EMU Travels to Ohio Wednesday, Nov. 13, to Kickoff #MACtion

Football at Ohio
Date	Wednesday, Nov. 13 \| 7 p.m. ET
Venue	Peden Stadium (24,000) \| Athens, 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

ATHENS, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University football team is ready to return to #MACtion as the Eagles will travel to face Ohio University Wednesday, Nov. 13, inside Frank Solich Field at Peden Stadium. The mid-week contest is the first of two for the Eagles before returning to the traditional Saturday slate to close out the regular season.
    Eastern (5-4, 2-3 MAC) will be looking to halt a two-game losing streak, including a 29-28 home setback after missing a two-point conversion with no time remaining on the clock against the University of Toledo, Nov. 2. Meanwhile, Ohio (6-3, 4-1 MAC) is in a four-way tie atop the Mid-American Conference standings following a 41-0 shutout of Kent State University, Nov. 6.
    The game between the Eagles and Bobcats will be televised live on ESPN2 with Jay Alter and Rocky Boiman 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 Peden Stadium.

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 19 #MACtion games and sport a 13-6 record in those contests, including winning five of the last six. After dropping a midweek bout at Toledo, EMU notched a 30-27 double overtime victory at home against Akron, Nov. 14, 2023, as well as a 24-11 triumph at Buffalo, Nov. 21, 2023.
    EMU has twice played Ohio during midweek affairs. The Bobcats claimed a 45-14 home victory at Peden in 2012 and added a 34-26 victory in 2021 at Ypsilanti.

CLOSING IN NOVEMBER
EMU is 17-12 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 .680 (17-8).

GOING BOWLING?
With a win versus Ohio, the Eagles would become bowl eligible at 6-4. 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 against Ohio 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.

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 fifth-most victories of any team in the MAC.
71 • Toledo
63 • Ohio
60 • Western Michigan
56 • Miami
55 • Eastern Michigan
50 • Buffalo
49 • Northern Illinois
47 • Central Michigan
40 • Ball State
34 • Bowling Green
30 • Kent State
25 • 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.

DON'T GO FOR IT
Ben Needham's defense ranks fourth the nation in fourth down conversion percentage defense at just 23.5percent (4-for-17). Tennessee (SEC) is slightly ahead of EMU at 21.4percent (3-for-14), with the next best MAC team coming in at 36.4% (Ball State 4-for-11).
    Third downs have not been a gimme either, as EMU ranks 33rd in the FBS with just 33.7 percent of opponent tries converted into first downs.

LOOSE BALL SECURED
The Eastern defense has recovered 10 fumbles this year - an average of one per game - and sit tied for second nationally with Oklahoma while Duke leads the FBS with 11 recoveries. Since the start of the 2014 season, Chris Creighton's defenses have secured at total of 104 fumble recoveries for an average of 9.45 per season with the most recorded in one season being 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.

BALL HAWKS
Not only have the Eagles taken the ball 10 times with fumble recoveries, they have done so with 10 different players collecting one recovery each. Through the game against Toledo (Nov. 2), the Eagles that have recorded fumbles recoveries include David Carter Jr., Justin Jefferson, JT Killen, Barry Manning, Tyrell Martin, Luke Murphy, Dylan Shelton, Jordan Toney, Daniel Warnsman, and Joey Zelinsky. Martin is the new addition to the list following his first quarter recovery against Toledo.

PROTECT THE ROCK
Through 10 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 Ohio, Eastern ranks 20th nationally in turnover margin at 0.78 per game and 15th nationally in turnovers lost with seven.

A GIVE AND TAKE(AWAY)
During his time guiding the Eagles, Chris Creighton's teams have won the turnover battle 57 times, lost it 45 times, and saw the game end with takeaways tied 27 times. Since the start of the 2014 season, Eastern is 42-15 when winning the turnover battle, 6-39 when losing the battle, and 11-16 when the battle is tied. Most recently, EMU forced two turnovers and gave the ball away once in the setback to Toledo, Nov. 2.

GETTING OFFENSIVE
Through the 10th week of FBS football, the Eagles are averaging 392.1 yards per game (3,529yards) to rank 68th nationally and have scored 28 offensive touchdowns. At this same point during the 2023 season, the offense was ranked 129th out of 130 teams with an average of 260.7yards per game (2,346 yards) and 17 scores.

HAIL MARY AND HEARTBREAK
After forcing a three-and-out, EMU took over at its 18-yard line trailing Toledo, 29-22, with 1:00 remaining and no timeouts.
    EMU picked up three first downs to get it to Toledo's 36-yard line with seven seconds remaining. Cole Snyder's heave to the end zone was caught by Terry Lockett Jr. as time expired to get within one point.
     EMU lined up to go for the 2-point conversion, leading to a Toledo timeout. The EMU offense came onto the field again and Snyder's throw to Lockett was batted out of his hands by Smith.
    Since 2016, five EMU contests have been decided by one point (3-2), tied for the 15th most in the FBS.

SINGLE SCORES
Since the start of the 2016 season, Eastern ranks second nationally with 56 one-score games played, sitting behind only Northern Illinois (60).
    Additionally, only two teams in the top 10 of the national list are at .500 or better in such games, including EMU (28-28) at .519 and Oklahoma State (31-18) at .646.

1. Northern Illinois - 60 (28-32)
2. Eastern Michigan - 56 (28-28)
3. Texas - 55 (25-30)
T4. Iowa State - 51 (20-31)
T4. Nebraska - 51 (14-37)
6. North Carolina - 50 (21-29)
T7. Oklahoma State - 49 (31-18)
T7. Kansas State - 49 (24-25)
9. Tulsa - 48 (22-26)

ALL-TIME AGAINST OHIO
Eastern Michigan is 12-20-1 all-time against Ohio and has not won in the series since 2016 when it knocked off the Bobcats, 27-20 in Athens, Oct. 15.

LAST MEETING WITH THE BOBCATS
Kurtis Rourke threw three touchdown passes, Ohio gained 265 yards on the ground, and the Bobcats defeated EMU, 34-26, on Tuesday, Nov. 9, in Ypsilanti.
    Rourke, who was 9-of-17 passing for 230 yards, had 32 fewer completions than his counterpart, Ben Bryant of Eastern Michigan. Bryant completed 41 of 57 passes for 354 yards with a touchdown and an interception.
    After Eastern Michigan scored to tie the game at 20 in the third quarter, Ohio took control with a 20-yard Isaiah Cox touchdown run and a 66-yard touchdown pass from Rourke to Cameron Odom.
    Eastern Michigan scored on a Samson Evans 3-yard run with 2:36 to go but Ohio recovered the onside kick and ran out the clock.
    De'Montre Tuggle led Ohio with 78 yards rushing.
    Eastern got 62 yards and two rushing touchdowns from Evans. Tanner Knue had 127 receiving yards.

LAST TIME IN ATHENS
Brogan Roback threw for a career-high 347 yards and three touchdowns to lead Eastern Michigan to a 27-20 win over Ohio in Athens, Ohio, Oct. 15, 2016.
    Two of the touchdowns were big-time receptions in the fourth quarter that allowed the Eagles to beat the Bobcats for the first time since 1999, and the first time on the road since 1994. All told, it also marked EMU first three-game road winning streak on the road for the first time since 1967.
    Sergio Bailey II reached over a defensive back to haul in a 14-yard pass early in the fourth quarter to make it 20-10 and Antoine Porter dragged several defenders into the end zone for an 11-yard score with 3:47 to play. Bailey, who had career highs of eight receptions for 143 yards, set up Porter's touchdown when he turned a 20-yard reception into a 57-yard gain.
    After an Ohio field goal, a career-long 47-yarder by Louie Zervos, cut it to 27-20 with 3:47 left, the Eagles, who had a combined three wins the previous two seasons, ran out the clock.

TIES TO THE CATS
One member of the Ohio coaching staff has ties to Eastern Michigan – Scott Isphording (passing game coordinator/quarterbacks). Isphording coached at EMU from 2004-08, and was the offensive coordinator in his final two seasons there. In 2008, he led the Eagles to a school-record 5,010 total yards and topped the league in red-zone efficiency, red-zone touchdown efficiency and time of possession. Isphording mentored EMU quarterback Andy Schmitt, who set NCAA single-game records in 2008 with 76 pass attempts without an interception vs. Temple and 58 pass completions in a 56-52 win over CMU.

PLAYING 18 (DOWN)
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. Eastern nearly made it back-to-back games with wins after trailing by 18, but fell short at Akron, Oct. 26.

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
18 (18-0)    L, 21-25    at Akron    10-26-24

ONE COLE CUSTOMER
In the game at Akron, Oct. 26, Cole Snyder had a career day as the quarterback was 29-of-48 passing for 354 yards and two touchdowns. The 29 completions tie for the most he has recorded in a single game in his career after doing so twice with Buffalo, while the 354 yards are the most he has thrown for in his career. In fact, after throwing for 300 one week earlier against Central Michigan, Oct. 19, Snyder has thrown for 300+ yards in back-to-back games for the first time in his collegiate career.
    All told, Synder leads the MAC in passing yards with 2,087 and is one of just 34 QBs nationwide that has already thrown for more than 2,000 yards this season. Just nine EMU quarterbacks have surpassed 2,000 yards throw the air in a season, with Taylor Powell last doing so in 2022 with 2,111.

SPREADING IT AROUND
Through nine games played in 2024, Cole Snyder has not been shy about throwing to different receivers as 17 different Eagles have pulled in at least one catch, including four that have 20+ receptions. Against Toledo, Nov. 2, Snyder dished passes to nine different receivers, which ties for the most in a single game this season with the nine he connected with against Miami, Oct. 12. All told, five or more players have caught at least one pass in all nine games this season with six games seeing eight or nine players with at least one catch.

SPREADING IT AROUND SOME MORE
Of the 17 players to catch at least one pass from Cole Snyder, seven have caught at least one touchdown as well with five Eagles having secured at least two scores. Terry Lockett Jr. leads the team with three touchdowns while Oran Singleton, Markus Allen, Max Reese, and Jere Getzinger each have caught two scores.

SNYDER SLINGING
Cole Snyder threw for a pair of touchdowns against Toledo, Nov. 2, giving him seven in the last three games. Those seven scores are tied for the second-most in a three-game set in his career behind the nine he threw for last year with Buffalo that included two at Wisconsin, three at home against Fordham, and a career-high four at hoe against Liberty. During the 2022 season with the Bulls, he also threw for seven in three games, including three at home against Holy Cross, two at Coastal Carolina, and two at Eastern Michigan.

GOING TO THE AIR
Despite connecting with numerous receivers this year, two have managed to record over 500 yards each, including Oran Singleton (557) and Terry Lockett Jr. (526). The last time two receivers finished the year with 500+ yards was 2021 when Hassan Beydoun tallied 1,015 yards and Dylan Drummond posted 704. All told, Singleton and Lockett Jr. have both posted more yards than last year's top receiver, Tanner Knue, who had 479.

GETTING HIS KICKS
Jesús Gómez currently remains among the top kickers in the nation as he ranks tied for fourth nationally with 2.00 field goals made per game and 34th in scoring with 8.6 points per game. His 77 points scored also ranks 22nd nationally.

KICKING IT IN
Jesús Gómez has made 18 field goals in 2024 after making 12 throughout the entire 2023 season and two more than his previous season-high of 13 in 2022. He has connected on three field goals in the same game for the fifth time this year and the sixth time in his career. Additionally, he now has 44 career field goals made,which ranks third all-time in program history.

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's 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 96 extra points and 44 field goals for 223 points. All time at EMU, his extra points rank fourth overall and have him four shy of becoming just the fourth Eagle to collect 100 PATs in a career. Ranked third all-time in field goals made, Gómez needs six more field goals to become the third Eagle to connect on 50+ in a career. Overall, his 223 points rank him fifth all-time in program history with Justin Ventura (1995-98) next on the list at 239.

MAN MAN REACHES 100
After coming so close on three separate occasions, Oran Singleton finally broke the 100-yard barrier in receiving yards for the first time in his career with eight catches for 103 yards against Toledo, Nov. 2. After posting games of 89 yards twice (at Massachusetts, Aug. 31, and home vs. Jacksonville State, Sept. 14) and 81 against St. Francis (Sept. 21) before coming the closest at Akron (Oct. 26) with 97. Singleton is the third EMU player to record his first collegiate 100-yard receiving game this season after both Markus Allen (108) and Terry Lockett Jr. (100) accomplished the feat against Central Michigan (Oct. 19). Overall, Singleton is the only player on the roster to have recorded at least one reception every game this year.

LOCKETT IN
Terry Lockett Jr. has become a valuable target for the Eagles as he has turned few receptions into big yards. In the game with Toledo, Nov. 2, he pulled in 55 yards on four catches to mark the fifth game this year in which he has recorded four or fewer receptions but managed 40 yards or more. For the season, he is second on the team in both receptions and yards at 36 for 526, but the biggest difference comes when looking at the team leader, Oran Singleton, who has 21 more receptions, but just 31 more yards (57-557).

A MATTORD OF FACT
Joey Mattord had a career day as the redshirt freshman scored his first collegiate touchdown while recording his highest rushing and receiving totals. Entering the game, he had accumulated 35 yards on two catches and 15 yards on seven rushes. Against the Rockets, he finished with eight rushes for 33 yards and one touchdown while adding four catches for 50 yards. He is the fifth different Eagle to score a rushing touchdown this year.

LAND GRAB
Offensively, through nine games played, the Eagles have accumulated 208 first downs, which ranks 11th nationally in the FBS. Those 208 first downs are two more than the team had all last year (206) when EMU finished 113th overall. Since 2014, when Chris Creighton took over, the Eagles have finished in the top 50 nationally three times with the best showing coming in 2016 when Eastern tallied 303 first downs.

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
Eastern returns home for the final time in 2024 to host the University at Buffalo Wednesday, Nov. 20. Game time is set for 7 p.m. as the Green and White honor its senior class prior to the contest.
    Eastern holds a 7-4 lead in the all-time series with Buffalo that was first played Oct. 27, 2001, a 24-20 home win for the Eagles. The last time the two teams met was Sept. 24, 2022, in Ypsilanti with the Bulls claiming a 50-31 win.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Markus Allen

David Carter Jr.

Samson Evans

Jere Getzinger

Justin Jefferson

Tanner Knue

Terry Lockett Jr.

Barry Manning

Tyrell Martin

Joey Mattord

Luke Murphy

Max Reese

Dylan Shelton

Oran Singleton

Cole Snyder

Jordan Toney

Daniel Warnsman

Joey Zelinsky

Eastern Michigan Athletics