Eastern Michigan Athletics
Photo by: Michael Vasilnek
EMU Battles Defending MAC Champion Miami; The Temptations to Light Up Halftime
10/7/2024 3:08:00 PM | Football
Game 6 • Oct. 12, 2024 • 2 p.m. ET • Ypsilanti, Mich. • Rynearson Stadium (30,200)
Football vs. Miami | |
Date | Saturday, Oct. 12 | 2 p.m. ET |
Venue | 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 |
@EMUFB | @EMUAthletics | |
Tickets | Purchase Tickets | Game Program |
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – Football fans, get ready for an unforgettable Saturday, Oct. 12, as the Eastern Michigan University football team faces off against the defending Mid-American Conference Champions, Miami University, at Rynearson Stadium. This pivotal Mid-American Conference showdown will be broadcast on ESPN+ and WEMU (89.1 FM).
Kickoff is set for 2 p.m., and with Michigan and Michigan State on bye weeks, this is quite possibly the biggest football game in the state. Whether you're a die-hard EMU fan or just looking for some thrilling football action, this game has it all – from top-tier college football to electrifying halftime entertainment!
As if the football action wasn't enough, the legendary Motown group, The Temptations, will perform at halftime in an exclusive collaboration with the EMU Marching Band, The Pride of the Peninsula. Detroit native and EMU alum Jawan M. Jackson, who joined The Temptations in 2022, will take the field in this spectacular performance.
The Temptations, hailed for their timeless R&B and soul hits, have sold tens of millions of albums worldwide and influenced generations of music fans. Their iconic harmonies and choreography make this a halftime show you don't want to miss!
ON AIR
The game between the Eagles and RedHawks will be streamed live on ESPN+ with Michael Reghi and Marcus Ray 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 Rynearson Stadium.
PARTY LIKE IT'S 2016
Eastern has captured wins in four of its first five games of the year for just the second time under Chris Creighton and the first time since starting 4-1 in 2016. Since joining the MAC in time for the 1976 season, Eastern has now won four games in its first five contests of the year, joining the teams from 2016, 1995 (4-1), 1989 (4-0-1), and 1977 (4-1).
SEEKING THE BEST START IN 35 YEARS
Should the Eagles defeat the RedHawks, it would mark the best six-game start to a season since 1989 when EMU began 5-0-1. Additionally, Eastern would be riding a four-game winning streak for just the fourth time since 1988 (1993, 1994, and 2022).
TWO-FOR-TWO?
Not only is Eastern looking for its best start overall since 1989, it will also be seeking its first 2-0 start in MAC play since 2005. That year, the Eagles opened with a 23-20 overtime win at Central Michigan (Sept. 24) before winning at home, 27-20, over Kent State (10/1). A defeat of Miami would mark the ninth time Eastern would open a season 2-0 in MAC play.
TAKING IT BACK TO 2016
Entering the 2024 season, the Eagles had dropped their last seven conference openers dating back to a 28-25 victory at Bowling Green, Oct. 1, 2016. The Eagles also improved to 8-19 all-time when their first MAC game of the season is played away from home following their victory at Kent State, Sept. 28, 52-33.
ONE-AND-ONE?
By winning its MAC road opener with the 52-33 defeat of Kent State on the road, Sept. 28, Eastern will look to not only go 2-0 in MAC play, but also win both its MAC road and MAC home openers in the same season for just the eighth time. The last time it happened was in 2005, when the win was at Central Michigan (23-20 OT) and at home at Kent State (27-20). Prior to that instance, the program accomplished the feat in 1995, 1993, 1990, 1989, 1988, and 1986.
PROTECTING HOME TURF
EMU has won eight of its last nine 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.
All told, 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.
HARKEMA IS COMING HOME
EMU football proudly welcomes back E-Club Hall of Fame Coach Jim Harkema as the honorary coach for the Homecoming game, Oct. 19, versus Central Michigan. Harkema will be in attendance at the team's alumni breakfast and will be honored on the field before the game
A 1999 inductee into the E-Club Athletic Hall of Fame, Harkema enjoyed a successful 10-year career at EMU. He took over an EMU football program that had won just two games in three previous years and developed the program into one of the best in the Mid-American Conference, resulting in the best MAC won-lost record from 1986-89.
Harkema turned the team into a championship contender with his 1987 football squad reaching the top of the Mid-American Conference, capturing the first-ever league title and leading the team to a 30-27 upset win over a highly favored San Jose State University team in the California Bowl. That 1987 squad notched the most wins in school history with a 10-2 record and he was named MAC Coach of the Year for his efforts. He followed it up by directing the 1988 and 1989 teams to runner-up spots in the final league standings.
ALL-TIME VERSUS THE REDHAWKS
The Eagles and RedHawks have met just 25 times in their respective histories. The two schools first met in 1974, but have only squared off seven times since 2000. MU leads the all-time series, 19-6, but EMU has taken the last two meetings after snapping a nine-game skid in 2017.
STABILITY IS THE NAME OF THE GAME
In his 11th season in Ypsilanti, EMU Head Coach Chris Creighton is the 11th-longest-tenured Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) head coach. While they are both in their 11th 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.
LAST MEETING WITH MIAMI
Quarterback Ben Bryant's 16-yard pass to Bryson Cannon over the middle was the lone touchdown in a game that saw six field goals provide the bulk of the scoring as Eastern Michigan edged Miami, 13-12, at Rynearson Stadium, Oct. 9, 2021.
The touchdown capped an eight-play, 73-yard drive as Cannon crashed through a pair of defenders to give Eastern Michigan a 7-6 lead midway through the second quarter. Chad Ryland tacked on field goals of 47 and 33 yards as the Eagles extended their lead to 13-6.
Graham Nicholson, who kicked four field goals for the RedHawks, booted 31 and 44-yarders that cut the gap to 13-12 with 6:29 left to play. Eastern Michigan sealed the one-point win when A.J. Mayer's fourth-down pass was deflected at the line of scrimmage, ending the RedHawks final drive with under two minutes to go.
The Eagles took over and wound the clock down to almost zero before punting. Miami outgained the Eagles 385 yards to 257 with Mayer throwing for 259 yards. Jack Sorenson had 123 yards on seven catches for MU.
TIES BETWEEN EMU AND MIAMI
Despite not playing on a regular basis, EMU and Miami do have some common bonds. MU Head Coach Chuck Martin was the linebackers coach at EMU from 1998-99 before departing to Grand Valley State University. Offensive Line Coach James Patton served as the offensive line coach/run game coordinator for EMU in 2019-20. EMU's offense was electric in 2019, amassing 5,271 total yards, 49 touchdowns, and 379 total points. Overall, the EMU offense set the program's season records for touchdowns (49), touchdown passes (27), and passes completed (313). Additionally, Darrell Hallberg, Miami's Associate AD/Sport and Facility Services, worked for four years at EMU as the department's equipment manager before departing for Oxford.
DON'T GET TOO CLOSE?
This week's contest matches the top 2 teams in red zone defense in the MAC with the RedHawks leading at 70.6 (10th nationally) and the Eagles at 71.4 (20th). Through five games played for both teams, MU has allowed scores on 12-of-17 red zone appearances for its opponents, including nine touchdowns (six rushing, three passing) and three field goals. EMU's opponents have found the red zone 14 times and allowed scores just 10 times, including seven touchdowns (five rushing, two passing) and three field goals made. All told, the 14 red zone trips allowed rank second in the MAC behind the 10 allowed by Northern Illinois while the 10 scores also rank second behind the nine allowed by NIU.
RUNNING MEN
Eastern finished the Sept. 28 game versus the Golden Flashes with 49 carries for 273 yards and six rushing touchdowns. The 273 yards are the most for the team since accumulating 305 yards on the ground at Arizona State, Sept. 17, 2022. Additionally, the six ground scores were the most since Eastern piled up six rushing touchdowns at Akron, Nov. 12, 2019.
WHAT A RUSH!
When the Eagles rushed for six touchdowns at Kent State, Sept. 28, it marked just the second time it had happened under Chris Creighton with the previous coming at Akron, Nov. 2019. In the electronic statistical era (since 1998), the Eagles have rushed for six touchdowns in the same game four times total. Prior to the two instances under Creighton, the other two came in back-to-back games over the course of two seasons. First, the ground game piled up six rushing scores at Central Michigan, Nov. 16, 2007, in EMU's season finale before opening the 2008 season at home, Sept. 28, with six ground scores against Indiana State.
FOUR (WITH) SCORES
Since Chris Creighton took over in 2014, the Eagles have had multiple games with three players rushing for at least one touchdown, but have seen four runners find pay dirt in the same game just twice. Delbert Mimms III (2), Elijah Jackson-Anderson (2), Cole Snyder, and Deion Brown each scored at least on touchdown at Kent State, Sept. 28, with the only other time EMU has had four players score at least one rushing touchdown in the same game coming Sept. 18, 2021, at UMass. In the win at Amherst, Jawon Hamilton, Darius Boone (2), Samson Evans, and Ben Bryant each scored on the ground for the Eagles.
CAREER DAY FOR MIMMS
Delbert Mimms III had a career day against Kent State, Sept. 28, as the back finished with 145 yards on the ground with two touchdowns and two catches for 21 yards. His 94 rushing yards in the first half marked the most in an opening half for an EMU runner since Samson Evans tallied 96 yards at Arizona State, Sept. 17, 2022. Additionally, the 166 total yards Mimms tallied in the game surpassed the single-game career high of 89 (39 rushing, 50 receiving) he accumulated with NC State at home against Charleston Southern, Sept. 10, 2022. All told, his effort today surpassed his previous career best of 65 yards for NC State against Marshall, Oct. 7, 2023.
PUSHING PAST THE CENTURY MARK
Against Kent State, Sept. 29, Delbert Mimms III eclipsed 100 yards rushing for the first time in his career and the first for an Eagle since Samson Evans finished with 127 yards at Buffalo, Nov. 21, 2023. Mimms' total marked the 247th time an EMU player surpassed 100 rushing yards in a game in program history.
GROUND DELIVERIES
Through five games, Delbert Mimms III has found the end zone five times, including two scores at Kent State, Sept. 28. Through games played Oct. 5, Mimms III remains among the top scorers in the MAC as he five rushing touchdowns rank second behind only Jaden Nixon (WMU) while is 6.0 points per game average are tied for third overall among non-kickers. When adding in kickers, Mimms III ranks tied for 10th in scoring per game with teammate Jesús Gómez leading the way with 10.4 points per contest.
FINDING PAY DIRT
Elijah Jackson-Anderson scored the first touchdown of the day versus Kent State, Sept. 28, as he ran in from four yards out on the Eagles' opening drive and added a second, four-yard plunge in the second quarter for his first multiple touchdown game. His two rushing scores are the first on the ground for the running back in 2024 and his second and third scores, respectively, after catching a 24-yard pass from Cole Snyder against Jacksonville State, Sept. 14. For the games, Jackson-Anderson finished 31 yards on nine carries with two scores.
BIG DIFFERENCES
The Eastern offense has shown great strides through five games this year as the Eagles are averaging 32.4 points per contest, an improvement of 18.0 points per game over the 2023 squad over the same time frame. This year, Eastern has tallied 18 touchdowns, 16 PATs, one 2-point conversion, and 12 field goals, which nearly double all totals from the same time frame in 2023. Last year at this time, EMU had scored nine touchdowns, seven PATs, six field goals, and one safety to rank tied for 127th out of 130 teams in the category.
GOMEZ CONTINUES HIS HOT START
Jesús Gómez is off to a great start as the kicker scored 10 points at Kent State to keep his league-leading scoring average in double digits at 10.4 per game. The national co-leader in field goals per game (2.40), Gómez ranks 14th nationally in scoring (10.4) and 21st with his 52 total points scored. Additionally, he is one of just 17 players nationally that are averaging 10.0+ points per game this season the FBS.
KICKING IT IN
Jesús Gómez has made 12 field goals in 2024 after making 12 throughout the entire 2023 season. Those 12 makes rank tied for second nationally with Tyler Looper (Arizona) and Blake Craig (Missouri) with the trio sitting just one behind Collin Rogers (SMU) for the lead.
MOVING BACK
Kicking numbers are up this year with distances on the rise. Through six weeks of play, Jesús Gómez holds one of 10 made field goals of 57-yards or longer, which is already four makes ahead of the entire 2023 season. Additionally, there have been 18 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 seventh by distance.
SEVEN UP
Jesús Gómez connected on all seven of his point-after-touchdown (PAT) tries at Kent State, Sept. 28. Those seven makes are tied for the sixth-most in a single game in program history behind the eight made five times, most recently by Chad Ryland, Nov. 2, 2021, at Toledo.
MOVING ON UP
For his career, Jesús Gómez has connected on 84 extra points and 38 field goals for 198 points, which rank him sixth, fifth, and seventh, respectively, on the Eastern all-time scoring ledger. Tim Henneghan (1986-89) is the next player in line on all three of those lists as his career has him fifth with 92 PATs, fourth with 38 field goals, and sixth with 206 total points.
QUIET! SNYDER IS WORKING
Cole Snyder has thrown 229 consecutive passes without an interception dating back Oct. 31, 2023, while playing for Buffalo at Toledo. The NCAA FBS's record is 444 by Colby Cameron at Louisiana Tech (2011–12).
EMU has thrown the ball 152 times this season without recording an interception in four contests. Last year, EMU's longest stretch without throwing a pick was 105 pass attempts. EMU last went four games without an INT thrown during the 2018 campaign, Sept. 28-Oct. 27, totaling a stretch of 142 pass attempts. EMU also had a four-game stretch in 2011 without throwing for a turnover. These are the only three occurrences since 1999 that Eastern Michigan has had four consecutive games without an interception thrown.
MURPHY'S HOMECOMING BRINGS AN AWARD
Luke Murphy was selected as the MAC Defensive Player of the Week, Sept. 30, following his strong performance in the Eagles' 52-33 MAC-opening road victory, Sept. 28, at Kent State. Murphy, a graduate of KSU, was instrumental in helping the Eagles to their first win in a MAC opener in eight years. Murphy had an unforgettable performance in the win as he played a pivotal role in his return against his former club. The linebacker showcased his defensive prowess by leading the Eagles with eight tackles, one interception, and one fumble recovery. His two takeaways were game-changing, as both led to touchdowns, allowing Eastern to pull away in a hard-fought contest.
MORE TAKING THAN GIVING
The defense forced four turnovers at Kent State, Sept. 28, including three fumbles recovered and one interception. With the fumble recoveries, the Eagles have collected two-or-more recovered fumbles in each of the last two games after collecting two last week against St. Francis. The last time the Eagles recovered two-or-more fumbles in consecutive games came in the 2020 season when Eastern took two from Central Michigan (Nov. 27) and three at Western Michigan (Dec. 5).
PROTECT THE ROCK
Through six 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 Miami, the Eagles are one of three teams that have yet to throw an interception in 2024, joining Army and Vanderbilt. Additionally, Eastern joins those two squads as national leaders in total turnovers committed with just one.
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. With three more sacks recorded at Kent State, Sept. 28, the Eagles have 16.0 this season, which leads the MAC (3.2) and stands 11th nationally. The Eagles, who tallied just 22 total sacks in 2023, saw two individuals secure their first sacks of the season, including both Miles Sterling and Carter Evans, as 10 different players have accounted for at least 0.5 sacks this season.
NEW BEAMER BALL?
During the 1990s, Virginia Tech blocked 66 kicks, more than any school in the country. Beamer Ball became a frightening proposition for opponents. Since 2014, special teams under Chris Creighton have been using that blueprint with 25 during that span.
EMU added to that tally when Joey Mattord blocked a punt attempt against Saint Francis, Sept. 14, in the third quarter with Kendrick Nowling falling on the ball in the end zone for EMU's second non-offensive score of the day. All told, it marked EMU's 14th blocked punt in the last 11 years and the sixth blocked punt that has resulted in a TD. Additionally, the block was the third blocked kick of the season for EMU after the Eagles blocked a punt and an extra point at Washington, Sept. 7.
MORE ON REJECTIONS
Since 2016, no Mid-American Conference school has recorded more kick/punt blocks than Eastern Michigan. The Eagles have tallied 19, while Miami (18), Northern Illinois (17), and Buffalo (12) follows closely. EMU's total ranks tied for sixth nationally during that span, trailing just Army (29), Notre Dame (22), Old Dominion (21), Oklahoma State (21), and South Carolina (21).
BLOCK PARTY!
On a national level, the Eagles are one of four teams in 2024 that have registered three blocked kicks and sit behind Florida State's national-leading four blocks. While Eastern is one of 77 teams to have not allowed a blocked kick this year, the Eagles and TCU are the only two teams in FBS that blocked 3+ kicks while also having no surrendered a blocked attempt.
A GIVE AND TAKE(AWAY)
During his time guiding the Eagles, Chris Creighton's teams have won the turnover battle 55 times, lost it 44 times, and saw the game end with takeaways tied 26 times. Under Creighton (since the start of the 2014 season), Eastern is 41-14 when winning the turnover battle, including the win at Kent State (Sept. 28), 6-38 when losing the battle, and 11-15 when the battle is tied.
LONG DISTANCE RETURN
Late in the first quarter and with St. Francis (Sept. 21) driving, the Red Flash reached the EMU one yard line and were looking to run the ball in for a score. But, on the play, the snap was fumbled and the ball rolled through the line where David Carter Jr. scooped up the ball, ran to the outside of the scrum, and took it 99 yards down the field for a touchdown, the third score of his career. Not only did that stake the Eagles to a 7-0 lead, it marked the longest fumble return in program history and the fourth-longest return in EMU history behind a trio of interception returns for scores.
IT'S ALL ABOUT LOCATION
The one-yard line at the northern end of Rynearson Stadium has been the location of, well, interesting happenings in 2024. The latest instance came on David Carter Jr.'s return, but it didn't start there. In the game with Jacksonville State, Sept. 14, the Gamecocks were driving deep in overtime with the ball on the one and EMU leading by three. On that play, the ball was snapped over the quarterback's head with JSU eventually missing an attempted field goal before EMU would kick the winning score.
SINGLE SCORES
Since the start of the 2016 season, Eastern ranks third nationally with 53, one-score games played, sitting behind only Northern Illinois (58) and Texas (54).
Additionally, only three teams in the top 10 of the national list are at .500 or better in such games, including EMU (27-26), and Navy (23-23) at .500 and Oklahoma State at .660 (31-16)
1. Northern Illinois - 58 (28-30)
2. Texas - 54 (24-30)
3. Eastern Michigan - 53 (27-26)
T4. Iowa State - 49 (19-30)
T4. Nebraska - 49 (14-35)
T4. North Carolina - 49 (21-28)
7. Oklahoma State - 48 (31-17)
8. Tulsa - 47 (21-26)
T9. Kansas State - 46 (22-24)
T9. Navy - 46 (23-23)
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).
FIRST STARTS
Two rookies earned their first collegiate starts with both coming in the defensive secondary. The newcomers included Jordan Toney, who recorded four tackles, 0.5 TFLs, and one fumble recovery, and Jaivian Norman, who made one stop in the game. The duo joins nine of their teammates in starting a game for the first time at Eastern after they did so at UMass, Aug. 31, including five on offense and four on defense. Those newcomers on offense included Markus Allen (WR), Blake Bustard (OL), Donate McMillan (RB), Oran Singleton (WR), and Cole Snyder (QB) while the defensive list featured James Djonkam (LB), JT Killen (LB), Dramarian McNulty (DB), and Dylan Shelton (DL). All told, 19 newcomers saw their first action in the game as well.
ON THE HORIZON
Next week, the Eagles return to action with another big game as Eastern will play host to the Chippewas of Central Michigan University, Oct. 19, inside Rynearson Stadium. The 2 p.m. game will air live on ESPN+ and be the first of two Michigan MAC Games for the Eagles this year while also serving as the 96th Homecoming Game.
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