St. Francis Comes to Town for Band/Hall of Fame Day Saturday

Football vs. Saint Francis
Date	Saturday, Sept. 21 \| 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
Twitter	@EMUFB \| @EMUAthletics
Tickets	Purchase Tickets \| Game Program

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University football team, coming off a thrilling double overtime victory in its home opener, is set to return to home action Saturday, Sept. 21, as the Eagles will play host to the Red Flash of St. Francis University (Pa.) in a 2 p.m. game inside "The Factory" at Rynearson Stadium. Eastern (2-1) defeated visiting Jacksonville State University, 37-34, in double overtime Saturday, Sept. 14, to open its home portion of the season with a victory, while the Red Flash come to town with a 1-2 record and stand 0-1 in the Northeast Conference (NEC) after dropping a 27-20 decision to visiting Central Connecticut State University in SFU's home and conference opener, Sept. 14.

ON AIR
The game between the Eagles and Red Flash will be streamed live on ESPN+ with Anthony Lima and Je'Rod Cherry 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.

HALL OF FAME WEEKEND
The game between Eastern Michigan and St. Francis is this season's Hall of Fame Game and also will be Band Day at EMU as 18 local high school bands will be on hand to perform at halftime along side the EMU Marching Band, the Pride of the Peninsula. Also at halftime, EMU Athletics will recognize the four newest members of the E-Club Hall of Fame that includes Kory Hallas (men's basketball), Tavelyn James (women's basketball), Matt Shoemaker (baseball), and Gina Tempro (women's track & field).

QUICK CAP: DOUBLE OVERTIME VICTORY
Eastern Michigan took a 28-20 lead into halftime before Jacksonville State tied the game, 31-31, to force overtime where the Eagles held on for a thrilling 37-34 win in double overtime, Sept. 14. In regulation, Eastern posted touchdowns from Delbert Mimms III (5-yard rush) before Elijah Jackson-Anderson scored on a 24-yard pass from Cole Snyder. Max Reese scored the first two touchdowns of his career as Snyder hit him for a 34-yard strike before wide receiver Terry Lockett Jr. completed a 22-yard pass to him in the end zone. Jesús Gómez added one field goal before the game was tied by the visitors with 34 seconds remaining, 31-31.
    In the extra sessions, both teams scored on 40-yard field goals in the first period before Gómez was good from 34 after Jacksonville State's kicker sent his attempt wide right to start the second overtime.

SINGLE SCORES
Since the start of the 2016 season, Eastern ranks third nationally with 53, one-score games played, sitting behind only Northern Illinois (56) and Texas (54).
    Additionally, only four teams in the top 10 of the national list are at .500 or better in such games, including EMU (27-26), NIU (28-28), and Navy (23-23) at .500 and Oklahoma State at .660 (31-16)

1. Northern Illinois - 56 (28-28)
2. Texas - 54 (24-30)
3. Eastern Michigan - 53 (27-26)
4. Iowa State - 49 (19-30)
5. North Carolina - 48 (21-27)
T6. Nebraska - 47 (13-34)
T6. Oklahoma State - 47 (31-16)
T8. Kansas State - 46 (22-24)
T8. Navy - 46 (23-23)
T8. Tulsa - 46 (20-26)

CLOSE CALLS
The three-point win over Jax State, Sept. 14, marked the 349th one-score game Eastern has played with the Eagles improving to 177-172 all-time in those contests with a record of 102-84 when those games are played at home in Ypsilanti. Eastern has now won two such games in a row following its double-overtime win against Akron, 30-27, Nov. 14, 2023, at home.
    The victory also saw the Eagles even their record in three-or-less point games as Eastern now stands 69-69 all-time. The team also is 38-30 all-time when those games are played at home. Additionally, the Eagles are 15-10 in those contests under Chris Creighton.

WORKING OVERTIME
Eastern prevailed in overtime against Jax State, Sept. 14, to make it two wins in a row in such contests after defeating Akron in a #MACtion game, 30-27, in double overtime Nov. 14, 2023, at home. Since overtime was instituted by the NCAA, the Eagles stand 7-11 in extra-session contests with the past two wins snapping a seven-game skid. When finishing the game in the second overtime period, Eastern is now 3-0 with the first win coming Sept. 28, 2002, in a 48-45 victory over visiting Southern Illinois.

LID LIFTED: HOME EDITION
Following its 37-34 double overtime win against Jacksonville State, Sept. 14, Eastern is now 81-46-5 all-time in its home-opening game and has won four in a row. In fact, since Chris Creighton took over ahead of the 2014 season, EMU is 9-2 in its home opener with the last loss coming Nov. 18, 2020, in a 45-28 loss to Toledo. Taking out the COVID season of 2020, the Eagles have won eight home openers against non-conference opponents with the last loss coming Sept. 5, 2015, in a 38-34 setback to Old Dominion.

KNOW THE FOE: ST. FRANCIS
The Red Flash come to town with a 1-2 record and stand 0-1 in the Northeast Conference (NEC) after dropping a 27-20 decision to visiting Central Connecticut State, Sept. 14, in SFU's home and league opener. A 23-17 road winner over Kent State, Sept. 7, SFU is 1-1 on the road this year after opening play with an 18-10 loss at Dayton, Aug. 31. Three quarterbacks have seen time under center for the Red Flash with Jeff Hoenstine leading the way with 307 yards and one touchdown with Gavin Thomas leading the receiving corps with 11 grabs for 190 yards and one score. On the ground, the rushing attack is paced by DeMarcus McElroy, who has run for 274 yards and one score. Defensively, Fran Brown Jr., and Pierre Royster each have 21 tackles for a unit that has forced five fumbles and recovered three.

SERIES HISTORY: ST. FRANCIS
The Eagles and Red Flash are meeting for the second time with Eastern taking the first game, 35-15, at home, Sept. 3, 2021. In the season-opener for both teams that year, Samson Evans carried the ball five times for 11 yards, but found the end zone three times as the Eagles scored all five touchdowns on the ground.

GOMEZ REPEATS AS MAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK
For the second week in a row, Jesús Gómez has earned a share of the MAC's Special Teams Player of the Week, Sept. 16. Gómez was 3-of-4 in field goal attempts, including 2-of-2 in overtime, and 4-of-4 in PATs, bringing his season total to 8-of-9 field goals and a perfect 6-of-6 in PATs.

FBS vs. FCS
The Eagles hold an all-time record of 81-49-10 against teams currently playing in the FCS, including a 2-0-0 record against the NEC, which includes the 2021 win over St. Francis and a 2019 win over Central Connecticut State (34-29). Additionally, Eastern has won all seven games against FCS foes under Chris Creighton (since 2014) while the program has won 13 in a row against the subdivision with the last loss coming Sept. 25, 2004, in a 31-28 home loss to Eastern Illinois.

NON-CONFERENCE SUCCESS UNDER CREIGHTON
Since the start of the 1976 season, Eastern Michigan has won 54 games in non-conference play with 42.6 percent of those victories (23 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).

PILING UP POINTS
Through three games played in 2024, the Eagles have scored 74 points compared to just 58 over the same span last year. Additionally, the 28 points at UMass (Aug. 31) and the 37 at home against Jacksonville State (Sept. 14) give EMU two games of 28+ points this year after having just three in total in 2023, which included 33 vs. Howard (Sept. 1), 28 vs. Kent State (Oct. 14), and 30 vs. Akron in double overtime (Nov. 14).
    So far in 2024, the Eagles have scored seven touchdowns, including three rushing and four passing while the 2023 squad tallied six, including two on the ground, two through the air, and two on kick-off returns. An additional source of points has come in the kicking game as the 2024 team has six PATs and eight field goals compared to five and five, respectively, in 2023.

GOING FURTHER
Similar to the points accumulated in three games, the 2024 squad has moved the ball better so far as Eastern has tallied 1,026 total yards compared to just 808 one year ago. This year, the Eagles have totaled 375 yards or more twice in three games, including 447 against Jax State (Sept. 14), which is the most it has recorded since it tallied 459 yards at Kent State, Nov. 16, 2022. Through the air, the Eagles put up 295 yards passing, which ranks as the most since EMU accumulated 298 yards against San Jose State in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl in Boise, Idaho, Dec. 20, 2022.

PROTECTING THE BALL
As with every team, ball security is a big emphasis. Through three games, Eastern is one of 23 teams nationally (of 133 programs) that has not thrown an interception. Additionally, EMU has lost just one turnover, which ties for the sixth-fewest nationally and ties for first in the MAC with both Northern Illinois and Toledo.

A GIVE AND TAKE(AWAY)
During his time guiding the Eagles, Chris Creighton's teams have won the turnover battle 53 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 39-14 when winning the turnover battle, 6-38 when losing the battle, and 11-15 when the battle is tied, including last week's 37-34 double overtime home win over Jacksonville State (Sept. 14).

MAX-IMUM EFFORT
To say Max Reese had a big day against Jacksonville State (Sept. 14) would be an understatement. The tight end caught the first two touchdown passes of his career, both of which came in the second quarter, while he set career-highs in both receptions (four), and receiving yards (64). Additionally, his two receiving touchdowns mark the first time an Eagle has secured two in a single game since Darius Lassiter hauled in two in Eastern's win over San Jose State in the 2022 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, Dec. 20. Reese entered the game with four total receptions for 32 yards and no scores in his career with Eastern. He currently ranks third in the MAC and 44th nationally with two receiving touchdowns.

SNYDER CONTINUES TO SHINE
Cole Snyder finished the game with two touchdown passes in the win over Jacksonville State (Sept. 14). It was the first time this season in which he has thrown multiple touchdowns in a game. Additionally, the effort is his first game with multiple passing touchdowns since Sept. 16, 2023, when he recorded four touchdowns for Buffalo at home against Liberty. He finished the game with 282 total yards, including 273 yards on 26-of-37 passing with two TDs, and nine yards rushing.

SPREADING IT AROUND
For the second time this year, seven different Eagles caught at least one pass, including five with multiple grabs, led by the eight catches and 89 yards by Oran Singleton, both of which tied his career-high totals set at UMass (Aug. 31) in the season opener. Terry Lockett Jr. posted nine catches for 61 yards and threw one for 22 yards and a touchdown to Max Reese, who had four grabs for 64 yards and two scores.

KICKING IT IN
Jesús Gómez tallied 13 points in the game against Jacksonville State (Sept. 14) as he was 3-of-4 on field goal attempts, including the game-winning 34-yard make in double overtime, while also converting all four of his PATs. Through three games, Gómez is averaging 2.67 made field goals per game, which is tied for the NCAA and MAC lead while his 10.0 points per game average ranks 20th in the FBS and ties for first with Ohio's Anthony Tyus III. Gómez and Tyus lead the league and are 17th nationally with 30 points scored in 2024.

MOVING ON UP
Through three games this season, Jesús Gómez has converted 8-of-9 field goal attempts and stands a perfect 6-of-6 in PATs for 30 points. For his career, his 34 made field goals ranks tied for sixth all-time at Eastern with both Paulie Fricano (2016-17) and Toller Starnes (1998-01) and is just the eighth player to make 30+ field goals. Additionally, his 176 career points move him up to ninth all-time at Eastern and makes him only the ninth player in program history to score 175+ points.

SACK RACE
Justin Jefferson has recorded 3.0 sacks this season, including 1.0 against Jacksonville State (Sept. 14), giving him and average of 1.0 per game. The 1.0 sacks ranks tied for first in the MAC and is 12th nationally. Jefferson now has 6.5 sacks for his career and is 0.5 sacks from tying his single-season high of 3.5 set last year in 13 games played for the Eagles.

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 up for the Eagles is their Mid-American Conference opener as they will travel to Kent, Ohio, to take on the Kent State Golden Flashes Saturday, Sept. 28. Game time is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. on ESPN and WEMU.

St. Francis Comes to Town for Band/Hall of Fame Day Saturday

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Players Mentioned

Markus Allen

Blake Bustard

James Djonkam

Samson Evans

Elijah Jackson-Anderson

Justin Jefferson

JT Killen

Terry Lockett Jr.

Dramarian McNulty

Delbert Mimms III

Jaivian Norman

Max Reese

Dylan Shelton

Oran Singleton

Cole Snyder

Jordan Toney

Eastern Michigan Athletics