The Eagles emerged victorious after winning Saturday’s matchup against Bowling Green State University improving the team’s season record to 5-3 (2-2 Mid-American Conference).
A 31-yard pass from senior quarterback Ben Bryant to Bryson Cannon secured Eastern Michigan’s first touchdown of the game and Cannon’s third touchdown of the season making the score 7-3.
Bowling Green quickly responded with a touchdown, before the Eagles took over and led in points throughout the rest of the game.
Jere Getzinger Jr. was able to block a punt with 3:35 left in the second quarter, and David Carter Jr. was able to return the punt and run it in 42 yards for a touchdown. This is the first time since the 2019 season that EMU has blocked and returned a blocked punt.
To start the third quarter Ben Bryant completed a 37-yard pass to Gunnar Oakes who scored his first touchdown since the 2018 season. "It was amazing, I saw the safety roll down and I knew I had a shot at it, so it was a really great feeling," said Oakes.
Oakes also recorded a career-high four catches for a career-high 79 yards against the Falcons as reported by EMU Athletics.
"It's great, last offseason I worked really hard on dropping my weight down to be used more of a threat on the receiving end, and it paid off," Oakes said.
Sophomore Samson Evans recorded a season best against Bowling Green, rushing 42 yards against the Falcons. Evans also scored his first passing touchdown becoming the first non-quarterback to throw a touchdown since teammate Dylan Drummond, who was on the receiving side of his pass, in the matchup against Texas State.
On defense, Sophomore Robert Daniel Jr. accumulated four tackles and recovered a fumble against BGSU. Jose Ramirez collected a tackle-for-loss, one sack, and two pass breakups to contribute to the final score 55-24.
According to EMU Athletics, this is the most points the Eagles have scored against the Falcons since 1920 and the third consecutive time since 2016 that EMU has beaten Bowling Green.
The Eagles return to Ohio with hopes of qualifying for bowl eligibility, in a matchup against the University of Toledo, Nov. 2.
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