Eastern Michigan Athletics
Saturday, October 22
Kalamazoo, Mich.
3:30 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
5-3 , 2-2
31
at
45
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Western Michigan
8-0 , 4-0
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
Eastern Michigan
7
10
7
7
31
Western Michigan
7
17
14
7
45
Photo by: Andrew Mascharka
Eagles Come Up Short In 45-31 Defeat at No. 20 Western Michigan
10/22/2016 7:41:00 PM | Football
Redshirt junior Brogan Roback eclipsed the 4,000 yard mark for his EMU career in the loss
Photo Gallery.
Video Highlights.
Postgame Quotes.
KALAMAZOO, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – Despite having a brief lead in the second quarter, the Eastern Michigan University football team could not keep pace with No. 20 Western Michigan University in a 45-31 defeat Saturday evening at Waldo Stadium. It was the first home deficit of the season for the nationally ranked Broncos (8-0, 4-0 MAC).
Redshirt junior Brogan Roback (Maumee, Ohio-St. Johns Jesuit) guided the Eagle (5-3, 2-2 MAC) offense to an efficient 461 yard day, passing for 319 yards with 28 completions on a career-high 44 attempts. He threw for a touchdown, and ran for another. The 319 yards put him over the 4,000 yard mark for his EMU career, making him just the sixth to do so. It was his second straight 300-yard passing game and the third of his career.
Roback's top target was junior Sergio Bailey II (La Mesa, Calif.-Olympian (Grossmont)) who had six catches for 93 yards, including a game-long 56-yard catch. The touchdown pass went to fellow junior Antoine Porter (San Francisco, Calif.-Mission (City College of SF)), who had five catches for 80 yards.
Not to be outdone, the rushing attack had 142 on the ground, led by redshirt freshman Breck Turner (Norwalk, Ohio-Norwalk) who finished with 86 yards on 17 carries and a score. The final EMU touchdown came from freshman Willie Parker (Lutz, Fla.-Carrolwood Day School), the first of his career. He finished with 21 yards in the first seven carries of his EMU career. The offensive line paved the way for the run game and also did not yield a sack, the fourth game EMU has kept the QB clean.
Defensively, Eastern forced a pair of Broncos turnover, just the second and third of WMU's season. Redshirt sophomore Ross Williams (Southfield, Mich.-Groves) had his first career interception, and the first pick of Western's season. Redshirt sophomore Jeremiah Harris (Lambertville, Mich.-Bedford Senior) had the other turnover with a strip sack, which was recovered by sophomore Kwanii Figueroa (Fair Lawn, N.J.-Paramus Catholic). It was the 2.5 sack of the season for Harris and his second forced fumble. Junior Jason Beck (Indianapolis, Ind.-Arsenal Technical) was the Eagle's leading tackler with 12 stops, including seven solo and a half for loss.
WMU began the game with the ball, but were quickly stopped for a three-and-out, giving EMU possession at its own 29. After two short passes to Bailey II and A. Porter set up the Eagles at the 44, Turner sprung for a 38-yard rush into the red zone, but he was stripped from behind at the end of the play, giving WMU the ball back at the 17.
The Broncos wasted little time turning the turnover into points, as six plays later, WMU connected on a 32-yard touchdown pass to take a 7-0 lead at the nine minute mark of the first quarter.
Following a short drive with nothing doing for EMU, Western got the ball back looking to add to the lead. Three pass plays got the Broncos into EMU territory, setting up first and 10 from the 47.
On the next play, Harris came off the edge and reached out, stripping the ball away from the QB. Figueroa was there to snatch it up and rumbled 10 yards with the fumble recovery. It was only the second turnover of the season given up by the Broncos.
Starting with the ball at the WMU 37, the Eagles moved the ball in the red zone on Roback's 13-yard pass to A. Porter. After runs by Turner and Parker set up EMU with first and goal, Roback was the one to run in the score from nine yards out to even the contest at seven-all. That score would hold into the second quarter.
Not long into the second frame, WMU took the lead back, capping an 11-play, 75-yard drive that spanned both the first and second quarter, to put the tally at 14-7.
Needing to keep pace, EMU embarked on a season-high 16-play drive on the ensuing series to put more points on the board. After back-to-back third down conversions, EMU was faced with a fourth and one from the WMU 43. A nine-yard dump-off pass to redshirt junior Lavonte Robinson (Cleveland, Ohio-St. Edward) gave the Eagles a fresh set of downs.
Two-plays later, a 15-yard pass to Bailey II gave Eastern first and 10 from the 19. After three plays of no gains, redshirt freshman Paul Fricano (Rochester, N.Y.-Churchville Chili) knocked home the 36-yard field goal to cut the deficit to 14-10.
Following their second fumble of the season earlier in the game, Broncos threw their first interception of the season on the first play of their next drive. Going down the middle, R. Williams undercut the pass and snagged the first pick of his career. After the second turnover of the game, EMU was set up at their own EMU 39.
The next EMU drive got started with a 14-yard rush from Turner, getting Eastern into Western territory. A 16-yard pass two plays later to redshirt junior Dan Buschman (Brighton, Mich.-Brighton) carried Eastern down to the 33 yard line, followed by an 8-yard run from Roback, setting up second and two from the 25. After an incompletion and a one-yard run, EMU faced fourth and one.
Trying a trick play, Roback dumped off a pass to usual offensive lineman redshirt senior Cole Gardner (Batavia, Ill.-Batavia), but he was reported as an ineligible receiver, setting up fourth and six from the 29. Electing to go for it, Eastern went for the endzone with a deep pass to A. Porter, which he hauled in over the shoulder for the go-ahead 29-yard reception. Porter's fourth TD reception of the season gave Eastern its first lead, 17-14, and gave WMU its first home deficit of the season.
WMU did not take long to erase that deficit, going five plays in 2:21, aided by a 51-yard pass, to retake a 21-17 lead with less than two minutes until the half.
Looking for a quick score before the break, EMU tried a long pass down the sideline on the next drive, but it was underthrown for an interception, giving the Broncos an opportunity to add to the lead before the half. WMU did just that, getting into field goal range at the eight-second mark and kicking a 44 yarder to take a 24-17 lead into the locker room.
Getting the ball to start the second half, Eastern started on their own six but picked up a first down to the 19 after a scramble from Roback. Three plays later, Eastern was forced to punt and a 51 yarder from redshirt junior Austin Barnes (Fairview Heights, Ill.-O'Fallon) put WMU at the 27.
On Western's first drive of the half, the Broncos had a productive nine-play, 73-yard drive to add to the lead, making things 31-17 with just over six minutes to play in the third quarter.
Faced with its largest deficit of the game, Eastern went to work looking for an answer. On third and eight of the next EMU drive, Roback had all day in the pocket, and found Bailey II for a huge 56-yard gain down to the Western nine. The pass eclipsed the 4,000 yard mark for Roback's career. On the very next play, Turner found the edge for the nine-yard score to cut WMU's lead back to 31-24. It was Turner's fourth rushing TD of the year.
Western had the response once again on their second drive of the third quarter, going the distance in nine plays this time from 70 yards out to put the lead back to 14. A 31-yard touchdown pass capped the drive, which took 4:04 off the clock, leaving the score at 38-24 with a minute until the final frame.
The Eagle offense could not keep pace on its next drive, which ran into the start of the fourth quarter. EMU picked up one first down, but failed to get a second, punting the ball away for the third time. The Broncos took the opportunity to score for their third consecutive drive of the second half, this time on a 13-play, 80-yard drive, giving WMU the 45-24 lead with 7:55 to play.
Not backing down, EMU went to work on the next drive, needing a score to keep them in the game. The Eagles did just that with a 13-play drive, going 75 yards in 4:04. The touchdown was taken in from two yards out by Parker for the first score of his career, and made things 45-31 with just over three minutes to play.
Needing two more touchdowns, Eastern attempted the onsides kick, but it was recovered by WMU. Western got the clock down to under a minute before punting away to give EMU possession with 42 seconds to go. Despite completing a few passes to get near midfield, the clock ran out, sealing the 14-point defeat.
Eastern gets back into action next weekend for a home date with Miami University. Kickoff from Rynearson Stadium is set for 3:30 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 29.
Video Highlights.
Postgame Quotes.
KALAMAZOO, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – Despite having a brief lead in the second quarter, the Eastern Michigan University football team could not keep pace with No. 20 Western Michigan University in a 45-31 defeat Saturday evening at Waldo Stadium. It was the first home deficit of the season for the nationally ranked Broncos (8-0, 4-0 MAC).
Redshirt junior Brogan Roback (Maumee, Ohio-St. Johns Jesuit) guided the Eagle (5-3, 2-2 MAC) offense to an efficient 461 yard day, passing for 319 yards with 28 completions on a career-high 44 attempts. He threw for a touchdown, and ran for another. The 319 yards put him over the 4,000 yard mark for his EMU career, making him just the sixth to do so. It was his second straight 300-yard passing game and the third of his career.
Roback's top target was junior Sergio Bailey II (La Mesa, Calif.-Olympian (Grossmont)) who had six catches for 93 yards, including a game-long 56-yard catch. The touchdown pass went to fellow junior Antoine Porter (San Francisco, Calif.-Mission (City College of SF)), who had five catches for 80 yards.
Not to be outdone, the rushing attack had 142 on the ground, led by redshirt freshman Breck Turner (Norwalk, Ohio-Norwalk) who finished with 86 yards on 17 carries and a score. The final EMU touchdown came from freshman Willie Parker (Lutz, Fla.-Carrolwood Day School), the first of his career. He finished with 21 yards in the first seven carries of his EMU career. The offensive line paved the way for the run game and also did not yield a sack, the fourth game EMU has kept the QB clean.
Defensively, Eastern forced a pair of Broncos turnover, just the second and third of WMU's season. Redshirt sophomore Ross Williams (Southfield, Mich.-Groves) had his first career interception, and the first pick of Western's season. Redshirt sophomore Jeremiah Harris (Lambertville, Mich.-Bedford Senior) had the other turnover with a strip sack, which was recovered by sophomore Kwanii Figueroa (Fair Lawn, N.J.-Paramus Catholic). It was the 2.5 sack of the season for Harris and his second forced fumble. Junior Jason Beck (Indianapolis, Ind.-Arsenal Technical) was the Eagle's leading tackler with 12 stops, including seven solo and a half for loss.
WMU began the game with the ball, but were quickly stopped for a three-and-out, giving EMU possession at its own 29. After two short passes to Bailey II and A. Porter set up the Eagles at the 44, Turner sprung for a 38-yard rush into the red zone, but he was stripped from behind at the end of the play, giving WMU the ball back at the 17.
The Broncos wasted little time turning the turnover into points, as six plays later, WMU connected on a 32-yard touchdown pass to take a 7-0 lead at the nine minute mark of the first quarter.
Following a short drive with nothing doing for EMU, Western got the ball back looking to add to the lead. Three pass plays got the Broncos into EMU territory, setting up first and 10 from the 47.
On the next play, Harris came off the edge and reached out, stripping the ball away from the QB. Figueroa was there to snatch it up and rumbled 10 yards with the fumble recovery. It was only the second turnover of the season given up by the Broncos.
Starting with the ball at the WMU 37, the Eagles moved the ball in the red zone on Roback's 13-yard pass to A. Porter. After runs by Turner and Parker set up EMU with first and goal, Roback was the one to run in the score from nine yards out to even the contest at seven-all. That score would hold into the second quarter.
Not long into the second frame, WMU took the lead back, capping an 11-play, 75-yard drive that spanned both the first and second quarter, to put the tally at 14-7.
Needing to keep pace, EMU embarked on a season-high 16-play drive on the ensuing series to put more points on the board. After back-to-back third down conversions, EMU was faced with a fourth and one from the WMU 43. A nine-yard dump-off pass to redshirt junior Lavonte Robinson (Cleveland, Ohio-St. Edward) gave the Eagles a fresh set of downs.
Two-plays later, a 15-yard pass to Bailey II gave Eastern first and 10 from the 19. After three plays of no gains, redshirt freshman Paul Fricano (Rochester, N.Y.-Churchville Chili) knocked home the 36-yard field goal to cut the deficit to 14-10.
Following their second fumble of the season earlier in the game, Broncos threw their first interception of the season on the first play of their next drive. Going down the middle, R. Williams undercut the pass and snagged the first pick of his career. After the second turnover of the game, EMU was set up at their own EMU 39.
The next EMU drive got started with a 14-yard rush from Turner, getting Eastern into Western territory. A 16-yard pass two plays later to redshirt junior Dan Buschman (Brighton, Mich.-Brighton) carried Eastern down to the 33 yard line, followed by an 8-yard run from Roback, setting up second and two from the 25. After an incompletion and a one-yard run, EMU faced fourth and one.
Trying a trick play, Roback dumped off a pass to usual offensive lineman redshirt senior Cole Gardner (Batavia, Ill.-Batavia), but he was reported as an ineligible receiver, setting up fourth and six from the 29. Electing to go for it, Eastern went for the endzone with a deep pass to A. Porter, which he hauled in over the shoulder for the go-ahead 29-yard reception. Porter's fourth TD reception of the season gave Eastern its first lead, 17-14, and gave WMU its first home deficit of the season.
WMU did not take long to erase that deficit, going five plays in 2:21, aided by a 51-yard pass, to retake a 21-17 lead with less than two minutes until the half.
Looking for a quick score before the break, EMU tried a long pass down the sideline on the next drive, but it was underthrown for an interception, giving the Broncos an opportunity to add to the lead before the half. WMU did just that, getting into field goal range at the eight-second mark and kicking a 44 yarder to take a 24-17 lead into the locker room.
Getting the ball to start the second half, Eastern started on their own six but picked up a first down to the 19 after a scramble from Roback. Three plays later, Eastern was forced to punt and a 51 yarder from redshirt junior Austin Barnes (Fairview Heights, Ill.-O'Fallon) put WMU at the 27.
On Western's first drive of the half, the Broncos had a productive nine-play, 73-yard drive to add to the lead, making things 31-17 with just over six minutes to play in the third quarter.
Faced with its largest deficit of the game, Eastern went to work looking for an answer. On third and eight of the next EMU drive, Roback had all day in the pocket, and found Bailey II for a huge 56-yard gain down to the Western nine. The pass eclipsed the 4,000 yard mark for Roback's career. On the very next play, Turner found the edge for the nine-yard score to cut WMU's lead back to 31-24. It was Turner's fourth rushing TD of the year.
With the 51-yard completion to Bailey II, Roback breaks the 4,000 yd. mark for his career & moves into 6th all-time! #LetsRoll #EMUEagles pic.twitter.com/j5rowgQIaY
— EMU Football (@EMUFB) October 22, 2016
Western had the response once again on their second drive of the third quarter, going the distance in nine plays this time from 70 yards out to put the lead back to 14. A 31-yard touchdown pass capped the drive, which took 4:04 off the clock, leaving the score at 38-24 with a minute until the final frame.
The Eagle offense could not keep pace on its next drive, which ran into the start of the fourth quarter. EMU picked up one first down, but failed to get a second, punting the ball away for the third time. The Broncos took the opportunity to score for their third consecutive drive of the second half, this time on a 13-play, 80-yard drive, giving WMU the 45-24 lead with 7:55 to play.
Not backing down, EMU went to work on the next drive, needing a score to keep them in the game. The Eagles did just that with a 13-play drive, going 75 yards in 4:04. The touchdown was taken in from two yards out by Parker for the first score of his career, and made things 45-31 with just over three minutes to play.
Needing two more touchdowns, Eastern attempted the onsides kick, but it was recovered by WMU. Western got the clock down to under a minute before punting away to give EMU possession with 42 seconds to go. Despite completing a few passes to get near midfield, the clock ran out, sealing the 14-point defeat.
Eastern gets back into action next weekend for a home date with Miami University. Kickoff from Rynearson Stadium is set for 3:30 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 29.
Postgame Audio from Coach Creighton following the WMU game #EMUFB pic.twitter.com/pMuTqFlYJQ
— EMU Athletics (@EMUAthletics) October 22, 2016
Team Stats
EMU
WMU
Total Yards
461
561
Pass Yards
319
398
Rushing Yards
142
163
Penalty Yards
50
65
1st Downs
23
29
3rd Downs
8
5
4th Downs
3
1
TOP
27:55
32:05
1st Quarter
.png&width=32&height=32&type=webp)
EMU 0, WMU 7
WMU - THOMPSON, C 32 yd pass from TERRELL, Zach (HAMPTON, Butch kick) 6 plays, 83 yards, TOP 2:43
EMU 7, WMU 7
EMU - ROBACK, Brogan 9 yd run (FRICANO, Paul kick), 7 plays, 37 yards, TOP 2:43
2nd Quarter
EMU 7, WMU 14
WMU - FRANKLIN, J 2 yd run (HAMPTON, Butch kick), 11 plays, 75 yards, TOP 4:22
EMU 10, WMU 14
EMU - FRICANO, Paul 36 yd field goal 16 plays, 56 yards, TOP 5:41
EMU 17, WMU 14
EMU - PORTER, Antoine 29 yd pass from ROBACK, Brogan (FRICANO, Paul kick) 8 plays, 61 yards, TOP 2:40
EMU 17, WMU 21
WMU - BOGAN, Jamuauri 6 yd run (HAMPTON, Butch kick), 5 plays, 63 yards, TOP 2:21
EMU 17, WMU 24
WMU - HAMPTON, Butch 44 yd field goal 6 plays, 46 yards, TOP 0:39
3rd Quarter
EMU 17, WMU 31
WMU - THOMPSON, C 8 yd pass from TERRELL, Zach (HAMPTON, Butch kick) 9 plays, 73 yards, TOP 3:52
EMU 24, WMU 31
EMU - TURNER, Breck 9 yd run (FRICANO, Paul kick), 4 plays, 67 yards, TOP 1:11
EMU 24, WMU 38
WMU - DAVIS, Corey 31 yd pass from TERRELL, Zach (HAMPTON, Butch kick) 9 plays, 70 yards, TOP 4:04
4th Quarter
EMU 24, WMU 45
WMU - BOGAN, Jamuauri 1 yd run (HAMPTON, Butch kick), 13 plays, 80 yards, TOP 6:42
EMU 31, WMU 45
EMU - PARKER, Willie 2 yd run (FRICANO, Paul kick), 13 plays, 75 yards, TOP 4:34
Game Leaders
Passing Leaders
CMP
29
TD
1
YDS
319
INT
1
Players Mentioned
WR
/ Football
P
/ Football
DB
/ Football
TE
/ Football
DL
/ Football
K
/ Football
OL
/ Football
DL
/ Football
RB
/ Football
WR
/ Football
FB/LB
/ Football
RB
/ Football
DB
/ Football
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