WEST POINT, NY -- Eastern Michigan rallied for a late fourth quarter touchdowns but came up inches short on a two-point conversion try as Army nipped the Eagles 28-27 at Michie Stadium Saturday.
Brogan Roback found Sergio Bailey II on an 8-yard pass for a TD with just 49 seconds remaining in the contest. Eastern Michigan then . . .
The pair met at about the two, with Gibson upending the junior. Erickson came down head first with the football just short as his arm hit the turf. Replay confirmed he was short, and Army remained perfect at home to up its season record to 5-2. Eastern Michigan dropped to 2-4, (0-2 MAC) with its fourth straight setback. None of the losses were by more than seven points..
Roback completed 19 of 27 passes for 229 yards with four TDs and one interception.
Three different Eagles reached the endzone. Bailey led the way with eight catches for 99 yards and a pair of touchdowns – the game’s first and last scores.
Ian Erickson led the Eastern ground game with 20 carries for 107 yards as EMU registered a season-high 135 yards rushing.
Army’s option offense attempted just five passes, failing to complete any. The Black Knights used their option offense to rush 61 times for 413 yards and four scores. Senior QB Ahmad Bradshaw led the way with 19 trips for 171 yards and a TD. Sophomore running back Kelly Walker contributed 115 yards and a score on 14 carries.
Junior linebacker topped Army defenders with 13 tackles (five solo), while sophomore DB Vince Calhoun (12) and junior linebacker Kyle Rachwal (11) combined for 23 stops to lead the EMU defensive effort.
Eastern Michigan opened scoring with Bailey’s first touchdown reception (15 yards) to cap the game’s opening drive.
Bradshaw evened the score at 7-7 with a 9-yarr jaunt later in the quarter and the teams again exchanged scores in the second period.
Connor Slomka gave Army its first lead with a; 2-yard third quarter run, but Roback hit Matthew Sexton on an 8-yard strike to tie things at 21-all early in the final period.
Darnell Woolfolk’s 13-yard run and the PAT gave the hosts 28-21 lead that proved just good enough.
Eastern Michigan will host Western Michigan next Saturday in a 2 p.m. ET homecoming tilt.