESPN2, ESPNU, or CBS Sports Network. The game time and broadcast channel will be announced at a later date.

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Players Mentioned

Hassan Beydoun

Jordan Crawford

Brian Dooley

Hamze El-Zayat

Samson Evans

Jaylon Jackson

Justin Jefferson

Chase Kline

Tanner Knue

Darius Lassiter

Alex Merritt

Taylor Powell

Jose Ramirez

Kempton Shine

Austin Smith

Sidy Sow

Joe Sparacio

Mitchell Tomasek

Daiquan White

Elijah Williams

Eastern Michigan Athletics