EMU Treks to Oxford Wednesday to Battle Miami

Football at Miami
Date	Wednesday, Nov. 15 \| 7 p.m.
Venue	Oxford, Ohio \| Yager Stadium (24,286)
Preview Info	EMU Notes \| Press Conference Video. \| Teleconference Audio.
Live Stats	Fan Stats
Watch	CBS Sports Network
Listen	WEMU (89.1 WEMU-FM) \| TuneIn Radio
Twitter	@EMUFB \| @EMUAthletics

OXFORD, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) – #MACtion continues Wednesday, Nov. 15, as the Eastern Michigan University football team hits the road for the final time in the 2017 season to battle Miami University. Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m. inside Yager Stadium.
   Five turnovers were too much for Eastern Michigan (3-7, 1-5 MAC) to overcome in a 42-30 setback at Central Michigan University, Nov. 15. Meanwhile, the RedHawks (4-6, 3-3 MAC) kept their bowl hopes alive with a 24-14 home triumph over Akron, Nov. 7.
       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.

NEW SCHOOL RECORD: Quarterback Brogan Roback established a school record against Central Michigan, Nov. 8, surpassing E-Club Hall of Famer Charlie Batch with 54 career touchdown passes. In addition, he is now just 90 yards from surpassing another E-Club Hall of Famer in Walter Church for career total offense.
   Roback has 8,539 for his career, while Church finished with 8,628 from 1996-2000. Roback is also currently second all-time at EMU with 725 completions and 8,309 passing yards, trailing Church in both of those categories by 82 and 833, respectively.

EMU + CBS SPORTS = INTERESTING: For the fifth time in 2017, the Eagles will grace the screen of the CBS Sports Network. Three of EMU's previous four appearances have all been decided on the final drive.

LOOKING TO STOP THE SKID: With infrequent meetings between the two schools, EMU will be looking to post its first victory over Miami in 24 years – a streak of 8,801 days.
    The Eagles notched a 15-7 decision at Yager Stadium, Oct. 12, 1993, as the defense led the way. Trailing 7-0, EMU scored 15 third quarter points including a safety and a 57-yard interception return for a touchdown by Vashone Adams. An offensive struggle, neither side cracked 300 yards of total offense (EMU 294, MIA 208) on the day.

ALL-TIME VERSUS THE REDHAWKS: The Eagles and RedHawks have met just 23 times in their respective histories. The two schools first met in 1974, but have only squared off five times since 2000. MU leads the all-time series 19-4, with EMU's last win coming in 1993, a 15-7 win, Oct. 7. Miami holds a nine-game winning streak that dates back to Oct. 1, 1994, when MU escaped with a 21-17 victory at Rynearson Stadium.

TIES BETWEEN EMU AND MIAMI: Despite not playing on a regular basis, Eastern Michigan and Miami do have some common bonds. EMU assistant coach Jay Peterson was a standout running back for the then-Redskins, where he earned four varsity letters from 1980-83 at Miami. His career total of 2,874 rushing yards ranks fifth on MU's all-time career rushing list. He was a co-captain as a senior and was a First Team All-MAC selection in 1982, a second team pick in 1983 and an honorable mention choice in 1981. Wide receivers coach Herb Haygood worked as an offensive intern at Miami in 2011 and 2012, assisting with the RedHawks wide receivers.
    On the Miami sideline, five different coaches or staff members spent time in Ypsilanti. Head Coach Chuck Martin was the linebackers coach at EMU from 1998-99 before departing to Grand Valley State University. Defensive Coordinator Matt Pawlowski coached the linebackers and special teams at Eastern Michigan for the 1999 season while safeties coach Joe Palcic began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at EMU in 1998. Additionally, Darrell Hallberg, Miami's Assistant AD/Equipment Services and Special Projects, worked for four years at EMU as the department's equipment manager before departing for Oxford. He also took Chad Burns with him as a part of his staff at Miami.

NO SOUP FOR YOU!: Defensive Coordinator Neal Neathery's crew has proven to be very stingy in the fourth quarter, allowing just 3.8 points per game over the course of the final 15 minutes. Even better at home, the Eagles have not given up a fourth quarter point inside "The Factory".
   Nationally, EMU ranks ninth in the fewest points given up in the fourth with Wisconsin leading the way at 2.1 ppg.

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 12, the Eagles rank in the top-50 nationally in 10 major defensive categories:

SACK LUNCH: The defensive end duo of Maxx Crosby and Jeremiah Harris wreaked havoc against Central Michigan, Nov. 8. Crosby finished with a career-high three sacks, including one that was stripped and returned for a touchdown, while Harris also chipped in a sack on six tackles. It was the third three-sack game for an Eagle since 1998, and the first since Kevin Howe did so against Ball State in Nov. 12, 2005.

STIFLING SECOND HALF DEFENSE: Against Central Michigan, Nov. 8, EMU's defense was stellar in the second half, allowing for the Eagles to almost complete the comeback. In the second half, EMU only gave up 32 total yards to the Chippewas, including just one first down. In eight CMU drives, six resulted in a three-and-out, while the lone touchdown was on a one-play, three-yard drive following a turnover. The effort allowed EMU to possess the ball down just five points with a minute left, despite trailing by 18 points to start the fourth quarter.

IRONMAN BECK: Should senior linebacker Jason Beck start his final two games of his college career, he will have played in all 49 career games for EMU, tying the school record set by recent EMU graduates Pat O'Connor and Chris O'Risky. In addition, he will have started in 47 of 49 games, which would also tie the school record.

NEAL NEATHERY NOMINATED FOR BROYLES AWARD: EMU defensive coordinator Neal Neathery is one of 56 nominees for the Broyles Award, given to college football's top assistant coach. One of only three nominees in the MAC, Neathery's unit ranks top 50 in 10 major defensive categories including: fifth nationally in fourth down conversion defense, 10th in defensive touchdowns, and 15th in passing yards allowed. Since his hiring following the 2015 season, he has helped shave 19.6 points, 142.6 rushing yards allowed and 167.6 total yards per game off the team's averages.
   For the first time in the 22-year history of the Broyles Award, the selection process includes a committee from the Football Writers Association of America. A total of 15 semifinalists will be selected from the nominees, with five finalists traveling to Little Rock, Ark. on Dec. 5 for the announcement of the Broyles Award winner.

WHO SAID TELEVISION DRAMA IS DEAD?: CBS Sports Network and ESPN can thank EMU for plenty of high drama during the 2017 football season. For seven consecutive games, the outcome of an EMU game was decided on final drive with four of them in doubt until the final play. In total, the Eagles are 35 points away from the possibility of still being undefeated.
• Sept. 9: 16-13 win at Rutgers — Eagles win, get sack on game's final play
• Sept. 23: 27-20 2OT loss to Ohio — Ohio scores on final play in double overtime
• Sept. 30: 24-20 loss at Kentucky — Eagles intercepted in end zone on final play
• Oct. 7: 20-15 loss at Toledo — Eagles intercepted on final drive
• Oct. 14: 28-27 loss at Army — Eagles fail to convert two-point conversion for win
• Oct. 21: 20-17 OT loss to Western Michigan — Eagles miss field goal in overtime
• Oct. 26: 30-27 OT loss at Northern Illinois — Eagles make field goal, but gives up TD in overtime
• Nov. 8: 42-30 loss to CMU — CMU pick six with EMU down 5 points with 48 seconds left

SCOOP AND SCORE: Maxx Crosby's strip sack, which he returned 14 yards for a touchdown, was the first fumble returned for a touchdown for EMU since Hunter Matt did so against Penn State, Sept. 7, 2013. In addition, it was the second time this season EMU has opened a game with a strip sack, as Jeremiah Harris notched one on the first play from scrimmage against Kentucky, Sept. 30.

TOP SIGNAL CALLER: To go along with the all-time school records, Brogan Roback is also having one of the best careers of any active FBS quarterback. Currently, his 8,309 passing yards are 11th among active QBs, while his 8,539 yards of total offense ranks 12th among active players. For the season, Roback ranks 18th in the country and second in the MAC in passing yards, while also ranking 31st in the FBS and third in the MAC for passing touchdowns. He is also 15th and first in the country and conference in completions per game, with 22.5.

DYNAMIC DUO: On the season, Jeremiah Harris has a team-high 12 tackles for loss, as well as six sacks, while Maxx Crosby leads EMU with eight sacks to go along with 11.5 TFLs. Crosby's sacks ranks fourth in the conference and 11th in the country, while his TFL's are seventh in the MAC. Meanwhile, Harris' TFLs ranks sixth in the MAC, while his sack numbers are fifth in the conference and 47th in the country. Harris and Crosby now have 11 and 9.5 sacks in their careers, which ranks sixth and eighth respectively since 1998.

LOCKED IN ON D: Through 10 games, EMU opponents have combined to score a total of just 225 points, for an average of 22.5 points per contest. Should EMU's defense finish with less than 264 points given up on the season, it would be the fewest allowed by an Eagle team since moving to a 12-game regular season schedule in 2002, as well as the fewest points yielded since 1993 (220).

DEUCES WILD: In just his second season in the program senior wideout Sergio Bailey II sits seventh on the all-time receiving yardage list with 1,640, while he is also tied for 10th on the all-time receptions list (107) and fifth on the career TD catches list (13). Furthermore, Bailey is one of just 39 players in the FBS to have an active streak of 20-or more consecutive games with a reception. Bailey has caught at least one pass in all 23 games during his EMU career, while Iowa State's Allen Lazard holds the national standard at 45.

COMING DOWN TO THE WIRE: In 2017, seven of EMU's 10 games have been within seven points or less, with EMU winning just one (16-13 over Rutgers), and losing the last six. The last six Eagle losses have come by a combined 23 points. Further complicating it, six of the last seven opponents have achieved bowl eligible status.
   In EMU's last 23 games, dating back to the start of the 2016 season, 15 of them have come down to final scores of just seven points or less. Of the 15 games, EMU has a 6-9 record.

SPREADING THE LOVE: Senior quarterback Brogan Roback has spread the ball around to a multitude of targets, having completed passes to at least eight different in eight of the first 10 games. The veteran found 10 different receivers against Charlotte, eight different receivers against Rutgers, 12 different targets against Ohio, eight against Kentucky, nine against Toledo, 10 against both Western Michigan and Central Michigan, and then 12 against Northern Illinois. The two games in which Roback did not connect with at least eight wideouts was against Army and Ball State. With the average of 9.3 different receivers per game, EMU ranks third in the country in different wideouts with a catch per game.

PAULIE RACKING UP THE POINTS: In just his second season as the primary place kicker for EMU, Paulie Fricano has racked up 159 career points, which is good for ninth on the all-time EMU scoring list. Former Eagle kicker Andrew Wellock is the program leader with 299 career points. In addition, Fricano's 30 field goals and 69 extra points rank sixth and fifth, respectively, on the all-time EMU list.

BEHIND ENEMY LINES: The Green and White have made a living feasting on the opposition behind the line of scrimmage this season. In 10 games, the Eagles have registered 60 tackles for loss and 20 sacks. In 2016, the Eagles totaled 60.0 tackles for loss and 21.0 sacks in 13 games. On its current pace of about six tackles for loss per game, EMU is set to rack up the most TFL's since 2001. Additionally, if Eastern is able to maintain its average of about 2.5 sacks per contest it would be the third-most in program history and most since 1999.

CLOSE CALLS: The Eagles have weathered through plenty of gut-wrenching moments this year with eight of the 10 contests being decided on the final drive. In a nationwide poll of SIDs and statistical analysis providers, no one has yet to remember anything quite like what EMU has experienced. Last year, Notre Dame suffered seven losses by a combined 32 points en route to a 4-8 season. Southern California in 2010 had six games decided by four points or less, including five games decided by three or fewer.

ON THE HORIZON: EMU concludes the regular season with a Tuesday night game against Bowling Green State University, Nov. 21. Kickoff for Senior Day at "The Factory" inside Rynearson Stadium is set for 7 p.m.

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Players Mentioned

Sergio Bailey II

Jason Beck

Maxx Crosby

Paulie Fricano

Jeremiah Harris

Brogan Roback

Eastern Michigan Athletics