For the first time since Oct. 19, 2024, Eastern Michigan University’s football team is back in the win column.
The Eagles survived a late comeback attempt by the University of Louisiana at Lafayette in one of college football’s games of the year — the leg of true freshman kicker Rudy Kessinger booting a game-winning 42-yard field goal through the uprights with three seconds left to propel Eastern Michigan to their first win of 2025.
Kessinger, who made three of four field goal attempts last week on the road against the University of Kentucky Wildcats, came in clutch once again when his number was called. The Toledo native missed a previous field goal attempt in the final frame but came through for his team with the go-ahead kick when it mattered most.
“It’s a huge weapon,” Eagles Head Coach Chris Creighton said in a pre-game presser about Kessinger’s hot start to his collegiate career.
“We’re not surprised, but at the same time, doing it for the first time — it’s awesome to see him starting out so strong,” he added.
The kick from Kessinger capped off an electric day by the Eagles offense, reaching their season high points total with a balanced attack courtesy of 226 yards through the air and 183 yards on the ground.
Despite throwing his first pick-six as an Eagle midway through the third quarter, Noah Kim batteled back to post his second straight multi-touchdown game.
The graduate transfer passed for 226 yards and a touchdown while also adding six points to the board via his legs for the second straight week. Kim has begun to establish himself as a viable dual threat option to open up further rushing lanes for Eastern Michigan’s developing two-headed rushing attack.
Halfbacks Dontae McMillan and Tavierre Dunlap combined for 166 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns. McMillan raked in the bulk of the yards (121) while Dunlap provided both trips to the endzone, carving out his role as the team’s goal line back.
Even with the Rajin’ Cajuns’ best efforts to make EMU receiving threat Terry Lockett Jr. inconspicuous, other Eagles stepped up to fill the void for "The Deuce" as he had only two catches and 29 yards receiving.
Nick Devereaux, Eastern Michigan’s fastest target, burst onto the scene with four pivotal catches for 76 yards, while Joshua Long caught another receiving touchdown on a two-minute drill late in the first half. Porter Rooks also hauled in seven receptions for 39 yards as Kim’s safety valve throughout the afternoon.
With the win, Eastern Michigan extended their win streak on homecoming to five games, the second longest stretch of wins on homecoming games in program history, and improved their record to 1-3 heading into conference play. On the other hand, Louisiana Lafayette dropped to 1-3 to conclude their nonconference portion of the campaign.
“Our football team, we are in good shape. It is right there for us, our guys are all in, we’re together — and those [positive] moments, they haven’t happened yet. But they’re going to — we have the pieces,” Creighton remarked in a pre-game press conference about his team’s outlook despite a rough start to the season.
Creighton’s words of affirmation came to fruition for Eastern Michigan on Saturday and may have been just what his program needed to save their season as they embark on the next two months of Mid-American Conference action, starting with an in-state foe.
The Eagles hope to continue their positive momentum as they head on the road up to Mount Pleasant to face off against the Central Michigan University Chippewas next Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, at 1 p.m. Viewers can catch all of the action live on ESPN+.
Eastern Michigan have now won five straight Homecoming games, the second longest such streak in program history.
