Football Travels to Akron Saturday, Oct. 26, Looking for Victory No. 6

Football at Akron
Date	Saturday, Oct. 26 \| 3:30 p.m. ET
Venue	InfoCision Stadium (30,000) \| Akron, Ohio
Preview Info	EMU Notes (PDF) \| Media Guide (PDF) \| Press Conference Video
Live Stats	Fan Stats
Watch	ESPN+
Listen	WEMU (89.1 WEMU-FM) \| The Varsity Network App \| Eastern Insider Podcast
Twitter	@EMUFB \| @EMUAthletics

AKRON, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) – With a thrilling, come-from-behind Homecoming victory in hand, the Eastern Michigan University football team returns to the road this week looking to build upon its gritty performance while locking up bowl eligibility as the Eagles are set to play at the University of Akron Saturday, Oct. 26, in a 3:30 p.m. Mid-American Conference contest inside InfoCision Stadium in Akron, Ohio. The Eagles (5-2, 2-1 MAC) are one win away from bowl eligibility and looking to move to 3-1 in league play for the first time since 2011, while the Zips (1-6, 0-3 MAC) are in search of their first league win in 2024.

ON AIR
The game between the Eagles and Zips will be streamed live on ESPN+ with Anthony Lima and Ryan Cavanaugh on the call. Additionally, fans can listen to the game locally on WEMU (89.1 FM) and on The Varsity Network app with Tom Helmer, Rob Rubick, and Greg Steiner calling all the action from Akron.

FLYING HIGH
After erasing the 18-point deficit to score a 38-34 win over Central Michigan, Oct. 19, Eastern is sitting well in the MAC standings as its 2-1 record in league play has the Eagles tied for second place with six other teams and just one game back of league-leading Western Michigan (3-0 MAC). Overall, the Eagles and Toledo share the top spot with both teams currently sporting 5-2 records, leaving each one win shy of qualification for bowl season.

LET'S SEE THREE
A win at Akron would push the Eagles to a 3-1 record in MAC play for the team's best start in conference since the 2011 squad also started 3-1. That season, Eastern opened with a 31-23 home win over Akron before suffering a defeat at Toledo. The Eagles bounced back with a 35-28 win at Central Michigan before taking a 14-10 home win over visiting Miami.

APPROACHING THE LANES
Heading into the weekend, the Eagles are one of two MAC schools that could punch their ticket to the postseason as both EMU and Toledo are 5-2 overall. Eastern, who is playing at Akron (3:30 p.m.), and Toledo, who is hosting Bowling Green (3:30 p.m.), could each secure a bowl berth and remain atop the ledger for most bowl appearances in the MAC since 2016 with their seventh. Both teams are tied with Ohio at six heading into the season.

GOING BOWLING?
With a win at Akron, the Eagles would become bowl eligible at 6-2. It would mark the fourth year in a row - and sixth consecutive when taking out the COVID season of 2020 - that the Eagles would become bowl eligible. It also would mark the seventh time EMU has been bowl eligible under Chris Creighton in his 11 years with the program.

QUICK TO THE PINS?
Not only would a win at Akron gain bowl eligibility for the Eagles, it would do so in the fewest games in program history. Ahead of the 2024 season, Eastern has earned bowl eligibility six times with the earliest in the season qualification occurring after 10 games in both 2022 and 2016. It took EMU 11 games three times and 12 games once (last year) to reach the magical sixth win.
    Additionally, a win at Akron would mark the third time EMU would clinch bowl eligibility against the Zips. Eastern garnered its sixth win in 2022 on the road at Akron (34-28) and in 2018 at home (27-20).

KINGS OF THE LANES
Since 2016, all 12 MAC teams have played in at least one bowl game, with the Eagles appearing in a league-best six, joining Ohio and Toledo for the top spot.
6 • Eastern Michigan, Ohio, Toledo
5 • Miami
4 • Buffalo, Central Michigan, NIU, Western Michigan
2 • Ball State, Bowling Green, Kent State
1 • Akron

ONE OF THE BEST
Since 2016, Eastern Michigan has posted the fourth most victories of any team in the MAC.
70 • Toledo
62 • Ohio
59 • Western Michigan
55 • Eastern Michigan • Miami
49 • Buffalo • Northern Illinois
47 • Central Michigan
39 • Ball State
33 • Bowling Green
30 • Kent State
24 • Akron

TOPPING THE CHARTS: MAC WINS
With the 38-34 win over Central Michigan, Oct. 19, Chris Creighton collected his 33rd MAC victory since taking over at Eastern ahead of the 2014 season. With E-Club Hall of Fame coach Jim Harkema on hand as the team's honorary coach, Creighton took the top spot after being tied with Harkema for the most in EMU history.

PROTECTING HOME TURF
EMU has won nine of its last 11 home contests at Rynearson Stadium. It is just off the pace set in 1986-87 when the team was victorious in 10 of 11 home games. Jim Harkema's then-Hurons won five of six during the 1986 campaign before going 5-for-5 during the 1987 MAC Championship season. EMU followed it up by winning 10 of its next 13 home games from 1988-90.
    The school record for consecutive home wins is 22 set between 1924-29 when EMU posted an astounding 35-3-1 mark under the leadership of Elton J. Rynearson.

HOMECOMING HYSTERIA!
After clawing its way to a 16-14 lead at halftime against Central Michigan, Oct. 19, the Eagles found themselves trailing by 18 points, 34-16, with 13:26 to play in the fourth quarter. A gritty performance on both sides of the ball, fueled by a boisterous crowd, saw Eastern score three touchdowns and hold the Chippewas scoreless to claim a 38-34 win.
    The last time Eastern came back to win after such a deficit was Nov. 11, 2000, at home against Northern Illinois. Similar to the CMU game, the Eagles trailed NIU, 32-12, with 12:14 remaining before scoring three touchdowns to tie the game at 32 with 2:58 remaining. EMU won the game by forcing a Husky punt before marching 59 yards in 56 seconds for a Walter Church to Kevin Walter 25-yard touchdown pass for the win.

Deficit    Final    Opponent    Date
24 (24-0)    W, 30-27    Central Michigan    11-6-76
21 (28-7)    W, 48-38 OT    at Ball State     10-16-10
21 (21-0)    W, 48-41    at Ball State    11-8-16
21 (31-10)    L, 34-37 OT    at Toledo    10-26-19
20 (32-12)    W, 39-32    Northern Illinois    11-11-00
18 (34-16)    W, 38-34    Central Michigan    10-19-24

ALL-TIME VERSUS THE ZIPS
Akron holds the lead in the all-time series, 19-16-0, despite Eastern having won four consecutive contests, including a dramatic 30-27 double overtime game in Ypsilanti, Nov. 14, 2023. The Zips also lead when the game is played in Akron, 11-5-0, but the Eagles have won two consecutive games at InfoCision Stadium, including at 34-28 win, Nov. 8, 2022, that made EMU bowl eligible.

LAST MEETING WITH AKRON
The last time the two sides met was Nov. 14, 2023, with the Eagles escaping with a 30-27 win in double overtime on Senior Night in Ypsilanti. The #MACtion game saw the visitors take leads of 7-0, 14-7, and 17-14, with the Eagles answering each time, including with 10 seconds remaining in regulation with Jesús Gómez hitting a 32-yard field goal to force overtime.
    In the first extra session, both teams scored touchdowns with Samson Evans scoring from 11 yards out fr his third touchdown of the day. In the second overtime, the EMU defense held Akron to a 36-yard field goal before Austin Smith found Jere Getzinger in the back of the end zone for a three-yard touchdown and the winning points.

TIES BETWEEN EMU AND UA
Two members of the EMU Athletic Department have ties to Akron, including wide receiver/kick returner, Oran Singleton. 'Man Man', as he is referred to, appeared in nine games for the Zips as a freshman in 2019 before hitting the transfer portal and eventually making his way to Ypsilanti for the 2024 season. Additionally Megan Szabo was recently hired as the Assistant Director of Marketing after earning her undergraduate and graduate degrees from UA.

SINGLE SCORES
Since the start of the 2016 season, Eastern ranks third nationally with 54, one-score games played, sitting behind only Northern Illinois (58).
    Additionally, only three teams in the top 10 of the national list are at .500 or better in such games, including EMU (28-26) at .519; Navy (23-23) at .500; and Oklahoma State (31-18) at .646.

1. Northern Illinois - 59 (28-31)
T2. Eastern Michigan - 54 (28-26)
T2. Texas - 54 (24-30)
T4. Iowa State - 50 (20-30)
T4. North Carolina - 51 (21-29)
T6. Nebraska - 49 (14-35)
T6. Oklahoma State - 48 (31-18)
T8. Tulsa - 47 (21-26)
T8. Kansas State - 47 (23-24)
T10. Navy - 46 (23-23)

LOOSE BALL SECURED
With two more fumble recoveries in the game against Central Michigan, Oct. 19, the Eagles moved into a tie for the national lead with Memphis at nine. Since the start of the 2014 season, Chris Creighton's defenses have secured at total of 103 fumble recoveries for an average of 9.37 per season with the most recorded in one season bing the 13 collected in 2016. The team recovered 11 in 2023, the most for Eastern since 10 in 2019, which was the last of a four-year stretch with at least 10 recoveries.

MORE ACCOLADES FOR SYNDER
Following the CMU victory, Cole Snyder was honored by the MAC office as well as being named a Manning Award "Star of the Week". Snyder guided the Eagles back from an 18-point deficit with 13:26 remaining in the fourth as he accumulated 110 yards and two TDs through the air in the quarter while adding 12 yards and the game-winning rushing touchdown.

BALL HAWKS
Not only have the Eagles taken the ball nine times with fumble recoveries, they have done so with nine different players collecting one recovery each. Through the game against Central Michigan (Oct. 19), the Eagles that have recorded fumbles recoveries include David Carter Jr., Justin Jefferson, JT Killen, Barry Manning, Luke Murphy, Dylan Shelton, Jordan Toney, Daniel Warnsman, and Joey Zelinsky. Both Shelton and Manning added their names to the list with recoveries of CMU fumbles.

KNOCKING IT LOOSE
In the game with Central Michigan (Oct. 19), the Eagles forced a season-high four fumbles with two being recovered by Eastern. The four forces are the most in single game since Sept. 8, 2018, when the Eagles forced four Purdue fumbles in the 20-19 rainy upset of the Boilermakers in West Lafayette, Ind.

PROTECT THE ROCK
Through eight weeks of play in the FBS, the Eagles are among the best in the nation when it comes to taking care of the ball. Entering the game with Akron, Eastern ranks 17th nationally in turnover margin at 0.86 per game and 14th nationally in turnovers lost with five.

A GIVE AND TAKE(AWAY)
During his time guiding the Eagles, Chris Creighton's teams have won the turnover battle 56 times, lost it 45 times, and saw the game end with takeaways tied 26 times. Under Creighton (since the start of the 2014 season), Eastern is 42-14 when winning the turnover battle, including last week's 38-34 win over CMU, 6-39 when losing the battle, and 11-15 when the battle is tied.

GETTING OFFENSIVE
Through the eighth week of FBS football, the Eagles are averaging 374.4 yards per game (2,621 yards) to rank 82nd nationally and have scored 22 offensive touchdowns. At this same point during the 2023 season, the offense was ranked 129th out of 130 teams with an average of 251.5 yards per game (2,012 yards) and 14 scores.

COLE IN CONTROL
A big reason the offense has grown in 2024 is the arm - and legs - of Cole Snyder. The transfer from Buffalo has done well in guiding the team to a 5-2 record as the signal caller recently threw for 300 yards and three touchdowns while adding 48 yards rushing and one score to help the Eagles erase an 18-point deficit to defeat Central Michigan on Homecoming, Oct. 19, 38-34. Along with throwing for 300 yards for the first time at EMU and the first time since Sept. 9, 2022, with Buffalo against Holy Cross, Snyder was in control in the fourth quarter as he collected 110 yards passing with two touchdowns and 12 yards rushing with one score, which was the winning touchdown as he jumped over the pile from 1-yard out.
    All told, Snyder hit five different receivers in the game, but found two for some big plays as Markus Allen and Terry Lockett Jr., each recorded their first collegiate 100-yard receiving games. Allen tallied 140 yards and one touchdown while Lockett Jr. posted 100 yards and two touchdowns, both in the fourth quarter.

ON HIS MARK-US
Not only did Markus Allen record the first 100-yard receiving game of his collegiate career with 140 yards against CMU, Oct. 19, but he did so in the first quarter. The wide receiver ended the first stanza with four grabs for 105 yards and one score to record the 139th 100-yard game in program history and the first since 2022. Additionally, his 105 yards in the first quarter marked the first time an EMU player hit the mark in a single quarter of play since Dieuly Aristilde posted 109 receiving yards in the fourth quarter against Miami, Oct. 29, 2016.

LOCKETT IN
While Markus Allen was the focal point in the first quarter, Terry Lockett Jr., was in focus in the fourth. With the team down, 34-16 to CMU, Oct. 19, Cole Snyder and Locket Jr. connected twice in the quarter with both going for touchdowns, the first two receiving scores of his EMU career. The first score was a 49-yard strike from Snyder to cut the deficit to 10 points. His second involved the 'tip drill' as a 30-yard pass from Snyder hit Allen in the hands only to the see the ball bounce forward over a defender and into Lockett Jr.'s arms where he ran it from 10 yards out for the score. Lockett Jr. finished the game with exactly 100 yards and two scores on just three catches.

DYNAMIC DUO
Markus Allen (140 yards) and Terry Lockett Jr. (100) not only recorded 100+ yards receiving in the game against Central Michigan, Oct. 19, they did something that hadn't happened at EMU since 2019. Nov. 29, 2019, was the last time Eastern had two receivers each record 100-yard receiving games as Arthur Jackson (129) and Line Latu (108) accomplished the feat at Kent State.

GETTING HIS KICKS
Jesús Gómez had another perfect day as the lefty went 3-for-3 in field goal attempts and 3-for-3 in PATs against CMU, Oct. 19, to collect 12 points. For his efforts, he was named the MAC's Special Team's Player of the Week for the fourth time this season. The MAC leader with 66 points and 15 made field goals, Gómez is averaging 9.4 points per game and 2.14 made field goals per game. On a national level, he ranks second in the FBS in field goals made per game and total field goals made while sitting 17th in total points and 21st in points per game.

KICKING IT IN
Jesús Gómez has made 15 field goals in 2024 after making 12 throughout the entire 2023 season and one more than his previous season-high of 13 in 2022. He has connected on three field goals in the same game for the fourth time this year and the fifth time in his career. Additionally, he now has 41 career field goals made, which has him just behind Justin Ventura (1995-98), who sits third all-time at EMU with 42 made field goals.

MOVING BACK
Kicking numbers are up this year with distances on the rise. Through seven weeks of play, Jesús Gómez holds one of 13 made field goals of 57-yards or longer, which is already seven makes ahead of the entire 2023 season. Additionally, there have been 21 field goals of 55+ made in 2024 after just 21 were made in 2023. Gomez' longest of the year still stands at 57 yards (at Washington, Sept. 7, which ranks him tied for ninth by distance.

IN THE RECORD BOOKS
For his career, Jesús Gómez has connected on 89 extra points and 41 field goals for 212 points. All time at EMU, his 89 extra points rank sixth overall with both Andrew Wellock (2003-06) and Tim Henneghan (1986-89) just ahead of him with 92. With the fourth-most field goals made, he has grown his career points total to 212, which stands fifth with Justin Ventura (1995-98) next on the list with 239 points.

SACK RACE
The defense posted 6.0 sacks against St. Francis, Sept. 21, tying its single-game season high after recording 6.0 in the season-opening win at UMass, Aug. 31. The Eagles now have 20.0 this season, which is second in the MAC (2.86) and stands 18th nationally. The Eagles, who tallied just 22 total sacks in 2023, have seen 11 different players recorded at least 0.5 sacks this season with Peyton Price leading the way with 4.0 while Justin Jefferson has 3.0. Trey Laing (2.5), Jefferson Adam (2.5), Joey Zelinsky (2.0), and James Djonkam (2.0) each have multiple sacks.

NON-CONFERENCE SUCCESS UNDER CREIGHTON
Since the start of the 1976 season, Eastern Michigan has won 55 games in non-conference play with 43.6 percent of those victories (24 wins) coming in the past 11 seasons under Chris Creighton, an average of two non-conference wins per season.
    In that same span, 14 of those wins have come on the road with a Creighton-led squad capturing nine wins (64.3 percent), including wins at Big Ten Conference opponents Rutgers (16-13, Sept. 9, 2017), Purdue (20-19, Sept. 8, 2018), and Illinois (34-31, Sept. 14, 2019), while adding a 30-21 win at Arizona State (Sept. 17, 2022), a then-member of the Pac-12 (currently Big 12).

ON THE HORIZON
The Eagles return to action Saturday, Nov. 2, at noon when the Rockets of the University of Toledo visit Rynearson Stadium. The game will air on ESPNU.

Football Travels to Akron Saturday, Oct. 26, Looking for Victory No. 6

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Jefferson Adam

Markus Allen

David Carter Jr.

James Djonkam

Samson Evans

Jere Getzinger

Justin Jefferson

Trey Laing

Terry Lockett Jr.

Barry Manning

Luke Murphy

Peyton Price

Dylan Shelton

Oran Singleton

Austin Smith

Cole Snyder

Jordan Toney

Daniel Warnsman

Joey Zelinsky

Eastern Michigan Athletics