
The win improved Eastern Michigan's record to 3-1 on the season, while the Bobcats fell to 1-3.
Senior quarterback Ben Bryant led Eastern Michigan's passing attack with 228 yards through the air, tossing three touchdowns without throwing an interception. The signal caller also added 52 yards and one touchdown on the ground.
Freshman Darius Boone Jr. paced the Eagles' rushing attack by accumulating 86 yards over the course of the game, averaging 6.6 yards per carry. Senior Jawon Hamilton also added 53 yards and one touchdown on the ground, averaging 5.3 yards per carry.
Junior wide out Dylan Drummond reeled in five catches for 59 yards and one score. First-year Eagle Latrell Fordham got in on the action in the passing game as well, hauling in four balls for 58 yards and one touchdown. The Eagles also got 50 yards receiving from newcomer Zach Westmoreland in the contest.
Sophomore Robert Daniel Jr. stood out for the Eastern Michigan defense, totaling three tackles and one recovered fumble. Senior Turan Rush added five tackles, 3.5 TFL, and 1.5 sacks in the win.
The Eagles won the turnover battle in Saturday's game, forcing one turnover while avoiding any giveaways, with Eastern Michigan turning that takeaway into three points.
Eastern Michigan put together a big showing on the ground, racking up 242 rushing yards while averaging 5.5 yards per carry and out-rushing Texas State by 130 yards. Eastern Michigan converted on 73.3 percent of third-down attempts, going 11-for-15 on the day.
Eastern Michigan's defense was stout against the run, limiting Texas State to 112 yards. The Eagles defense disrupted Texas State's backfield all game, piling up four sacks and nine total tackles for loss.
Eastern Michigan's offense took advantage of its visits to the red zone, scoring on six of its six trips, with five of those scores being touchdowns.
How It Happened
Eastern Michigan put up 59 points on nine different scoring plays. The Eagles got on the board first, taking the lead for good at 7-0 with 8:06 left in the first quarter when Evans carried it for a four-yard touchdown run to end a 10-play, 66-yard drive. The Eagles then rode that lead to victory, increasing their advantage by 31 points along the way.
Game Notes
» Eastern Michigan won the turnover battle, 1-0, after recovering one fumble.
» The Eagles scored first with 8:06 remaining in the first quarter and never trailed the rest of the game on their way to victory.
» Eastern Michigan had their highest scoring quarter in the fourth period, when they put up 21 points.
» Eastern Michigan converted 11-of-15 third downs while Texas State was successful on 3-of-11.
» Eastern Michigan scored three fourth-quarter touchdowns.
» The Eagles totaled nine tackles for loss and added four sacks.
» Eastern Michigan won the time of possession battle 34:33 to 25:27.
» The Eagles ended the game on a strong note, scoring 31 unanswered points to close out the contest.
» Evans tallied his fifth touchdown of the season, which leads the team.
» Bryant rushed for 39 yards into the endzone for his first rushing touchdown in an Eagle uniform.
» Drummond pulled in a 12-yard catch for his first score of the 2021 season. The touchdown was the sixth receiving TD of his career.
» Senior tight end Thomas Odukoya (Almere, Netherlands-Helen Parkhurst (Garden City)) notched his first touchdown of the season off a 13-yard pass from Drummond. It was the first time since the 2018 season that an EMU non-quarterback threw for a TD. Former Eagle tight end Isaac Holder threw a 34-yard score to Bryce Kemp versus Monmouth, Aug.31, 2018.
» Hamilton rushed 22 yards into the endzone for his third EMU-career touchdown.
» Daniel Jr. recovered his first career fumble.
» Fordham caught a 24-yard pass from Bryant in the endzone for his first career touchdown.
» Junior wide out Hassan Beydoun (Dearborn, Mich.-Dearborn) pulled in a four-yard pass for his first TD of the season and the second of his career.
» Junior kicker Chad Ryland (Lebanon, Pa-Cedar Crest) tallied a career-high 597 kickoff yards (59.7 avg.) with four touchbacks.
» Freshman Austin Smith (Ellenwood, Ga.-Cedar Grove) made his collegiate debut as he appeared as the EMU quarterback with five minutes left in the game. The freshman completed a pass for 16 yards.
»The Eagle defense opened the contest with a Bobcat three-and-out, which is the first time this season EMU has held its opponents to a three-play drive to start a game.