YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) - #MACtion and the bright lights of Rynearson Stadium were a perfect combination for Eastern Michigan Thursday evening, as the Eagles notched a convincing 56-14 victory over Ball State.
Eastern Michigan scored five touchdowns on its first six drives to take a commanding 35-14 lead at halftime. Three of the Eagles' scoring drives were five plays or less.
Plenty of records fell . . .
Eastern Michigan scored five touchdowns on its first six drives to take a commanding 35-14 lead at halftime. Three of the Eagles' scoring drives were five plays or less.
Plenty of records fell . . .
. . . in the contest, with EMU's 42-point differential marking the largest in conference play for the Eagles since joining the MAC in 1976. EMU's previous high-water mark was a 41-point defeat of Kent State during the 1996 campaign.
With the victory, Eastern moved to 3-6 overall and 1-4 in league action, keeping its hopes of a second consecutive bowl appearance alive. Ball State, meanwhile, dropped to 2-7 overall and 0-5 in the MAC.
With the victory, Eastern moved to 3-6 overall and 1-4 in league action, keeping its hopes of a second consecutive bowl appearance alive. Ball State, meanwhile, dropped to 2-7 overall and 0-5 in the MAC.
Ball State is at Northern Illinois Thursday (7 p.m. ET).
Battling through wet conditions, the EMU offense rolled up a season-high 225 on the ground en route to 488 total yards. Orchestrating the Eagle attack was senior quarterback Brogan Roback, who eclipsed 8,000 career passing yards while completing 15 attempts for 263 yards against BSU. He is the second Eagle reach the milestone, joining E-Club Hall of Famer Walter Church in the record book. With Charlie Batch looking on, Roback found pay dirt via the air on three occasions to move within one of Batch's all-time career mark of 53.
Senior Johnnie Niupalau equaled a career best with five receptions for a personal-best 91 yards and a score. Senior Sergio Bailey II finished with the fourth 100+ yard game of his career with 110 yards on two receptions, including a 74-yarder for a score.
On the ground, junior Ian Eriksen posted his fourth 100-yard game of his career. He registered 114 yards on a game-high 21 carries. Junior Shaq Vann found the end zone for the first time since the opening game of the 2016 campaign with a pair of rushing touchdowns.
For the second-time in his career, kicker Paulie Fricano's tied the EMU record for PATs, going a perfect 8-for-8 in the commanding victory.
Not to be out done, freshman Jeff Hubbard got in on the action for a pick-six late in the fourth quarter for the game's final score. It marked the first interception of Hubbard's career and second defensive score returned for a touchdown by the Eagles in 2017.
Junior Jeremiah Harris came up with a strip-sack in the fourth quarter, while senior Luke Maclean (Grand Blanc, Mich.-Grand Blanc) added a game-high seven tackles, including a tackle-for-loss, and a quarterback hurry. It was the sixth forced fumble of Harris' career.
After a quick three-and-out by Ball State to open the contest, EMU took advantage on its second play of the night as Roback found Antoine Porter for an 11-yard touchdown to take an early 7-0 lead at the 13:06 mark.
Ball State answered right back, with a 75-yard drive in just six plays to tie the game up at seven.
Slowing the pace, the Eagles' ensuing drive chewed up over seven minutes off the clock. The 16-play, 94-yard drive was capped when Roback tossed his second touchdown pass of the night -- this time to Niupalau for 20 yards.
With Fricano's PAT hitting the mark, the Green and White regained the lead, 14-7, with a minute remaining in the first quarter. The drive was the longest of the season for EMU in all three phases, plays, yards, and time of possession.
EMU would build the advantage to 21, 35-14, at the break and add a trio of scores following the break, rolling to the 42-point decision.
The Eagles return to #MACtion next week when they face the Chippewas of Central Michigan in another mid-week clash, Wednesday, Nov. 8. Kickoff from Kelly/Shorts Stadium is scheduled for 8 p.m. Ball State is at Northern Illinois Thursday (7 p.m. ET).
Battling through wet conditions, the EMU offense rolled up a season-high 225 on the ground en route to 488 total yards. Orchestrating the Eagle attack was senior quarterback Brogan Roback, who eclipsed 8,000 career passing yards while completing 15 attempts for 263 yards against BSU. He is the second Eagle reach the milestone, joining E-Club Hall of Famer Walter Church in the record book. With Charlie Batch looking on, Roback found pay dirt via the air on three occasions to move within one of Batch's all-time career mark of 53.
Senior Johnnie Niupalau equaled a career best with five receptions for a personal-best 91 yards and a score. Senior Sergio Bailey II finished with the fourth 100+ yard game of his career with 110 yards on two receptions, including a 74-yarder for a score.
On the ground, junior Ian Eriksen posted his fourth 100-yard game of his career. He registered 114 yards on a game-high 21 carries. Junior Shaq Vann found the end zone for the first time since the opening game of the 2016 campaign with a pair of rushing touchdowns.
For the second-time in his career, kicker Paulie Fricano's tied the EMU record for PATs, going a perfect 8-for-8 in the commanding victory.
Not to be out done, freshman Jeff Hubbard got in on the action for a pick-six late in the fourth quarter for the game's final score. It marked the first interception of Hubbard's career and second defensive score returned for a touchdown by the Eagles in 2017.
Junior Jeremiah Harris came up with a strip-sack in the fourth quarter, while senior Luke Maclean (Grand Blanc, Mich.-Grand Blanc) added a game-high seven tackles, including a tackle-for-loss, and a quarterback hurry. It was the sixth forced fumble of Harris' career.
After a quick three-and-out by Ball State to open the contest, EMU took advantage on its second play of the night as Roback found Antoine Porter for an 11-yard touchdown to take an early 7-0 lead at the 13:06 mark.
Ball State answered right back, with a 75-yard drive in just six plays to tie the game up at seven.
Slowing the pace, the Eagles' ensuing drive chewed up over seven minutes off the clock. The 16-play, 94-yard drive was capped when Roback tossed his second touchdown pass of the night -- this time to Niupalau for 20 yards.
With Fricano's PAT hitting the mark, the Green and White regained the lead, 14-7, with a minute remaining in the first quarter. The drive was the longest of the season for EMU in all three phases, plays, yards, and time of possession.
EMU would build the advantage to 21, 35-14, at the break and add a trio of scores following the break, rolling to the 42-point decision.
The Eagles return to #MACtion next week when they face the Chippewas of Central Michigan in another mid-week clash, Wednesday, Nov. 8. Kickoff from Kelly/Shorts Stadium is scheduled for 8 p.m. Ball State is at Northern Illinois Thursday (7 p.m. ET).
RSS Feed