Football - The Eastern Echo

Around the MAC: Eastern Michigan stole the show with last-second victory over Central Connecticut State

By Joey Pisaneschi · Thursday, Sept. 26, 2019

The action has been tighter than ever with one month now behind us in the 2019 college football season. Teams combined for just a 3-6 record in a tough week overall for the Mid-American Conference. Eastern Michigan is the first team with three wins after their victory over Central Connecticut State, thanks to late game heroics from Matthew Sexton. The Eagles will take on rival Central Michigan on Oct. 5 following their bye week.

EMU wide receiver stays humble despite a strong start to his 2019 campaign

By Joey Pisaneschi · Thursday, Sept. 26, 2019

Just four games into his sophomore season, wide receiver Dylan Drummond leads all Eastern Michigan receivers with 19 receptions as the team finished their non-conference schedule with a 3-1 record. Drummond has become an essential part of the Eagles' offense, forming great chemistry with senior quarterback Mike Glass III but the wide receiver still isn't satisfied.

Eastern Michigan football wins home opener in thrilling fashion

By Joey Pisaneschi · Sunday, Sept. 22, 2019

Eastern Michigan held a 28-15 lead over the Central Connecticut State Blue Devils with just over 11 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. However, after allowing a one-yard touchdown run by Keonte Lucas and a 68-yard strike from Aaron Winchester to Tyshaun James, the Eagles found themselves staring at a one point deficit with just 20 seconds remaining. That is until Matthew Sexton made the game-winning play.

Around the MAC: Eagles tied for first place in West

By Charles Post and Joey Pisaneschi · Sunday, Sept. 22, 2019

Heading into the final week of the non-conference portion of the schedule for the Eastern Michigan football team and the rest of the MAC, both divisions of the conference are tight from top to bottom. None of the 14 teams are undefeated but three programs lead the way with a 2-1 record. Those teams are Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan and Western Michigan. The Eagles are fresh off an upset victory over then-undefeated Illinois.

Week 4 Preview: Eagles take on Blue Devils in home opener

By Joey Pisaneschi · Thursday, Sept. 19, 2019

The Eastern Michigan Eagles have a chance to accomplish something that has only been done once in head coach Chris Creighton's tenure with the team, which is starting the season with a 3-1 record. The Eagles will have a chance to do so when they face Central Connecticut State on Saturday Sept. 21 at Rynearson Stadium in the home opener.

EMU marching band performs halftime show at Ford Field

By Isabella Wykowski · Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2019

Eastern Michigan’s marching band, also known as the “Pride of the Peninsula,” performed at the Detroit Lions season opener against the Los Angeles Chargers. At halftime, nearly 200 students took the field to perform Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance,” Usher’s “DJ Got Us Falling In Love” and Beyoncé‘s “Crazy in Love.”

Former Eagles players face each other in the NFL

By Zach Sturgill · Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2019

Former Eastern Michigan football players faced off against one another in the NFL on Sunday, Sept. 15. Kansas City Chiefs offensive tackle Andrew Wylie played Oakland Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby. These two NFL starters were on the Eagles team in 2015 and 2016.

Eastern Michigan upsets the Big Ten's Illinois with last-second field goal

By Charles Post and Joey Pisaneschi · Saturday, Sept. 14, 2019

After defeating Rutgers in 2017 and Purdue in 2018, Eastern Michigan has defeated an opponent from the Big Ten conference for the third consecutive season. The Eagles upset the previously unbeaten Illinois Fighting Illini on Saturday by a final score of 34-31. Sophomore kicker Chad Ryland made a 24-yard field goal as time expired to seal the Eastern Michigan victory. Ryland converted on both of his field goal attempts, including a career-high of 52 yards. He also connected on all but one of his extra-point tries.

Quian Williams continues to make major impact in sophomore season

By Joey Pisaneschi · Saturday, Sept. 14, 2019

Playing in just four games as a redshirt freshman, wide receiver Quian Williams of Oklahoma City gained valuable playing experience with the Eagles but did not record any receptions. However, his sophomore season has gotten off to a very promising start. After the first two games of 2019, Williams has found himself in a position where he is one of quarterback Mike Glass III's favorite targets. Williams has already snagged eight passes for 92 total yards and his first career touchdown.

Week 3 Preview: Eagles hoping for another Big Ten upset

By Charles Post and Joey Pisaneschi · Thursday, Sept. 12, 2019

The Eastern Michigan football program took a tough loss at the hands of the Kentucky Wildcats on Saturday, September 7, by a final score of 38-17. The Eagles now set their sights on the Fighting Illini of the University of Illinois, who earned a 31-23 victory against Connecticut a week ago. Despite a season-high 337 passing yards by QB Mike Glass III, the Eagles found the end zone just twice, both coming through the air. Glass also threw his first two interceptions of the season against the Wildcats.

Eastern Michigan football travels to play Kentucky in Lexington

Eastern Michigan football loses to Kentucky, falls to 1-1 on the year

By Charles Post and Joey Pisaneschi · Sunday, Sept. 8, 2019

The Eastern Michigan Eagles fell to the Kentucky Wildcats, 38-17, on Saturday, Sept. 7 at Kroger Field in Lexington. Senior quarterback Mike Glass III had 337 yards in the loss. With the loss, the Eagles fall to 1-1 on the season, while Kentucky stays perfect with a 2-0 record. The Wildcats out-gained Eastern Michigan, 461-386 in total yardage. Arthur Jackson III led the Eagles in receiving with 71 yards on five catches.

Week 2 Preview: Eastern Michigan looks to upset Kentucky

By Charles Post and Joseph Pisaneschi · Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2019

Fresh off a 30-23 victory over the Chanticleers of Coastal Carolina, the Eastern Michigan Eagles remain on the road for a battle with the Kentucky Wildcats out of the SEC on Saturday, Sept. 7. The University of Kentucky spent a majority of the 2018 college football season in the top 25 of the AP Poll. The Wildcats defeated MAC rival Toledo in its previous game by a score of 38-24. Kentucky quarterback Terry Wilson, took the reigns of the offense and completed 19 of 26 passes for 246 yards and two touchdowns.

Myles McNeal talks Eagles football and senior season

By Charles Post · Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2019

Myles McNeal, who is a 3-star recruit according to 247 Sports, committed to play for the Eastern Michigan football program on April 16, 2019. He is scheduled to graduate from Grand Blanc Community High School in 2020 and will join the Eagles team following that. McNeal is a 5’11”, 180-pound cornerback for the Grand Blanc Bobcats, and is rated the 50th best player in the state of Michigan.

The Eagles escape Coastal Carolina with 30-23 victory

By Charles Post and Joseph Pisaneschi · Saturday, Aug. 31, 2019

For the first time in school history, the Eastern Michigan Eagles took on the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers at Brooks Stadium in Conway, South Carolina on Saturday, Aug. 31. Despite a slow start by the Eagles, they escaped with a 30-23 victory to begin their season with a 1-0 record.

Week 1 Preview: Eagles head south to face Coastal Carolina

By Charles Post and Joseph Pisaneschi · Thursday, Aug. 29, 2019

This Saturday marks the beginning of the much anticipated season for the 2019 edition of the Eastern Michigan Eagles football program. The Eagles will travel to Conway, South Carolina to take on the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers, who are coming off a 5-7 season in which they won just one home game.

MAC announces upcoming bowl schedule from 2020-2025

By Charles Post and Zach Sturgill · Thursday, Aug. 15, 2019

The Mid-American Conference will continue a six-season partnership with ESPN, the billion-dollar media company, into the 2025 season. The partnership has a plan of televising two set bowl games, the Makers Wanted Bahamas Bowl and the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. There is also a list of games that potentially could feature MAC teams. Two out of the nine are for sure to be played when decided by the bowl committee each year. This makes at least four bowl games played by the MAC annually.

Football position breakdown: Running backs

By Charles Post · Thursday, Aug. 15, 2019

Following the deep dive into the quarterbacks room for Eastern Michigan, it’s time to check in on the guys they’ll be handing the ball off to. The team has seven running backs listed on the roster, but Shaq Vann and Breck Turner have pulled away from the rest of the group. With that said, though, at least one other Eagles running back is going to get significant playing time in the upcoming season.

Football Position Breakdown: Quarterbacks

By Charles Post · Thursday, Aug. 15, 2019

Eastern Michigan opens their 2019 college football slate on August 31 against Coastal Carolina. Head coach Chris Creighton has named senior quarterback Mike Glass III the starting quarterback heading into the season, but Glass is far from the only QB on the depth chart. The Eagles have seven passers in total listed on the roster: Glass, Jairus Grissom, Preston Hutchinson, Aaron Jackson, Christopher Kaminski, Jayden Machado and Isaac Stiebling.

Football Position Breakdown: Pass Catchers

By Charles Post · Thursday, Aug. 15, 2019

The wide receiving group for the Eagles is one of the most talented in the MAC as EMU has 16 receivers on the depth chart. The collective is as follows: Line Latu, Isaac Holder, Hassan Beydoun, Michael Thompson, Keyan Marshall, Tanner Knue, De’Anthony Ball, Amir Spivey, Joe Nowden, Eddie Daugherty IV, Noah Cameron, Dylan Drummond, Quian Williams, Logan Giordano, Matthew Sexton and Arthur Jackson III.

EMU defensive back added to Wuerffel Trophy watch list

By Tiauna Allen · Monday, Aug. 5, 2019

Senior defensive back, Brody Hoying was named to the Wuerffel Trophy watch list presented by the Chick-fil-A Foundation, per EMU Athletics. The list mostly consists of conferences from the Football Bowl Subdivision. Hoying is one of 91 players from FBS who was named to the list.