Eastern Michigan Athletics
Saturday, September 14
Ypsilanti, Mich.
7 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
vs
Jacksonville State
EMU Opens 2024 Home Campaign Saturday Against Jacksonville State
9/9/2024 3:00:00 PM | Football
Game 3 • Sept. 14, 2024 • 7 p.m. ET • Ypsilanti, Mich. • Rynearson Stadium (30,200)
| Football vs. Jacksonville State | |
| Date | Saturday, Sept.14 | 7 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) – With two road games in the rear view mirror, the Eastern Michigan University football team is set to open its home schedule as the Eagles will play host to Jacksonville State University, Saturday, Sept. 14, in a 7 p.m. kickoff inside 'The Factory' at Rynearson Stadium. The Eagles (1-1) and Gamecocks (0-2) will meet on the newly installed Crosby Field as the program will hold its annual Car Show around the stadium.
ON AIR
The game between the Eagles and Gamecocks will be streamed live on ESPN+. 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.
QUICK HITTERS
» Since 2016, Eastern Michigan has posted the fifth most victories of any team in the Mid-American Conference.
» In total, the EMU has brought in 53 new student-athletes with 28 of them coming via the transfer portal.
» In his 11th season in Ypsilanti, Chris Creighton is the 11th-longest-tenured 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.
» Chris Creighton has 53 wins during his time in Ypsilanti, which makes him the 20th coach in the history of the MAC to record 50+ wins at a MAC school.
» A total of 15 EMU football student-athletes were named Preseason All-MAC by Athlon Sports. The total is tied for third-most in the MAC, and it is the most honorees for EMU since the magazine began releasing the list in 2014.
» Since the 2016 season, Chris Creighton has led Eastern to a 15-14 record in the month of September. From 2013-15, EMU posted a cumulative September record of 0-9.
» After a generous $1 million donation from former Eagle standout and current Las Vegas Raider/NFL All-Pro, Maxx Crosby and his wife Rachel Crosby to the EMU Athletics Department, Eastern's new gray turf was dubbed "Crosby Field" and was unveiled to the public with Maxx and Rachel back in Ypsilanti, June 21.
» Jesús Gómez has started the season on a perfect note as the lefty placekicker has gone 5-of-5 in field goal attempts with two measuring 50+ or better. He is one of three placekickers nationally to have recorded two 50+ yard kicks and the only one to do so in the same game.
THE GRAY AREA
The home opener with Jacksonville State this week will mark the first game on the newly installed gray turf that was named Crosby Field after the generous $1 million donation from former Eagle standout and current Las Vegas Raider/NFL All-Pro Maxx Crosby and his wife, Rachel Crosby. Eastern had played on the same gray surface for the previous 10 seasons before renovations to Rynearson Stadium were completed this summer that saw the removal of the track and new turf installed throughout the facility.
PUT IT IN GEAR
The program will host its annual Car Show in and around 'The Factory' at Rynearson Stadium with numerous local vehicles will be on display. Fans are encouraged to take in the sights and sounds of the Car Show and cast their votes for the top automobiles on hand.
LIFTING LIDS: HOME EDITION
Eastern is 80-46-5 all-time in its home-opening game and has won three in a row, including a 33-23 victory over Howard, Sept. 1, 2023. In fact, since Chris Creighton took over ahead of the 2014 season, EMU is 8-2 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 seven home openers against non-conference opponents with the last loss coming Sept. 5, 2015, in a 38-34 setback to Old Dominion.
FEELING HONORED
Jesús Gómez has been named the MAC Special Teams Player of the Week (shared) following his outstanding performance at No. 25 Washington, Sept. 7. Gómez was sensational for the Eagles as he was a perfect 3-of-3 in field goal attempts, including makes of 57 yards, 50 yards, and 29 yards. It marked the second time in his career he was 3-of-3 in a single game and the first time EMU history a placekicker converted multiple field goal attempts of 50+ yards in the same game. His 57-yard kick in the first quarter not only gave EMU an early lead, it changed the record book as he took over the top spot in EMU history after being tied with two others for the then-record of 55 yards. Additionally, the 57-yard make ranks tied for the fourth-longest in MAC history. Overall, his 57-yard kick is the second-longest in the FBS this year. He is one of three kickers nationally to have made a pair of 50+ yard field goals in 2024, but the only one to make two in the same game.
𝗚𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘇 𝗡𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗱 @MACSports 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸
— Eastern Michigan Football (@EMUFB) September 9, 2024
Jesus Gomez at #25 Washington:
✅ 3-for-3 Field Goal Attempts
👑 School-record 57-yarder
2⃣ Field Goals at 50+ yards
🗞️ https://t.co/KFiMLkAcfN#EMUEagles ⛓️ #ETOUGH ⛓️ #BET pic.twitter.com/4NkP6qQ3tG
THANK YOU
EMU Athletics will honor former EMU Regents Phil Incarnati and Mike Morris by naming two facilities after them. The Student-Athlete Performance Center will be renamed after Incarnati, recognizing his $4 million contribution to the Championship Building Plan. Incarnati, an EMU alumnus and former football player, served on the Board of Regents for 18 years, including a decade as Chair. He is currently the President and CEO of McLaren Health Care.
Mike Morris and his wife, Linda, will have their names emblazoned on the Rynearson Stadium Press Box, following their donations to the Athletic Department. Morris, a two-time EMU graduate and former CEO of American Electric Power, also served two terms on the Board of Regents.
EMU Athletics achieved a record-breaking fundraising year in fiscal 2024, raising over $14.5 million, surpassing the previous record of $9.8 million set in 2020. These funds were directed towards the Eastern Athletic Fund, sport-specific initiatives, capital projects, and legacy giving, all of which support over 500 student-athletes. This achievement reflects a growing trend in successful fundraising efforts for EMU Athletics.
LATE STARTS
Removing the COVID season of 2022, this week's home opener will be the second-latest under Chris Creighton, surpassed only by the 2019 opener, a 34-39 victory over visiting Central Connecticut State, Sept. 21. The game with Jax State also will mark the second time the Eagles have opened their home slate on Sept. 14 with the first coming in 1974. That day, Eastern scored a 20-19 win over rival Western Michigan.
KNOW THE FOE: JAX STATE
The Gamecocks enter the week with an 0-2 record after falling to Coastal Carolina, 55-27, in their home opener before suffering a 49-14 loss at No. 22 Louisville last week. Two quarterbacks have seen action for JSU with Tyler Huff starting both games, throwing for 333 yards, two touchdowns, and three picks. His top target has been Michael Pettway, who has five grabs for 122 yards and one score. On the ground, Huff leads the way with 112 yards on 23 carries and one score while Tre Stewart has tallied 71 yards on eight rushes with one TD. Defensively, Patrick Taylor is averaging 12.0 tackles per game while Zechariah Poyser has recorded the lone interception by the defense in 2024.
SERIES HISTORY: JAX STATE
The Gamecocks hold a 1-0 lead in the all-time series after taking a 21-0 victory in Jacksonville, Ala., Sept. 23, 2023. Just the second time being shutout under Chris Creighton (since the start of 2014 season), the Eagles' defense was able to thwart several scoring attempts by JSU to limit the hosts to just 21 points. Mitchell Tomasek had a career day punting as he boomed on out to 72 yards, flipping the field from the EMU 20 to the JSU 8. At the time, it was the longest punt recorded among all punters in the FBS.
WELCOME BACK TO WASHTENAW
For the second time this year, the Eagles will face a head coach with ties to the area as Jax State is led by Rich Rodriguez, the former head coach at Michigan (2008-10). In the season opener, Eastern played UMass, who is guided by Don Brown, who served as the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at UM from 2016-20.
MANY WINS BETWEEN
This season, there are seven FBS head coaches that have accumulated 180+ wins in their careers and two of them will face one another this week in Ypsilanti as Chris Creighton and Eastern will welcome Rich Rodriguez and Jax State to town. Creighton has tallied 192 wins in his career and ranks sixth on the active list while Rodriguez has recorded 181 wins for seventh on the ledger. The game will be the first of two this year between two coaches on the list with the second coming Nov. 23 when K.C. Keller (263 wins) and Sam Houston State travel to face JSU in a Conference USA game.
QUICK CAP: EMU FALLS AT #25 WASHINGTON
Eastern Michigan put up a strong showing in the early going, but three touchdowns by host and 25th-ranked Washington in the second quarter helped the Huskies pull away for a 30-9 win in Seattle, Sept. 7. UW, who has yet to concede a touchdown in 2024, surrendered three field goals as the Jesús Gómez was 3-of-3 on the day with makes of 57, 50, and 29 yards for all of EMU's points in the contest.
GRAND GOMEZ
Jesús Gómez was perfect on the day at Washington as he converted all three of his field goal attempts against the Huskies to tie a career high for makes in a game. The last time he went 3-of-3 was at Arizona State, Sept. 17, 2022. Gómez, who made multiple field goals in the same for the eighth time in his career, is a perfect 5-of-5 on the season.
TOP MARKS
Jesús Gómez' first kick of the day was right down the middle from 57 yards, a distance that now ranks as the longest make in program history and ties for the fourth-longest in MAC history. Gómez, who had a previous best of 55 yards twice, breaks a tie he shared with both Dylan Mulder (at Miami, Nov. 7, 2015) and Chad Ryland (vs. Ohio, Nov. 9, 2021) for the school record.
LONGEST FIELD GOALS • EMU
57: Jesús Gómez at Washington (2024)
55: Jesús Gómez at Central Michigan (2023)
55: Jesús Gómez at Ball State (2022)
55: Chad Ryland vs. Ohio (2021)
55: Dylan Mulder at Miami (2015)
53: Jesús Gómez vs. Ball State (2023)
52: 9 times
LONGEST FIELD GOALS • MAC
62: John Diettrich (Ball State) vs. Ohio (1986)
60: Derek Schorejs (BGSU) vs. Toledo (1995)
58: Tristan Mattson (CMU) vs. Akron (2023)
57: Jesús Gómez (EMU) at Washington (2024)
57: Rade Savich (CMU) vs. Ball State (1975)
57: Gary Homer (Ohio) at Penn State (1973)
GO, GO, GÓMEZ
Not only did Jesús Gómez kick a 57-yard field goal, he added one from 50 yards in the fourth quarter. While his 57-yarder ranks as the second-longest of the season nationally behind the 59-yard kick of Ryan Fitzgerald (Florida State), he is one of three kickers in FBS with multiple 50+ yard field goals this year, joining Colin Rogers (SMU) and Dominic Zvada (Michigan). Additionally, he is the only kicker to have made multiple 50+ field goals in the same game this year.
NIFTY 50
Kicking a field goal of 50 yards or more is nothing new to Jesús Gómez as the Eagle placekicker has now connected on six in his career, standing 6-of-9 overall. Gómez has scored two field goals of 50+ yards for the third year in a row after hitting from 55 and 53 during the 2023 season and 55 and 51 in 2022.
MOVING ON UP
Through two games this season, Jesús Gómez is a perfect 5-of-5 in field goal attempts and 2-of-2 in PATs for 17 points. For his career, his 31 made field goals ranks eighth all-time at EMU as he is just the eighth player to make 30+ field goals. Additionally, his 163 career points move him up to 12th all-time at Eastern.
BLOCK PARTY
Special teams turned in a pair of blocked kicks for Eastern at Washington, Sept. 7, with Justin Jefferson blocking a punt and Sterling Miles blocking a PAT. Jefferson got his hand on a punt on UW's opening drive, deflecting the ball out of bounds for a 0 yard kick. In the third quarter, Miles was able to stop a PAT, marking the second such block of his career. Combined, the two blocks mark the third time under Chris Creighton Eastern has made two blocks in the same game and the first since Oct. 25, 2014, in a home game with Northern Illinois (two field goal attempts). The first instance game in Creighton's debut, Aug. 30, 2014, against Morgan State (one punt and one field goal attempt).
JUST(IN) DOING IT ALL
The punt block at Washington, Sept. 7, marked the first career block for David Carter, Jr. His stop marked the ninth blocked punt since Chris Creighton took over in 2014 and is the first since the Eagles blocked a Bowling Green punt, Oct. 23, 2021.
STERLING STOP
Miles Sterling is no stranger to blocking kicks as his PAT block at Washington, Sept. 7, is the second of his career with the first coming in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl against San Jose State, Dec. 20, 2022. EMU, who blocked a PAT against Howard in the season opener last year (Sept. 1, 2023), has now blocked a PAT in three consecutive seasons and has halted six under Chris Creighton.
RAISE YOUR HANDS
The two blocked kicks at Washington, Sept. 7, put the Eagles in elite company as Eastern is one of five FBS teams with two blocks this season. Along with EMU, the national leaders for blocks include Georgia Tech, Louisiana-Monroe, Louisville, and Northern Illinois. Interestingly, EMU, NIU, and GT all recorded two blocks in their road games played Sept. 7 with the Huskies playing at Notre Dame and Yellow Jackets at Syracuse.
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.
SPREAD IT AROUND
In the game at Washington, Sept. 7, Cole Snyder spread the ball around as eight different Eagles caught at least one pass. Zyell Griffin, a native of Vancouver, Wash., made the first two catches of his short career with the Eagles and collected a team-high 35 yards, including a long of 27. Jere Getzinger added three catches for 32 yards while Markus Allen had a team-high four grabs for 27 yards. Additionally, Quinn Fracassi recorded his first collegiate stats as the third-year player caught one pass for six yards.
FIRST TAKEAWAY
Midway through the fourth quarter, the Eagles recorded their first takeaway of the season by recovering a fumble. With Washington driving down the Eastern 20, the Huskies' ball carrier, Desmond Williams Jr., rushed 13 yards before Peyton Price stripped away the ball and Jordan Toney fell on the loose ball. The forced fumble is the first of Price's career while the recovery is also the first for Toney, who made his first start for Eastern in his freshman season.
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 25 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 10-15 when the battle is tied, including last week's 30-9 loss at No. 25 Washington as both teams lost the ball once.
NON-CONFERENCE SUCCESS UNDER CREIGHTON
Since the start of the 1976 season, Eastern Michigan has won 53 games in non-conference play with 41.5 percent of those victories (22 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 that currently is a member of the Big 12.
ON THE HORIZON
Eastern will play host to St. Francis (Pa.) Saturday, Sept. 21, to close out the non-conference portion of its schedule with the Eagles and Red Flashes set for a 2 p.m. kickoff inside 'The Factory' at Rynearson Stadium. The contest, which will air live on ESPN+, WEMU (89.1 FM) and The Varsity app, will serve as the Hall of Fame Game and Band Day at EMU as numerous 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).
Players Mentioned
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