EMU Travels to Toledo Wednesday, Nov. 8, to Kickoff #MACtion

Football at Toledo
Date	Wednesday, Nov. 8 \| 7:30 p.m.
Venue	Glass Bowl (26,038) \| Toledo, Ohio
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
Fan Information	Purchase Tickets \| Gameday Guide \| Season Yearbook

TOLEDO, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University football team is ready to return to #MACtion as the Eagles will travel to face the University of Toledo, Wednesday, Nov. 8, inside the Glass Bowl in Toledo, Ohio. The mid-week contest is the first of three to close out the regular season for the Eagles.
   Eastern (4-5, 2-3 MAC) will be looking to halt a two-game losing streak, including a 45-21 home setback to visiting Western Michigan University, Oct. 28, while working to level its overall and conference records. Toledo (8-1, 5-0 MAC) enters the game on an eight-game winning streak following its 31-13 home win over visiting University at Buffalo, Oct. 31, inside the Glass Bowl.
   The game will be televised nationally on ESPN2. 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.

QUICK HITTERS
» Maxx Crosby and his wife, Rachel Crosby, have committed $1 million to the EMU Athletics Department as part of the Championship Building Plan. As recognition of the Crosbys' generosity, the football playing surface inside Rynearson Stadium will be named after him.
» Brian Dooley made his 56th career start while playing in his 58th game at EMU to surpass Sidy Sow (2018-22) for the program record in both categories. Dooley's 56 starts also rank as the most among all active FBS players.
» The Eagles are 11-5 in mid-week #MACtion games under Chris Creighton and have won three in a row in those games. EMU is 1-0 against Toledo in #MACtion under Creighton following its 52-49 win at UT, Nov. 2, 2021.
» Joe Sparacio and Chase Kline recorded 22 and 21 tackles, respectively, against Western Michigan, Oct. 28. Those totals rank as the most and second-most, respectively, in the FBS this season for a single game. For their efforts, Kline was named the MAC's Male Scholar-Athlete of the Week, Nov. 1, while Sparacio earned West Division Co-Defensive Players of the Week honor, Nov. 3.
» Samson Evans ran in two touchdowns against Western Michigan, Oct. 28, to bring his career total to 37, which ranks second among all active FBS players for rushing scores and sits sixth on the active list for total TDs.
» Daiquan White leads the Eagles with PBUs as he has tallied 11 of the team's 40 this season. Averaging 1.2 breakups per game, White is currently tied for second in the MAC and sits 21st nationally as well.
» With 27 career breakups, Kempton Shine is one shy of tying DaQuan Pace (2013-16) for the most in program history. Shine, who is averaging 1.0 PBU per game in 2023, has recorded six in the past four games.
» EMU will honor its senior class and close out the home portion of the schedule Tuesday, Nov. 14, against the University of Akron. The Eagles have won the last three meetings by an average of 18 points (EMU 34.3; AKR 16.3).

MAXX-IMUM IMPACT
Eastern Michigan football/current Las Vegas Raiders standout Maxx Crosby, along with his wife/former EMU soccer student-athlete, Rachel Crosby, have committed $1 million to the EMU Athletics Department, Vice President/Director of Athletics Scott Wetherbee announced Oct. 30. As recognition of the Crosbys' generosity, the football playing surface inside Rynearson Stadium will be named after him.

THE RETURN OF THE MAC(TION)
The final three games on the regular season schedule for the Eagles will all come in mid-week #MACtion contests with two on the road and one at home, starting with the trip to Toledo, Nov. 8. From there, the Eagles will play on consecutive Tuesday nights, starting with Akron at home, Nov. 14, before playing at Buffalo, Nov. 21.

MIDWEEK MAGIC
Since taking over at Eastern Michigan and excluding the 2020 COVID season when all games were played mid-week, Chris Creighton's Eagles have played in 16 #MACtion games and sport an 11-5 record in those contests, including three wins in a row. EMU's three-game winning streak started Nov. 16, 2021, with a 22-21 home win against Western Michigan before sweeping a pair of road games last year, including a 31-24 victory at Kent State, Nov. 16, after taking down Akron, 34-28, Nov. 8.

GOING FOR TWO
The game with Toledo will mark just the second #MACtion meeting between the teams with Chris Creighton at the helm. In the previous meeting, Eastern took home a 52-49 win from the Glass Bowl, Nov. 2, 2021.

TWO FROM THREE
With a 4-5 record, the Eagles will need two wins in their last three regular season games to become bowl eligible. By doing so, it would continue a streak of five consecutive seasons making a bowl appearance.

IRON MAN
With his start at home against Western Michigan, Oct. 28, Brian Dooley broke school records for both games started and games played with his 56th and 58th games, respectively. Dooley surpassed the previous marks of 55 starts and 57 games played set by Sidy Sow (2018-22).

LEADING THE WAY
Not only does Brian Dooley lead the program for starts in a career, he also leads the nation among active players in 2023. Dooley is currently one start ahead of both Bo Nix of Oregon and Dell Pettus of Troy, both of whom have started 55 times in their respective careers.

56   Brian Dooley   Eastern Michigan   OL
55   Bo Nix   Oregon   QB
55   Dell Pettus   Troy   S
54   Sam Hartman   Notre Dame   QB
54   Josh Newton   TCU   CB
53   Jalon Calhoun   Duke   WR
53   Jacob Monk   Duke   OL
53   Mike Novitsky   Kansas   C

CLOSE TO HOME
When the Eagles play at Toledo, Nov. 8, it will mark the fourth time Brian Dooley has played against one of the two colleges from around where he grew up. A native of Bowling Green, Ohio, and a graduate of nearby Toledo St. John's Jesuit, Dooley is 2-1 against those schools, including a sweep of both teams during the 2021 season. That year, the Eagles won at BGSU, 55-24, Oct. 23, before taking down the Rockets, 52-49, Nov. 2. The lone loss came in 2019, a 37-34 overtime loss at UT, Oct. 26.

DYNAMIC DUO
Chase Kline and Joe Sparacio continue to be one of the best tackling tandems in the nation as the duo rank third and fourth in the national FBS rankings averaging 12.0 and 11.8, respectively. The top two tacklers in the MAC, the EMU duo is one of three tandems that are ranked in the national top 20, one of two ranked on the top 15, and the only duo ranked in the top 10. Currently, Jason Henderson (Old Dominion) leads the nation at 14.6 while Jay Higgins (Iowa) is second at 12.6.

CLOSING IN
Joe Sparacio and Chase Kline are closing in on earning placements on the career and single-season lists for tackles at EMU. For their careers, both men have already recorded 200+ tackles (including their times with previous schools) and are nearing 200 tackles with EMU. Should Sparacio (195) and Kline (187) reach 200, they would become the 89th and 90th players in the 132-year history of the program to hit the mark.
   On a season level, if Sparacio (106) and Kline (96) continue at their current averages, they could reach into the top 20 for season tackles with a projected 151 placing Sparacio seventh and 134 tying Kline for 12th.

SUPER STOPPERS
Heading into last week's games, the most tackles recorded in a single FBS game was 19, which Bryce Gallagher (Northwestern) recorded against Rutgers, Sept. 3. Against Western Michigan, Oct. 28, two Eagles bettered that mark as Joe Sparacio recorded 22 stops and Chase Kline added 21. The 22 tackles recorded by Sparacio rank as the second-most in an FBS game since 2020 and also saw him record 17 assisted tackles, the most in an FBS game this year. Kline, who ranks seventh with his 12 assisted stops against Kent State, Oct. 14, also posted 17 assisted tackles against the Broncos.
   For his efforts, Kline was named the MAC's Male Scholar-Athlete of the Week, Nov. 1.

JOE COOL
The 22 tackles recorded by Joe Sparacio against Western Michigan not only lead the nation for a single FBS game, but also rank highly among single game standards in the past 11 seasons. Dating back to the start of the 2013 season, there have been 78 instances (including Chase Kline's 21) of a player recording at least 20 tackles in a single game with six tallying 24 or more. The 22 Sparacio tallied ranks the second-most by a MAC player in that span, one behind the 23 stops recorded by Brad Koenig (Miami) against Army, Oct. 20, 2018, and John Lako (Akron) against Central Michigan one week later, Oct. 27, 2018.

PITTANCE OF POINTS
Despite allowing 45 points to Western Michigan, Oct. 28, the EMU defense still continues to rank highly among fewest points allowed in the MAC Era (since 1976). Through nine games played, Eastern has allowed 201 points (22.3 per game), making the current team one of just 12 in the past 48 years to allowed 220 points in the same span. The last Eastern team to do so was the 2017 squad that allowed 183 points through the first nine games of the season.

DON'T GO FOR IT
Through nine games, opposing offenses have gone for it on fourth down 25 times against the Eagles, but have found success just nine times for a 36-percent conversion rate, the 20th-best stop rate in the nation and third in the MAC behind Western Michigan's 14.3-percent rate (1-for-7) and Toledo's 29.4 percent clip (5-for-17). One of just 26 teams nationally that have faced 22+ fourth-down conversion attempts, EMU ranks third in the FBS with 25 attempts, with Florida Atlantic (30) and Western Kentucky (30) having faced more.

STOP RIGHT THERE
The Eastern defense has allowed 381.3 yards per game, which ranks 75th in the FBS and 10th in the MAC. Despite the yardage, opponents have not been able to turn those yards into points as the Eagles rank 42nd nationally in points allowed (22.3) and 31st in red zone defense (77.1 percent), values that rank the team fourth and third, respectively, in the MAC. Opponents have found their way into the red zone 35 times, but managed to score just 27 times, including only 17 touchdowns.

SMALL BUT MIGHTY
The Eagles' offense is averaging 258.8 yards of total offense per game. One of nine teams nationally -- and one of five in the MAC -- that is averaging under 300 yards per contest, Eastern is one of just five teams in that group that has won four or more games. 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.

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.

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 61st nationally in turnover margin and fifth in the MAC at 0.00, having taken the ball away 13 times while giving it away 13 times. Eastern is 53rd in the FBS and sixth in the MAC with those 13 turnovers gained, seven of which are fumbles recovered.

FUMBLE!
Six Eagles have combined to collect seven fumble recoveries this season with Justin Jefferson leading the way with two, which ranks him tied for seventh nationally and tops in the MAC. Along with recoveries by David Carter Jr., Adrian Gonzalez, Peyton Price, Daiquan White, and Elijah Williams, the EMU defense's seven recoveries ranks 22nd nationally and third in the MAC behind 10 by Bowling Green and eight by WMU.

BREAKOUT SEASON
While ranking tied for eighth 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. Following the game with Western Michigan, Oct. 28, he added his first full sack recorded after being credited with 0.5 sacks at Central Michigan, Sept. 30.

AIR DEFENSE
Eastern Michigan ranks 20th nationally and fifth in the MAC for passing yards allowed as the Eagles are limiting teams to 182.3 yards per game through the air. A big help to those numbers are the number of pass breakups (PBUs) the defense has recorded. Against Western Michigan, Oct. 28, EMU tallied eight PBUs, tying for the most it has posted in one game this year with the eight breakups recorded against both Massachusetts (Sept. 16) and Kent State (Oct. 14). Six different players recorded PBUs against the Broncos, including three by Daiquan White, with 16 total players having recorded at least one this season.

ROOKIE RANKED
Daiquan White leads the Eagles with PBUs as he has tallied 11 of the team's 40 this season. Averaging 1.2 breakups per game, White is currently tied for second in the MAC and sits 14th nationally as well. White opened his career with one PBU in each of the first four games of the season and added one more at home against Ball State before recording three each against Kent State and Western Michigan.

SHINING STAR
Kempton Shine continues his march towards becoming the EMU all-time leader for passes defended in a career. He added one more against Western Michigan, Oct. 28, and sits just behind Daiquan White's 11 to lead the team lead. With 27 career breakups, Shine is one shy of tying DaQuan Pace (2013-16) for the most in program history. Shine, who is averaging 1.0 PBU per game in 2023, has recorded six in the past four games.

ACTIVELY SCORING
Samson Evans added a pair of rushing touchdowns against Western Michigan, Oct. 28, to bring his career total to 37, the second-most among active players in the FBS this year. Trailing only the 47 scores recorded by Blake Corum (Michigan) for rushing touchdowns, those 37 TDs rank sixth on the active list for total touchdowns. The four players ahead of him are Corum with 48, DeVonta Smith (Alabama) with 48, Rasheen Ali (Marshall) with 39, Zakhari Franklin (Ole Miss) with 38, and Bo Nix (Oregon) at 38. For the season, Evans' eight rushing touchdowns rank 34th nationally and is one behind the MAC leader.

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.

CATCHING ON
Jaylon Jackson put together a career day against Western Michigan, Oct. 28, as the running back recorded 111 yards on nine catches with one touchdown. Jackson, who scored on a 68-yard pass play, which ranks as the fifth-longest reception of the year in the MAC, tallied the 10th-most receiving yards in a single game in the MAC in 2023 and the second-most by a non-wide receiver. With the longest play from scrimmage in his career and by any Eagle in 2023, Jackson, who entered the game with nine total catches on the year and a season-best 32 yards receiving, is the first EMU player to post 100+ yards receiving in a game since Darrius Lassiter tallied 108 in the 2022 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, Dec. 20, 2022, in Boise, Idaho. He also scored the first receiving TD of his collegiate career.

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 10-of-21 (47.6%) 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, who Eastern played this year on the road, where Jackson totaled 127 yards in the tilt against the Gamecocks, Nov. 13, 2021.

99 PROBLEMS
JB Mitchell III posted five catches for a career-high 99 yards, missing the century mark by just one yard. The second-most yards in the game for the Eagles behind Jaylon Jackson's 111 yards, Mitchell posted a career-high in yardage for the fifth time in nine games this year while also pulling down a 50-yard pass from Austin Smith, his longest career reception, surpassing his 16-yard catch against Ball State, Oct. 7. Mitchell currently ranks second on the team in both catches (24) and yards (283) behind only Tanner Knue (37 for 371 yards).

TARGETING TANNER
Tanner Knue tallied 66 yards on five catches against Western Michigan, Oct. 28, to run his streak to 33 games in a row with at least one reception. Knue is one of 16 current active players nationally with a streak of at least 30 games in a row with at least one catch and tied for the 14th-longest active streak.

RISING IN THE RANKINGS
With 37 receptions and 371 yards in 2023, Tanner Knue has brought his career totals to 141 grabs and 1,758 yards. His 141 catches ranks as the sixth-most in program history and is 39 grabs away from tying former Eagle Jacory Stone (2006-09). On the yardage side of things, he currently ranks eighth all-time at 1,758 yards and is 242 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.

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 17th-best average nationally and the best in the MAC. Through the Western Michigan game, Oct. 28, 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 tied for 7th and tied for 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 4,285 total yards on 96 career punts for an average of 44.6 per boot and is currently ranked 13th 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).

GREAT RETURNS
EMU kick returners continue to rank highly this year as the Eagles rank first in the MAC both kick and punt returns while ranking seventh and 23rd nationally, respectively. Through nine games, EMU averages 26.65 yards per kick return while averaging 12.91 yards per punt return. Individually, Hamze El-Zayat is averaging 12.9 yards per punt return, which leads the MAC and ranks 10th nationally.

RETURN TO SENDER
Along with the yards in the return game, the Eagles also have taken three kick offs back to the house, making Eastern Michigan the only team in the nation with three or more kick return touchdowns in 2023. Individually, the trio of Hamze El-Zayat, Jaylon Jackson, and Kendric Nowling each have one return for a score, which leads the MAC and is tied for second in the nation. Additionally, of the 23 kick returns for TDs in 2023, only two have been brought back by non-offensive players with Nowling (DB) and Sam Martin of Temple (safety) making the list.

QUICK SCORE
The Eagles scored one of the quickest touchdowns it could against Kent State, Oct. 14, as the Golden Flashes tried an onside kick that not only did Kendric Nowling recover, but also ran back 44 yards to stake EMU to a 7-0 lead just six seconds into the game. The touchdown is the first of the defensive back's career and the quickest return to open a game this season in the FBS. It also is the first opening kick-off returned for a touchdown by Eastern in nearly 10 years after Tyler Allen ran the opening kick back 90 yards against Ohio, Oct. 19, 2013.

RECORD BREAKER EMU
Returners have accounted for three touchdowns this year, marking the fifth time in program history Eastern has had multiple return scores in the same season. Two returns for touchdowns have been recorded in 1955, 1974, 1993, and 2022. Additionally, the Eagles have now recorded five touchdowns on kick returns in 20 games, dating back to the start of the 2022 season.

TO THE HOUSE
Kendric Nowling's kick-off return for a touchdown not only was his first career score, but also stands as the third run-back of a kick-off this season after both Hamze El-Zayat and Jaylon Jackson took kicks to the house in the opener against Howard, Sept. 1. The only school with three returns for touchdowns this season, Eastern now has 20 kick-off returns for touchdowns in program history.

IN THE SERIES: TOLEDO
The Rockets hold a 37-13-0 lead in the all-time series with the two teams trading wins in each of the last three meetings, including a 27-24 Toledo win in Ypsilanti last year, Oct. 29, 2022. UT also leads, 20-5-0, when playing host to the game with the Eagles winning the last meeting in the Glass Bowl, 52-49, Nov. 2, 2021.

GOING FOR BACK-TO-BACK WINS
Eastern is looking to capture back-to-back wins at Toledo for just the second time in program history and the first since the 1974 and 1978 contests. The Eagles captured a 28-12 win Nov. 23, 1974, for their first victory in the series and then won again in the next game at Toledo, 17-12, Sept. 30, 1978.

LAST TIME AGAINST TOLEDO
Eastern Michigan fell in heartbreaking fashion to Toledo, 27-24, Oct. 29, 2022, inside "The Factory" at Rynearson Stadium. EMU got on the scoreboard first, jumping out to a 7-0 lead with 3:35 remaining in the first quarter. The Rockets then cut into the Eagles' lead, making it a 7-3 game before EMU added another score to build the advantage to 10-3.
   After Toledo evened the game at 10-10, Eastern Michigan got on the scoreboard once again late in the first half. With 0:30 left in the second quarter, a one-yard touchdown rush from Samson Evans put the Eagles back in front, 17-10.
   The Rockets came back to even the game at 17-17 until the Green and White answered back with an 11-yard touchdown run from Evans to retake the lead at 24-17. Eastern Michigan didn't score again in the game and Toledo tacked on 10 more points to finish off the scoring, including a touchdown with 2:09 to play to take the lead for the final time.

LAST TIME IN TOLEDO AGAINST UT
EMU fought back from a four-point halftime deficit to take down Toledo, 52-49, inside UT's Glass Bowl, Nov. 2, 2021. At the time, the win gave EMU bowl eligibility for the fourth time under Chris Creighton and the sixth time in its history.
   Eastern Michigan put points on the board on eight different occasions on their way to scoring 52 points. The Eagles took their first lead with 4:02 left in the second quarter, opening up a 24-21 advantage. Samson Evans carried it for a two-yard touchdown run to finish an eight-play, 90-yard scoring drive.
   Seconds after Toledo rallied to take the lead, Eastern Michigan got back on top with a touchdown to take control for good at 31-28 with 13:16 remaining in the third quarter. Ben Bryant found Hassan Beydoun on a 64-yard touchdown catch to finish off a four-play, 75-yard drive. The Eagles then rode that lead to victory, cruising the rest of the way, securing Eastern's first victory in the Glass Bowl since the 1999 season, when the Eagles bested the Rockets, 20-13, Oct. 23.

CLOSE CONNECTIONS
Two members of the Toledo coaching staff have ties to Eastern Michigan, including Corey Parker (cornerbacks) and RJ Fleming (wide receivers). Parker is a three-time letterwinner for the EMU football program where he played defensive back before earning his degree in communications in 2005 while Fleming served as the wide receivers coach for the Eagles in the 2021 season.

ON THE HORIZON
The Eagles return to action Tuesday, Nov. 14, when they play host to the University of Akron inside 'The Factory' at Rynearson Stadium in a 7 p.m. kick off. The final home game of the 2023 season will also serve as Senior Night for the program as it honors its players in their final seasons of competition for Eastern Michigan.

EMU Travels to Toledo Wednesday, Nov. 8, to Kickoff #MACtion

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Hassan Beydoun

David Carter Jr.

Brian Dooley

Hamze El-Zayat

Samson Evans

Adrian Gonzalez

Jaylon Jackson

Justin Jefferson

Chase Kline

Tanner Knue

JB Mitchell III

Kendric Nowling

Peyton Price

Kempton Shine

Austin Smith

Sidy Sow

Joe Sparacio

Mitchell Tomasek

Daiquan White

Elijah Williams

Eastern Michigan Athletics