Eastern Michigan Athletics

Saturday, September 9
Minneapolis, Minn.
7:30 p.m.

Eastern Michigan University

at

Minnesota

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Eastern Football Looks to Fly the Flag in Minnesota Saturday Night

9/4/2023 2:19:00 PM | Football

Game 2 • Sept. 9, 2023 • 7:30 p.m. ET • Minneapolis, Minn. • Huntington Bank Stadium (54,147)

Football at Minnesota Golden Gophers
Date Saturday, Sept. 9 | 6:30 p.m. CT (7:30 p.m. ET)
Venue Huntington Bank Stadium (54,147) | Minneapolis, Minn.
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MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University football team hits the road for the first time in the 2023 season, when it makes the trek to Minneapolis for a week two bout against the University of Minnesota. The Saturday, Sept. 9, non-conference contest is scheduled to kickoff at 7:30 p.m. ET (6:30 p.m. CT) at Huntington Bank Stadium.
   Both sides enter the contest following week one victories. Eastern Michigan used a pair of kickoffs returns for touchdowns in the first half en route to a 33-23 victory over FCS-member Howard, Sept. 1. Meanwhile, Dragan Kesich kicked a 47-yard field goal for Minnesota as time expired after Daniel Jackson's toe-tap touchdown catch tied the game with 2:32 left as the Gophers beat Nebraska, 13-10, in Minneapolis, Aug. 31.
   The contest will be televised on the Big Ten Network and the Fox Sports app. Connor Onion and Tommy Olson will be in the booth, while Audrey Dahlgren reports from the sideline. The game will also be aired on WEMU (89.1 FM) and the Varsity Network with veteran broadcasters Tom Helmer and Rob Rubick calling the action from the press box.
 
QUICK HITTERS
• With one more touchdown, running back Samson Evans will tie Gary Patton (1984-87) for the program's all-time record at 31 career scores.
Against Howard, Sept. 1, Eastern had both a free kick return and a kick return in the first half against the Bison in the Eagles home opener, Sept. 1. It is the first time that has happened in the same game in the history of the program.
• Dating back to last season, Eastern has won five consecutive road contests. EMU's five straight road wins last season stand as a program record and the Eagles have a chance to extend that record to six with a win at Minnesota.
• Head Coach Chris Creighton has directed his EMU teams to four "Power Five" wins during his tenure in Ypsilanti (Rutgers – 2017, Purdue – 2018, Illinois – 2019, Arizona State – 2022). The Eagles added their fourth with a dominant 30-21 win over Arizona State, on the road in the Valley of the Sun, Sept. 17. Creighton and Northern Illinois' Thomas Hammock are the only active MAC coaches to have multiple "Power Five" wins.
• Last year, running back Samson Evans put together a career night in EMU's 30-21 win at Arizona State. The Crystal Lake, Ill., native carried the ball 36 times for 258 yards on the ground with one touchdown, an average of 7.2 yards per carry. The EMU ground game, which finished with 305 yards, saw Evans record the third-highest rush total in program history and just the sixth 250-yard-plus game in program history.
• Next weekend against UMass, Sept. 16, the second annual Car Show returns to "The Factory". The car show will take place along the stadium terraces and showcase the top classic automobiles in the area. Eastern Michigan will also welcome top high school bands from the state of Michigan who will be cheering on the Eagles and then join the Pride of the Peninsula during the halftime performance. For more information, visit EMUEagles.com or call the EMU Ticket Office at 734.487.3669.

HISTORY IN THE MAKING
   With a first quarter rushing touchdown in a 33-23 win over Howard, Sept. 1, EMU standout back, Samson Evans has 30 rushing touchdowns in his Eastern career. One more score would tie the Crystal Lake, Ill., native with former Huron great Gary Patton (1984-87), who currently holds the record with 31career TDs.
   Evans, who already holds the EMU career record for rushing scores, ranks third in the FBS in active career rushing touchdowns scored. Oregon quarterback Bo Nix and Michigan running back Blake Corum are the only active players with more, having found the endzone 32 times via the rush.
 
HOT AWAY FROM HOME
Dating back to last season, Eastern has won five consecutive road contests. EMU's five straight road wins last season stand as a program record and the Eagles have a chance to extend that record to six with a win at Minnesota, Sept. 9. Additionally, the 1925, 1927, 1954, and 1955 teams each won four straight road games in their respective seasons. Prior to last season, Eastern had not played five straight road games without a loss since it did so Oct. 15, 1988-Sept. 30, 1989, when it went 4-0-2 during six road contests within that stretch. 
 
GOING FOR NUMBER FIVE IN THE "POWER FIVE"
The Green and White have the opportunity to secure its fifth "Power Five" win in the Chris Creighton era. Creighton has led EMU to four "Power Five" wins in his time leading the program. The Eagles topped Rutgers back in the 2017 season before beating Purdue in 2018, Illinois in 2019, and Arizona State last season in Tempe.
 
ALL-TIME VS. MINNESOTA
While head coaches Chris Creighton and P.J. Fleck have matched up many times in the MAC, this will be the first time Eastern Michigan and Minnesota will clash on the gridiron in the 132-year history of EMU football. Furthermore, it marks the program's first time playing an opponent from the Gopher State.
 
EASTERN VS. FLECK
Eastern Michigan is 1-3 when opposing P.J. Fleck. The lone EMU victory came in 2013, Fleck's first season at Western Michigan, when the Eagles sunk the Broncos in an emotional overtime thriller, winning 35-32, Nov. 9, 2013. In that contest, Ryan Brumfield rushed for a four-yard touchdown to give Eastern Michigan a come-from-behind victory at Rynearson Stadium. EMU answered Andrew Haldeman's 36-yard field goal in OT by giving the ball to Brumfield twice before the winning score. Down 29-21 late in the fourth quarter, Brogan Roback threw a 10-yard touchdown to Dustin Creel. The Eagles added a two-point conversion that tied the game with 51 seconds remaining.
 
IT'S AN EVERY SEASON THING
With the victory over Howard, Sept. 1, Eastern Michigan football has recorded a non-conference win every season dating back to 2011, which is the longest streak for the program since stats began being kept in 1976. The previous best was a five-year stretch between 1985-89. Additionally, Chris Creighton's teams have won 21-of-53 total non-conference games, for a 40 percent winning percentage.
 
FLY THE FLAG
MAC Commissioner Dr. Jon Steinbrecher debuted a pirate flag in 2018 for when a conference member posts a non-conference victory. EMU has previously posted road non-conference wins in 2015 (Wyoming), 2016 (Charlotte), 2017 (Rutgers), 2018 (Purdue), 2019 (Illinois), 2021 (UMass), and Arizona State (2022). The streak is the longest by EMU since the then-Hurons rolled off non-league road triumphs in 10 consecutive years between 1966 and 1975.
 
SEVEN STRAIGHT VS THE FCS
The win against Howard, Sept. 1, was Eastern Michigan's 138th all-time meeting against an FCS opponent. The Eagles have a 73-55-10 all-time record against FCS schools, including a seven-game winning streak dating back to a win against Mississippi Valley State on Sept. 2, 2017.
 
30 IN FIVE STRAIGHT
Finishing with 33 points against Howard, Eastern Michigan notched another 30-point effort in the win. In 2022, the Eagles scored 30 points in 8-of-13 games. Dating back to last season, the Eagles have scored 30 points in five consecutive games. The last time the Eagles were under 30 points in a game was Oct. 29, 2022, in a 27-24 home loss to Toledo.
 
EL-ZAYAT EARNS MAC WEST SPECIAL TEAMS POTW
Hamze El-Zayat was named the MAC West Division Special Teams Player of the Week, the league announced Sept. 4. El-Zayat, who had not appeared in a collegiate game since playing for Fordham during the 2021 season, put on an impressive display in his debut with the Eagles, finishing the game against Howard with 156 all-purpose yards, a career-high, as he returned one kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown, two punts for 42 yards, one reception for 12 yards, and one rush for six. El-Zayat made the most of his debut for the Eagles as his first kick return at EMU and just the third of his career went 96 yards to the house for the fourth-longest kick return in program history and tied for the fifth-longest of the season so far in FBS. He also added the first two punt returns of his career, collecting 42 yards in total. All told, his 156 total yards are the second-best performance of his collegiate career behind the 166 receiving yards he posted for Fordham at Lafayette, Oct. 2, 2021.
 
ZOOMIN' EL-ZAYAT
Hamze El-Zayat's second quarter 96-yard kick return for a touchdown against the Bison, Sept. 1, tied for the fourth-longest punt or kickoff return for a touchdown in the 55-year history of Rynearson Stadium. Former Eagle Lincoln Dupree holds the longest kickoff return in school history when he ran it back an even 100-yards at Northern Illinois, Nov. 20, 1999. The second longest is co-owned by Clarence Chapman and Craig Thompson, who each ran one back 98-yards in their EMU tenures. The Dearborn, Mich., native finished the game with 138 return yards in his first game donning the Green and White.
 
RETURNS RUNNING RAMPANT
Eastern had both a free kick return and a kick return in the first half against the Bison in the Eagles' home opener, Sept. 1. It is the first time that has happened in the same game in the history of the program. With the returns posted by Hamze El-Zayat and Jaylon Jackson, the Eagles posted multiple returns for touchdowns in a single game for the first time since Sept. 2, 1995, when EMU ran back a pair of fumble returns at Akron, measuring 45 and 60 yards.
 
JAYLON BEING JAYLON
Jaylon Jackson compiled 107-return yards and ran a kickoff back for a touchdown in the battle against Howard, Sept. 1, marking the second-highest return yardage in the ball carrier's career. Jackson's career high was 123 in a 50-31 win over Buffalo last season, Sept. 24.
 
FIRST IN A LONG TIME
At the 2:19 mark in the first quarter against Howard, Sept. 1, Eastern Michigan forced a safety on the Bison's punting unit. The safety was the first that Eastern has recorded in any game since Sept. 2, 2016, in a 61-14 victory over Mississippi Valley State.
 
TOUGH OUT OF THE GATE
The Eastern defense started the game strong, refusing to relinquish a singular point to the Bison in the first quarter, Sept. 1. This marks the third consecutive home opener where the Green and White defense held their opponent scoreless in the first quarter. The Eagles locked up Eastern Kentucky in the first quarter last season, Sept. 2, 2022, along with stuffing the Red Flash of St. Francis in the first frame of the first game of the 2021 campaign, Sept. 3.
 
SPARACIO'S SUPER STOPS
Linebacker Joe Sparacio picked up right where he left off one season ago on defense, recording 10 tackles for the Eagles in their season-opening win over the Howard Bison, Sept. 1. Dating back to his Boston College days, it is his 16th career college game with at least five tackles, 11 of which have come since wearing the colors of Eastern Michigan. Moreover, it is Sparacio's second career game recording 10 plus tackles. He tabbed 16 total takedowns versus Ball State last season, Oct. 22.
 
KENYON'S FIRST KICK
Kicker Kenynon Bowyer converted a field goal attempt at the 4:04 mark of the fourth quarter to give Eastern Michigan the 33-23 edge, extending the Eagles lead to 10 points for the remainder of the contest. The field goal, along with four successful point-after-touchdown kicks, marked the first points for Bowyer with EMU after transferring in from Marshall.
 
KNUE KEEPS CLIMBING
Tanner Knue, who donned 'The Deuce' for the first time this season, pulled in a pass in the second quarter for a touchdown, which marked the 15th of his career, putting him fourth all-time in receiving touchdowns in program history. Two more receiving TDs would put the wide-out third all-time, and reaching 21 by season's end would slot the graduate student at second in program history. 
 
ITS TIM'S TIME
Senior defensive lineman Tim Grant-Randall dragged down the Howard signal caller late in the second quarter, registering his second career sack as an Eagle, Sept. 1. The Texas native's first sack came in a 45-23 thrashing of the Western Michigan Broncos, Oct. 8, 2022. Grant-Randall would also go on to have six tackles in the game, including 1.5 tackles for loss, making him one of five Eagles to record at least five tackles in the opener.
 
30 IN ONE HALF
As a team, Eastern Michigan scored 30 points in the first half against the Bison, Sept. 1. It is the second straight game in which the Eagles have scored 30 points in a half, dating back to the 2022 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl against San Jose State, Dec. 22, 2022, when the Eagles laid 30 on the Spartans in the first half en route to a 41-27 bowl game victory.
 
NEW SEASON, NEW QB
Austin Smith started at quarterback for Eastern Michigan in its home opener against the Howard Bison, Sept. 1. With this occurrence, the Eagles have had a different starting quarterback in each of the last eight season openers. The last time the same quarterback started in back-to-back openers for EMU was Reginald Bell in 2014 and 2015.
 
PERFECT AGAINST THE MEAC
Eastern Michigan played in their sixth game all-time against a Mid-East Atlantic Conference opponent when they matched up with the Howard Bison, Sept.1. With the 33-23 victory, the Eagles are a perfect 6-0 all-time against MEAC opponents.
 
ALL-TIME ON BTN
Eastern Michigan will play its 12th game on the Big Ten Network Saturday, Sept. 9, against the Minnesota Golden Gophers. The Eagles currently hold a 3-8 record when televised on the BTN.
 
ALL-TIME AGAINST THE BIG TEN
EMU has played 42 games against Big Ten opponents and holds a record of 3-39 in such games. However, the three victories have all come in the Chris Creighton era (2013-pres.). The last time the Green and White knocked off a Big Ten opponent came Sept. 14, 2019, when the Eagles marched into Champaign, Ill., and took down the Fighting Illini, 34-31.
 
MINNESOTA TIES
 It will be a homecoming game for two Eagles when EMU faces the Golden Gophers, Sept. 9. Wide receivers Terry Lockett Jr. and Jamarien Wheeler will return to their respective stomping grounds. Furthermore, Minnesota's Tyler Nubin's parents are both EMU graduates. His father, Rodney, was a member of the football program, while his mother, Sherese, ran the quarter-mile and was a high jumper for the Eagles.
 
A SPECIAL NIGHT FOR SPECIAL TEAMS
Not only did EMU take two kickoffs to the house against Howard, Sept. 1., but it also registered its 22nd blocked kick in the Chris Creighton era. Sophomore defensive back Jason Marshall was credited with the block, containing the Howard scoring drive to just six points, and preserving EMU's 17-point lead at the time.
 
CREIGHTON CLOSING IN ON NO. 2
With his opening-night victory versus Howard, Sept. 1, EMU Head Coach Chris Creighton secured his 47th win at Eastern. Currently sitting third in all-time wins in program history, Creighton is just three wins away from tying Fred Trosko (1952-64), with 50 wins for the number two spot in EMU football history. Legendary Head Coach Elton J. Rynearson (1917, 1919-20,1925-48) sits firmly on top of the list with 114 career victories.
 
ON THE HORIZON
After its contest at Minnesota, Eastern will return home to 'The Factory' inside Rynearson Stadium to face UMass Saturday, Sept. 16, at 2 p.m. The Eagles are 2-2 all-time against the Minutemen and currently boast a two-game winning streak in the series, as the Eastern Green and White have outscored them, 62-41, in the previous two contests. The game will be aired on ESPN+ and the Varsity Network app.
 
EVANS MOVES UP
Senior running back Samson Evans' score in the second quarter of the 2022 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl was historical in numerous aspects. His second rushing touchdown of the game tied the Eastern Michigan postseason record. Prior to the score, no EMU player had rushed for multiple scores in a postseason bowl since Bob Foster scored a pair in the 1987 California Bowl. Additionally, the score was the 29th of Evans' career, moving him into second place on the all-time total touchdowns list at Eastern. He sits just one behind Gary Patton (1984-87) for the all-time record following his score against Howard in the opener, Sept. 1.
 
SPLITTING THE UPRIGHTS
EMU kickers have made their last 116 point-after touchdown attempts. The last time EMU missed an extra point was at Kent State, Nov. 4, 2020. Last season, Jesus Gomez was a perfect 47-for-47 after Chad Ryland made 65 consecutive PATs.
 
132 YEARS OF FOOTBALL
This is the 132nd year for the EMU football team. The first year of intercollegiate football in Ypsilanti was 1891, when the team, then known as the Michigan Normal College Normalites, posted an 0-2 record. EMU has fielded a team every year since 1891 with one exception, when the 1944 season was canceled because of World War II.
 
QUITE THE NON-CONFERENCE NUMBERS
Eastern Michigan won four non-conference games last season. It was the third year in a row EMU tallied at least three non-conference wins and is the fourth in the Chris Creighton era (2016, 2019, 2021, 2022). Since 1976, there are only two other seasons in which EMU has three or more non-conference victories (1977, 1987).
   EMU has won nine consecutive non-conference home games dating back to the 2016 season.
 
RED HOT IN THE RED ZONE
Red zone scoring was a highlight for the Eastern Michigan offense in 2022. The Green and White were 46-of-49 (94%). That number ranked fourth in the nation. EMU was 3-of-4 (75%) in the season-opener with Howard, Sept. 1.
 
GOOD STUFF, GOMEZ
Junior placekicker Jesus Gomez etched his name into the EMU kicking record books numerous times in his first year as the team's primary placekicker in 2022. The Puebla, Mexico, native tied the school's all-time mark with 47 extra points made in a season (Chad Ryland was first with 47 in 2021), and is already 10th all-time in the category for a career. Additionally, his 14 field goals rank ninth all-time for a single season, and 11th in a career.
 
BIG KICK MITCH
Not to be outdone, junior punter Mitchell Tomasek made his mark on the EMU record books in his first season as the team's punter. Tomasek's 43.9 yards per punt average is the third-best in a single season average, while his career average is currently second all-time.
 
WE SEE YOU, MR. McCARTY
Senior defensive back Josh McCarty made a noticeable impact on the Eagles' special teams efforts last season. A finalist for the National Special Teams Player of the Year Award, McCarty currently had 10 special teams tackles in 2022 with a Pro Football Focus grade of 80.9. That number is third most of any player in the country. Overall, McCarty had 12 total tackles, including eight solo stops, in his 13 games last season, his first action with the Green and White after converting positions from running back.
 
GREAT SCOTT
Senior defensive back Joshua Scott finished the bowl game against San Jose State with four pass break ups. That mark tied for the second most in a single game in EMU history (record kept since 1998). The record, five, was recorded by Andrae Brooks, against Southeast Missouri State University, Sept. 1, 2001. Four pass break ups had only occurred once prior to the 2022 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.
 
YOUTHFUL PLAYCALLER
Mike Piatkowski is in his first official season as EMU's offensive coordinator. Piatkowski took over the role late in the 2022 campaign when Head Coach Chris Creighton handed off the play calling responsibility. Last season, Eastern finished top five in the MAC in passing touchdowns (23), yards per reception (7.4), and completion percentage (62.4%), as well as having the second most efficient offense in the conference, boasting a 138.2 efficiency rating. EMU QBs also thrived individually under the tutelage of Piatkowski. Taylor Powell was the starter, and threw for 2,111-yards, with a 16-8 touchdown to interception ratio. Powell also completed 64.68 percent of his passes, and had a 144.28 QB rating on the season. Additionally, Powell took home the Manning Award as a "Star of the Week" (Nov. 21) as well as being named a College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District honoree. Backing up Powell, Austin Smith had a breakout year for the Eagles. The Ellenwood, Ga., native saw action in nine games, completing 57.63 percent of his passes and throwing six touchdowns. He averaged 86-yards per game and posted a QB rating of 122.73.
 
NO STRANGER TO CLOSE GAMES
EMU is accustomed to close games since 2016, as 48 of the team's last 84 games (58%) have been decided by eight-or-less points. Furthermore, 33 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.
 
CLOSING IN NOVEMBER
EMU is 15-11 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 .714 (15-7).
 
HOT ON OPENING DRIVES
Eastern Michigan's offense was effective on its opening drives during the 2022 regular season. The Green and White had six opening-drive scores last season. EMU had four touchdowns and two field goals in those game-opening scoring drives. EMU was 4-2 in those games, with the lone losses coming at Louisiana, Sept. 10, and vs. Buffalo, Sept. 24. EMU defeated Arizona State, Western Michigan, Akron, and Central Michigan after opening-drive scores. EMU opened 2023 with a touchdown on their opening drive against Howard, Sept. 1.
 
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 80 (58%) contests decided by eight points or less. Eight games have been decided in overtime with 19 coming down to the final play.
 
CONSISTENT COACHING
The last EMU head football coach to remain at the helm for 10 seasons was Jim Harkema, who headed the program for 10 years from 1983-92.
 
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.
 
EXCLUSIVE COMPANY
With the drafting of Sidy Sow and Jose Ramirez in the 2023 NFL Draft, Eastern Michigan became the only school in the MAC to have two student-athletes taken in the 2023 NFL Draft. This marks the first time Eastern has produced two NFL draft picks in the same draft since Mark Carter was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the 10th round and Jim Stansik was taken by the San Diego Chargers in the 12th round of the 1976 NFL Draft.
 
SELECTED TO FINISH SECOND
The 2023 EMU football team is projected to finish second in the MAC West division, their highest MAC West preseason projection in program history. The Green and White's projected second place finish is the highest since 1988 when the Eagles were also slated to finish second in the conference.
 
FROM EAGLE TO PANTHER
One-time EMU tight end Gunnar Oakes was signed to the USFL's Michigan Panthers for the upcoming 2024 spring football season. Oakes signing with the Panthers makes him the fourth former football student-athlete to reach the professional ranks after the 2022 football season.
 
10 NAMED PRESEASON ALL-MAC (ATHLON SPORTS)
Ten Eagles were tabbed preseason All-MAC players by Athlon Sports for the 2023 football season. Offensive lineman Brian Dooley, running back Samson Evans and punter Mitchell Tomasek were named to the first team, while wide receiver Tanner Knue, defensive back Kempton Shine, and kicker Jesús Gómez added second team accolades. Linebacker Joe Sparacio added third team accolades, as offensive lineman Alex Howie, linebacker Chase Kline, and kick returner Jaylon Jackson picked up fourth team honors.
 
10 TABBED PRESEASON ALL-MAC (PHIL STEELE)
Along with 10 Eagles being named to the Athlon Sports preseason All-MAC list, a different flock of 10 was also labeled preseason All-MAC by Phil Steele. Long snapper Steve Bird and kick returner Jaylon Jackson garnered the Eagles' first team selections, while offensive lineman Brian Dooley, running back Samson Evans, defensive back Kempton Shine, and punter Mitchell Tomasek added second team accolades. Kicker Jesús Gómez, linebacker Chase Kline, wide receiver Tanner Knue, and linebacker Joe Sparacio collected third team accolades.
 
THREE WATCH LISTS FOR EVANS
Senior running back Samson Evans was named to the watch list of three different awards (Maxwell Award, Doak Walker Award, Walter Camp Player of the Year Award) respectively. Evans' three nominations marks the first time the football program has had a student-athlete nominated for three different awards in the preseason since Kevin McGill was also named to three preseason watch lists (Bednarik Award, Thorpe Award, Nagurski Award).
 
TOMASEK ON RAY GUY WATCH LIST
Junior punter Mitchell Tomasek has been named to the 2023 Ray Guy Award Preseason watch list, an award that recognizes college football's top punter. The Columbus, Ohio, native took home five MAC West Special Teams Player of the Week honors in 2022, the most weekly award wins for an Eagle since Jake Julien hit that mark in 2018. Tomasek punted 49 times for an average of 44.1 yards per attempt in 2022. That figure led the MAC, and ranked 23rd in the nation. Moreover, his 44.1 yards per punt was the third-best single-season total in EMU program history. Tomasek was recognized nationally on two occasions last season by the Ray Guy Award as a "Ray's 8" selection, given to the eight best college punters in each respective week of the regular season.
 
GOMEZ EARNS LOU GROZA WATCH LIST ADDITION
Junior kicker Jesús Gómez was listed on the 2023 Lou Groza Award Preseason watch list, an award given to the college football's top kicker in the nation. The Puebla, Mexico, native already ranks 10th in EMU career extra points and 11th in career field goals made. Gómez wasted no time entering the EMU record books in his first season as the team's primary place-kicker. Second on the team in total points (89), Gómez knocked in 14-of-17 field goal attempts (82%), a percentage which ranked second in the MAC. Additionally, he was a perfect 47-of-47 on extra point attempts during the 2022 regular season. Gómez's signature kick came against Ball State University, Oct. 22, when he drilled a program-record-tying 55-yard field goal attempt as time expired in the first half.
 
DOOLEY NAMED TO WUERFFEL WATCH LIST
Senior offensive lineman Brian Dooley has been named to the 2023 Wuerffel Trophy Award watch list. Named after the 1996 Heisman Trophy Award winning quarterback from the University of Florida, Danny Wuerffel. The award is given out each season to college football's top community servant. An esteemed leader both on and off the field, the two-time All-MAC selection heavily assisted in Eastern's eighth annual Victory Day activities, a day filled with fun and football for cognitive and physically impaired community members. Dooley also took time to visit many local elementary schools in the Ypsilanti, Mich., area where he read to a multitude of young students, as well as assisted in the building and refurbishment of parks and playgrounds. In his time as a student-athlete, Dooley has logged over 100 community service hours.
 
JACKSON ON CAMPBELL WATCH LIST
Senior running back Jaylon Jackson was named to the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Watch List, Jackson grabbed First Team All-Mid-American Conference accolades in 2022 after joining the program from Lamar University. The Burleson, Texas, product was one of just four MAC players to record a kick return for a touchdown last season and one of just 29 nationwide to do so. Jackson ranked 18th nationally with an average of 24.8 yards per kick return.
 
CREIGHTON CLIMBING
With 47 total victories as the EMU head coach, Chris Creighton sits third in all-time coaching wins ledger, breaking his tie with Dan Boisture, who coached from 1967-73. There are just two ahead of Creighton, legendary EMU coach Elton J. Rynearson, who sits atop the list with 114 career wins, and Fred Trosko, who raked in 50 wins from 1952-64. Creighton is now three wins shy of tying Trosko for the second position all-time at EMU.
 
THE CREIGHTON DIFFERENCE
Chris Creighton has won over 50 percent (43-of-80) of his games since the start of the 2016 season. In the three seasons prior to his arrival in Ypsilanti, the Eagles were victorious in just 28 percent (10-of-36) of their games.
 
THE NOT-SO UNDERDOGS
Chris Creighton has directed his EMU teams to four "Power Five" wins during his tenure in Ypsilanti (Rutgers - 2017, Purdue - 2018, Illinois - 2019, Arizona State - 2022). Creighton and NIU's Thomas Hammock are the only active MAC coaches to have multiple "Power Five" wins.
 
NINE IS FINE
Last season, Eastern Michigan finished with nine victories, the second-best win total in the 131-year history of the program. Eastern's best season came in 1987, when the team won 10 games (nine regular season) en route to the a Mid-American Conference title and California Bowl victory.
 
FIRST-TIME ACCOMPLISHMENT
Eastern Michigan added another to its list of "firsts" under Head Coach Chris Creighton in 2022. With its selection to the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, Eastern made four consecutive bowl appearances (excluding COVID-shortened 2020 season) for the first time in program history.
 
MICHIGAN MAC WINNERS
Following a 2022 season sweep of its in-state rivals, Western Michigan and Central Michigan, Eastern was able to claim the Michigan MAC Trophy for the first time since 2012. 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 five times (2007, 2008, 2011, 2012, 2022).
 
CO-DIVISION CHAMPIONS
When coupled with Western Michigan's Week 12 win over Toledo, Eastern Michigan's regular-season-closing win over Central Michigan lifted it into a tie for first in the MAC West Division. Although Toledo played in the Mid-American Conference's championship game due to its head-to-head tiebreaker with EMU, the league does honor co-champions. The West Division championship is the first for EMU in school history. Prior to 2022, EMU had not held the top spot in any MAC standings since it won the league title outright in 1987.
   EMU finished with a 5-3 ledger in conference play and secured 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.
 
FIVE STRAIGHT ON THE ROAD
EMU has been outstanding when playing on the road. The Green and White finished 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 had 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.
 
STABILITY IS THE NAME OF THE GAME
In his 10th season in Ypsilanti, EMU Head Coach Chris Creighton is tied as the 11th-longest-tenured Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) head coach. While they are both in their ninth season, respectively, Creighton is technically the second-longest tenured head coach in the conference by hiring date, falling just three days short of Miami's Chuck Martin.
 
WHERE IN THE WORLD IS CHRIS CREIGHTON?
In his head coaching career, Chris Creighton has racked up the frequent flyer miles, coaching games in seven different countries. Creighton added the Bahamas to that list in 2016 when he led the Eagles to the Bahamas Bowl after it already consisted of the United States, Sweden, Austria, Panama, Tanzania, and Germany.

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Steve Bird

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Brian Dooley

OL
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1

Hamze El-Zayat

WR
/ Football
22

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RB
/ Football
68

Alex Howie

OL
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28

Jaylon Jackson

RB
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6

Chase Kline

LB
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2

Tanner Knue

WR
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13

Jason Marshall

DB
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10

Josh McCarty

DB
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82

Gunnar Oakes

TE
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7

Taylor Powell

QB
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4

Jose Ramirez

DL
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1

Joshua Scott

DB
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29

Kempton Shine

DB
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4

Austin Smith

QB
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62

Sidy Sow

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Joe Sparacio

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