Eagles Clash With the Rockets Saturday, Oct. 7, in Toledo

Football at Toledo
Date	Saturday, Oct. 7 \| 12 p.m.
Venue	Toledo, Ohio \| Glass Bowl (26,248)
Preview Info	EMU Notes \| Press Conference Video. \| Teleconference Audio.
Live Stats	Fan Stats \| Media Stats
Watch	CBS Sports Network
Listen	WEMU (89.1 WEMU-FM) \| TuneIn Radio
Twitter	@EMUFB \| @EMUAthletics

TOLEDO, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University football team continues its three-game, 2,025 mile road swing with a short drive down US-23 to battle the University of Toledo, Oct. 7. The Homecoming affair will be played at the Glass Bowl with kickoff scheduled for 12 p.m.
   The Eagles (2-2, 0-1 MAC) fell just short of a second "Power 5" upset at the University of Kentucky, 24-20, Sept. 30. Meanwhile, the Rockets (3-1, 0-0 MAC) are opening up league play after a bye week following a 52-30 loss at the University of Miami, Sept. 23.
      The contest will be nationally televised by CBS Sports Network with Ben Holden providing play-by-play, Jay Feeley serving as the analyst, and John Schriffen reporting from the sideline. WEMU (89.1 FM) will provide audio coverage of the game with Matt Shepard, Rob Rubick, and Chad Bush calling the action on the field.

WREAKING HAVOC ON THE WILDCATS: With 312 total yards in the clash with Kentucky, Eastern Michigan outgained a Southeastern Conference team for the first time in program history. The 24 points were also the fewest surrendered to a SEC opponent in 10 all-time games. Meanwhile, EMU's suffocating defense held UK to 228 total yards, while racking up season-highs in both sacks (5.0) and tackles for loss (10.0). It was the most sacks in a game for EMU since 2013.

RENEWING THE SERIES WITH THE ROCKETS: Separated by just 50 miles, the Eagles and Rockets will be meeting for the 45th time in the all-time history between the two squads. UT holds a 33-11 edge in the series, which began in 1923 when the Rockets claimed a 13-0 victory.

COMING DOWN TO THE LAST PLAY: Eastern has fallen victim to late game heartbreak in each of its last two games, dropping the contests by a combined 11 points. In EMU's double overtime loss to Ohio, Sept. 23, the Eagles' could not convert on fourth down, ending the game. More recently, a heave into the end zone as time expired was picked off in Eastern Michigan's setback at Kentucky, Sept. 30.
   The last time the Eagles had back-to-back games decided by seven points-or-less was back in 2012 when the Green and White fell to Central Michigan (Nov. 10), 34-31, before besting Western Michigan (Nov. 17), 29-23.

DYNAMIC DUO: The defensive end duo of Jeremiah Harris and Maxx Crosby have been the leaders of the high sack and tackle for loss movement thus far for the Eagles in 2017. Both Harris and Crosby had the first two-sack performances of their careers in the game against Kentucky, Sept. 30, while Harris also tallied his career-best with 3.5 tackles for loss. For his efforts, Harris was named the MAC's Defensive Player of the Week for the second time this season.
   On the season, Harris is EMU's leader with 7.0 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks, while Crosby is not far behind, ranking second on the team with 4.5 tackles for loss and 3.0 sacks. Harris' numbers are good for third in the MAC and 21st in the nation in sacks, as well as third in the MAC and 13th in the country for TFLs. Crosby ranks fourth in the conference and 36th in the NCAA in sacks.

SUFFOCATING DEFENSE: Eastern Michigan's defense has not only been one of the best units in the conference, but also the country in almost every facet of the game. Heading into week five, the Eagles rank in the top-51 nationally in 10 major defensive categories:

THREE-AND-OUT: The EMU defense has been one of the best nationwide at getting of the field in 2017. Defensive coordinator Neal Neathery's crew is averaging 6.5 three-and-outs per game, which ranks fourth in the FBS.

HOYING GOING THE OTHER WAY: Sophomore Brody Hoying has been a menace to opposing offenses so far this season, as he has at least one turnover in each of his three games played. The safety notched an interception in games one and two, and forced two fumbles in game three against Ohio. As of Oct. 1, he is just one of four players in Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) ranks with at least two forced fumbles and two interceptions.
   His efforts have him ranked tops in the conference and country in multiple categories, including: fumbles forced (MAC/NCAA 1st), fumbles recovered (MAC 3/NCAA 20), interceptions (MAC 3/NCAA 22), passes defended (MAC 5/NCAA 36), and solo tackles (MAC 2/NCAA 31).

FORCED FUMBLE FIEND: With a strip sack in the game against Kentucky, Sept. 30, Jeremiah Harris totaled the fifth forced fumble of his career. The five forced fumbles is currently good for a tie for 20th among active FBS players.

BEHIND ENEMY LINES: The Green and White have made a living feasting on the opposition behind the line of scrimmage this season. Through just four games, the Eagles have registered 29 tackles for loss and 12 sacks. In 2016, the Eagles totaled 60.0 tackles for loss and 21.0 sacks in 13 games. On its current pace of more than seven tackles for loss per game, EMU is set to rack up the third-most TFL all-time and most since 1999. Additionally, if Eastern is able to maintain its average of three sacks per contest it could break the program record of 31 set back in 1998.

LOOKING TO MAKE IT THREE IN A ROW: If Ian Eriksen records a rushing touchdown when the Eagles visit the Glass City, Oct. 7, he will be just the 12th Eagle all-time to register a rushing touchdown in three consecutive games. Additionally, he would be the first to accomplish the feat since Bronson Hill did so back in 2012.

I LIKE IKE: In the game against Kentucky, Sept. 30, senior Ike Spearman totaled a team-high eight tackles, including one for loss. The eight tackles was more than he had accumulated in his first three games of the season (7). Now in his sixth year in the program, Spearman has totaled 144 stops in his career, including 7.0 for loss.

EMU LOOKING TO END THE STREAK IN THE GLASS CITY: EMU is looking to break the trend in the series as UT has won the last 10 meetings, including 16 of the last 17 contests. The last victory for the Green and White in the series was a narrow 17-13 decision at home, Oct. 21, 2006.
   The Green and White's last victory at the Glass Bowl came Oct. 23, 1999, when Walter Church guided EMU to a 20-13 upset of UT. In that contest, Church threw for 210 yards on 20-of-29 passing, while Lincoln Dupree recorded a 58-yard interception return for a touchdown just before halftime that proved to be the difference in the seven-point decision.

EMU'S LAST WIN OVER TOLEDO: The Eagles' last victory over the Rockets occurred Oct. 21, 2006, when EMU escaped with a 17-13 victory at Rynearson Stadium. With EMU clinging to a 9-7 lead late in the fourth quarter, Toledo missed a field goal that would have put them ahead by one but a personal foul penalty for roughing the center by the Eagles gave the Rockets a second chance that they would take advantage of with a score. UT quarterback Clint Cochran connected with tight end Josh Powell on a four-yard touchdown strike to give Toledo a 13-9 lead with just 3:11 left in the game. On the ensuing two-point conversion attempt, EMU defensive end Kevin Howe forced a fumble by Cochran which was picked up and returned by linebacker Darran Matthews for two points to cut the Rocket lead to 13-11. Trumaine Riley then returned the ensuing kickoff 45 yards to the EMU 46-yard line. The Eagles put on a game-winning march, going 54 yards in five plays capped off by an 18-yard touchdown run by Pierre Walker with 36 seconds remaining to give the Eagles the come-from-behind victory.

REACHING INTO THE BAG OF TRICKS: EMU's offense used some "trickeration" to score its second touchdown in the game against Kentucky, Sept. 30. On a screen pass to Jaron Johnson, the wideout turned around and threw a 43-yard touchdown pass to Johnnie Niupalau to tie the game at 14. Not only was Johnson the first non-QB to throw a TD pass since Josh LeDuc in 2010, the 43-yard strike was the longest pass play for the Eagles on the season.

BLINK AND YOU MAY HAVE MISSED IT: The first score for EMU in the game against Kentucky, Sept. 30, came with just 15 seconds elapsed on the first quarter clock on a 20-yard pass from Brogan Roback to Sergio Bailey II to put EMU up 7-0. It was the quickest touchdown for EMU to start a game since Tyler Allen returned the opening kick.

ROBACK RISING: Senior quarterback Brogan Roback has put up standout numbers in his four seasons in the Green and White, placing him near the top of the EMU record books in four major categories. For his career, he ranks third in passing yards (6,817), passing touchdowns (41), completions (595), and total yards (7,053). Beyond just EMU, Roback is among the FBS leaders in active total offense and passing yards, ranking 17th among current players in passing yards, and 20th in total offense.

HE CAN DO IT ALL, FOLKS: Not only is senior quarterback Brogan Roback one of the prolific passers in the conference and country, he has also discovered another talent that has been put to good use on the field this season. That skill is punting. The veteran has eight "pooch" style punts for an average of 47.5 yards this season, including a team-long of 66 yards, four of 50+ yards, and two that were downed inside the 20.

HUNNID TIMES 10: With his 1,215 career yards, senior wideout Sergio Bailey II (@JustHunnids) sits at 14th on the all-time receiving yardage list in just his second season in the program.

PAULIE RACKING UP THE POINTS: In just his second season as the primary place kicker for EMU, Paulie Fricano has racked up 125 career points, which is good for 16th on the all-time EMU scoring list. Former Eagle kicker Andrew Wellock is the program leader with 299 career points.

SPREADING THE LOVE: In the first four games of the season, senior quarterback Brogan Roback has spread the ball around to a multitude of targets, having completed passes to at least eight different in each of the first four games. The veteran found 10 different receivers against Charlotte, eight different receivers against Rutgers, 12 different targets against Ohio, and then eight against Kentucky.

BECK ON THE STOP: Senior Jason Beck, who transitioned from safety to linebacker this season, has racked up 288 tackles so far for his career, placing him t-18th all-time at EMU. In terms of the national scale, Beck's 288 stops is 10th amongst active FBS players.

ON THE HORIZON: The Eagles complete their three-game road swing when they head to West Point, N.Y. for the non-conference finale against Army West Point, Saturday, Oct. 14. Kickoff against the Black Knights is set for noon.

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Players Mentioned

Sergio Bailey II

Jason Beck

Maxx Crosby

Ian Eriksen

Paulie Fricano

Jeremiah Harris

Brody Hoying

Jaron Johnson

Johnnie Niupalau

Brogan Roback

Ike Spearman

Eastern Michigan Athletics