Eagles and Falcons Set to Open the MAC Slate Saturday, Oct. 1

Football at Bowling Green
Date	Saturday, Oct. 1 \| 3 p.m.
Venue	Bowling Green, Ohio \| Doyt Perry Stadium (24,000)
Preview Info	EMU Notes \| Press Conference Video \| Teleconference Audio.
Live Stats	Fan Stats \| Media Stats
Watch	ESPN3
Listen	WEMU (89.1 FM) \| TuneIn Radio
Twitter	@EMUFB \| @EMUAthletics
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BOWLING GREEN, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) – With its first 3-1 start to the season in 21 years, the Eastern Michigan University football team heads back out on the road Saturday, Oct. 1, to open the squad's 41st season of Mid-American Conference action against Bowling Green State University. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:04 p.m. at Doyt Perry Stadium.
   As mentioned, the Eagles are 3-1 (0-0 MAC) after posting a 27-24 come-from-behind victory at home against the University of Wyoming, Sept. 23. Meanwhile, the defending league champion Falcons (1-3, 0-0 MAC) are looking to regroup following a 77-3 setback to the University of Memphis, Sept. 24.
   The contest will be televised by ESPN3 with Jim Barbar providing the play-by-play and John Gregory serving as the analyst. WEMU (89.1 FM) will provide audio coverage of the game with Matt Shepard and Rob Rubick calling the action on the field.

HARRIS SELECTED MAC WEST DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: In an attempt to tie the game in the third quarter, Wyoming tried a 22-yard field goal, but it would be blocked by Jeremiah Harris to keep the Eagles in the lead, 20-17. The last time an Eagle blocked a field goal was against Northern Illinois on Oct. 25, 2014, when Willie Creear and Mike Steals got a block.
   Harris was all over the field for the Eagles, forcing a quarterback hurry and blocking a pass at the line of scrimmage in addition to making the momentum shifting block. For his efforts, he was named the MAC West Division Defensive Player of the Week for the period ending Sept. 24. It was the first weekly award of his career.

NEXT EIGHT CONTESTS TO DECIDE A CHAMPION: For just the fourth time since the 2005 campaign, Eastern Michigan will play eight straight Mid-American Conference games to close out the regular season.

GLAD TO BE MAC: Saturday's contest kicks off the 41st year that the Eagles have been a part of the Mid-American Conference football championship race. EMU was admitted into the league in 1971, but a complete league schedule was not available until the 1976 season.
   During that span, the Green and White are 11-29 all-time in MAC lidlifters. The Eagles' last MAC-opening win came during the 2011 season when the team held off Akron, 31-23, at Rynearson Stadium, Oct. 1, 2011. The last time EMU won its league opener on the road was Sept. 24, 2005, when Eastern Michigan outlasted Central Michigan in overtime, 23-20, in Mt. Pleasant.

21 YEARS AGO TO THE DAY: With the win over Wyoming, Sept. 23, Eastern Michigan's overall record moved to 3-1, the best start to a season for EMU since the 1995 campaign. In that season, Eastern Michigan beat Ohio, 31-20, Sept. 23. To put that in perspective, just 32 players on the current roster were born when the Eagles defeated the Bobcats, Sept. 23, 1995. Johnnie Niupalau, the oldest Eagle on the squad, was two years, 10 months, and 27 days old the last time EMU opened the season 3-1. Meanwhile the youngest player, Tyler Lyle, was not born until three years and 34 days after the Eagles secured the win, as he was born on Oct. 27, 1998.

BACK-TO-BACK WINS: Eastern Michigan has recorded back-to-back wins for the first time since 2011, when the Eagles defeated Central Michigan (35-28), and Western Michigan (14-10) in back-to-back weeks.

NO NONSENSE IN THE NON-CONFERENCE: With the 3-1 mark in non-conference play this season, EMU put up its best mark in those games since they first played a four-team non-conference schedule in the 2000 season. In addition, EMU posted two wins over FBS opponents in non-conference play this year, the first time Eastern has done that since 1987 when Eastern defeated Northern Illinois, 32-31, and San Jose State in the California Bowl, 30-27.

RUN DEFENSE THRIVING: The Eagles have held each opponent this season to less than 200-yards rushing. In the Eagles' victory over Wyoming, EMU held the Cowboys to just 79-yards rushing for the game. They have not allowed over 100-yards in either of its home games this season. Opponents have managed a total of just 429 yards against the Eagles on the ground this season, averaging 107.2 yards per game. Last season, EMU only held one team to under 200 yards rushing.

THE DIFFERENCE A YEAR MAKES: In its first season under new defensive coordinator Neal Neathery and his 4-2-5 scheme, Eastern Michigan has seen remarkable improvement in its overall defense. Through four games this season, EMU has allowed just 1,517 total yards (379 per game). Last season, the Eagles had allowed 2,001 yards through four games (500 per game).
   In the last eight quarters, the defense has only surrendered three offensive touchdowns to go along with three field goals. That is the longest such streak by the EMU resistance since 2011 when the team held Howard and Alabama State to just 10 offensive points in a pair of contests.

OFFENSE KEEPS CHURNING: The 500 yards of total offense against Wyoming, Sept. 23, were the most for EMU this season, and the third-most yards put up by an offense in the Chris Creighton era, falling just six yards short of the most against Wyoming last season.

FOCUSING ON THE FUMBLES: Eastern Michigan has had a knack of forcing fumbles so far this season. The Eagles have forced 10 fumbles and recovered seven of them in 2016. That is good for first in the MAC and second in the country. On the flip side, Eastern has not lost any fumbles themselves this season, one of just nine teams nationwide to do so.

WINNING THE TURNOVER BATTLE: So far this season, the Eagles have found success in games in which the squad has won the turnover battle. In total, Eastern holds an 11-8 TO advantage with a safety, three interceptions, and seven fumble recoveries. Not only is the squad getting the ball back, but they are taking advantage of it and putting points on the board. EMU has turned its 10 turnovers into 44 points, including seven touchdowns

PACE MAKING HISTORY: Following the Wyoming game, DaQuan Pace tied an EMU record for career passes broken up at 18 since records were kept in 1998. Currently, he shares the record with Jerry Gaines who had 18 for the Eagles from 2001-2004.

POC'S PRESENCE: Pat O'Connor continues to close the gap on being atop the EMU leaderboard for sacks since records were kept in 1998. O'Connor has 15 career sacks, which is second most in school history, just 2.5 sacks behind Kevin Howe who accumulated 17.5 for the Eagles from 2003-2006.

ALL-TIME VERUS BOWLING GREEN: The Eagles have squared off with the Falcons of Bowling Green on 37 occasions, beginning with a meeting during the 1919 campaign. Eastern Michigan trails in the all-time series, 11-25-1, and most recently fell, 58-7, to BGSU during the 2013 season.
   Despite being less than an hour trip from Ypsilanti, EMU's nearby neighbors in northwest Ohio have not been kind to the Green and White. Eastern Michigan is a combined 9-33-1 all-time in games played in Wood County (Bowling Green – 5-15-1) and Lucas County (Toledo – 4-18).

LAST WIN ON THE ROAD VS. BGSU: The Eagles' most recent win on the road at Bowling Green came in 2008, when Eastern escaped with a 24-21 victory. The game was close throughout, as Eastern held a slim 17-14 lead heading into the fourth quarter, after which both teams notched one touchdown in the final frame. Andy Schmitt led the Eagles on the day, passing for 253 yards and a touchdown, while Dwayne Priest and Terrence Blevins both found the end zone on the ground.

ESSENCE OF FRICANO: Kicker Paul Fricano knocked home a career-long kick of 46 yards against Wyoming, Sept. 23. His previous high was a 36-yard field goal that came in last week's match-up with Charlotte. Fricano remains perfect on the season for PATs, going 18-for-18, which is the third most in the MAC.

SPREADING THE LOVE: Through four games, Eastern Michigan has totaled over 1000 yards through the air, with 1,031, however none of EMU's receivers have recorded a 100-yard receiving game and none have more than 17 receptions. 13 different Eagles have recorded catches on the season, and five have at least one touchdown reception. EMU's leading receiver through four games is junior Johnnie Niupalau, who has 193 yards on 11 catches.

BOMBS AWAY BARNES: Austin Barnes continues to have a great season punting the ball. Barnes booted five punts in the Sept. 23 game against Wyoming, for an average of 47.2 yards per punt. His longest punt tied a season high of 58-yards. The fourth-year punter holds an average of 42.6 yards, which is second all-time in EMU history, while his 5,769 total yards ranks ninth all-time. His average is ranked seventh in the country and second in the MAC

ELECTRIC ERIKSEN: Ian Eriksen had a career day against Wyoming, Sept. 23. The redshirt sophomore ran for a career-high 120 yards on 27 carries and the game winning touchdown. It was the first 100-yard rushing performance for Eriksen in his EMU career. In his first season as a primary running back, Eriksen is EMU's leading rusher with 326 yards on 71 carries, which is sixth in the conference.

BRECK TURNER BREAKING THROUGH: After accumulating just 28 yards in his first three games at EMU, redshirt freshman Breck Turner broke through against Wyoming, Sept. 23. Turner broke free for a 50-yard touchdown run which helped spark EMU to a come-from-behind 27-24 win. It was the first TD of his young EMU career, and was also his new career-long rush.

CALHOUN IN THE CLUTCH: "True" freshman Vince Calhoun had the biggest game of his young Eagle career against Wyoming, Sept. 23. The Middletown, Ohio native had a career-high eight tackles, including five solo stops, while also forcing a fumble and picking up his first career interception. The pick came late in the fourth quarter and helped seal the 27-24 win for the Eagles.
   For his efforts, he was selected the College Sports Madness' MAC Defensive Player of the Week.

PORTER AIRING IT OUT: Eagles quarterback Todd Porter recorded his third straight 200 plus yard game, against Wyoming, Sept. 23, accounting for 214-yards through the air. Previously he passed for 285-yards against Charlotte and 287-yards against Missouri. He is just shy of 1,000 yards passing on the season, with 957 through four games.

ROBACK DIRECTS ANOTHER GAME WINNING DRIVE: Seeing his first action of the 2016 season, redshirt junior Brogan Roback was immediately tossed into a pressure situation, with his team down four points in the fourth quarter against Wyoming, Sept. 23. Starting with the ball on Wyoming's 47 and 2:37 left on the clock, Roback orchestrated a five-play drive for the game-winning score. It was the third game-winning drive Roback has been a part of in his EMU career. Previously, the Toledo native helped lead the Eagles to victory against Western Michigan in 2013 and Morgan State in 2014.

Eagles and Falcons Set to Open the MAC Slate Saturday, Oct. 1

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Players Mentioned

Austin Barnes

Vince Calhoun

Ian Eriksen

Paulie Fricano

Jeremiah Harris

Tyler Lyle

Johnnie Niupalau

Pat O'Connor

DaQuan Pace

Todd Porter

Brogan Roback

Breck Turner

Eastern Michigan Athletics