Eastern Michigan may have come into Saturday's game against Miami with glowing offensive stats, but it was the Eagles defense that fashioned a 13-12 victory Saturday at Rynearson Stadium.
It was the third win in four games for EMU (4-2, 1-1 MAC), which bounced back from a disappointing loss to Northern Illinois the previous week. Miami, meanwhile, fell to 2-4 overall and 1-1 in MAC play.
Time and again, the Eagles defense stiffened to force MU field goal attempts instead of touchdowns. The RedHawks made four and had one critical miss. Late in the game, when MU had designs on moving into position for one more try, EMU's defense came up with heavy pressure and deflections of quarterback AJ Mayer's pass attempts.
Mayer finished the afternoon completing just 16-of-39 attempts (41%) for 259 yards. Officially, he was sacked three times, but the Eagles hit and harassed the sophomore on a number of other occasions. EMU was credited with 17 quarterback hurries.
With just over two minutes remaining, the RedHawks were facing a 2nd-and-20 when Mayer found Jack Sorenson for 15 yards to Eastern Michigan's 42. However, with the visitors still facing third-and-five, EMU's defensive line pressured the RedHawks into two incompletions. That sealed the verdict as the Eagles offense ran out the clock.
Miami actually out-gained the hosts 385-257, eclipsing EMU 259-206 passing and 126-51 on the ground. However, the RedHawks had some costly penalties among their seven flags for 61 yards. Each team had one turnover, and each was followed by a field goal.
Eastern Michigan's first drive ended with Ivan Pace Jr.'s interception. Pace led all defenders with 12 tackles, as well as his pick.
Starting at their own 13. the RedHawks moved 56 yards before EMU stopped the drive. Graham Nicholson's 49-yard field goal put the visitors up 3-0 and after forcing a punt, Miami came back for more.
Eastern Michigan's defense made it "more of the same," forcing MU to settle for another field goal (40 yards) and a 6-0 lead.
The scenario played out once again - except for the ending -- as Miami forced a punt and EMU forced yet another field goal try. This one, however, was wide from 46 yards.
Stymied for a quarter-plus, Eastern Michigan finally got untracked, using eight plays to cover 73 yards and score the game's only touchdown. Two Bryant passes to Dylan Drummond covered nearly half the distance. The senior transfer then hit Brysan Cannon over the middle from 16 yards out to finish the trip.
Chad Ryland's PAT put the hosts up 7-6, and after an exchange of punts, the Eagles defense gave Eastern Michigan a short field to set up a field goal. The Eagles hit Mayer on Miami's first play and officials ruled the ball (which floated across the line of scrimmage) to be a fumble.
Taking over with 2:10 before intermission. EMU moved 20 yards. That was enough for Ryland, who nailed a 47-yard field goal that left the Eagles in front 10-6 at the break.
Eastern Michigan's defense sacked Meyer end Miami's first drive of the second half and the Eagles then drove 57 yards in 11 plays to set up their final points of the contest. Ryland booted a 33-yard field goal with 8:07 left in the third period.
Miami responded with a 62-yard and its own field goal (31 yards), but defenses dominated the remaining time. There were seven punts over the final nine possessions.
When Miami reached Eastern Michigan's 20 with 7:02 remaining, Turan Rush -- who had eight QB hurries -- sacked Mayer to set up 4th and 13. Miami opted for the field goal, and Nicholson delivered from 44 yards. That turned out to be the game's final points.
Eastern Michigan averaged just 1.5 yards per rush while picking up 51 total yards on the ground. Bryant, meanwhile, connected on 21-of-31 passes for 206 yards with one TD and one interception. Drummond and Hassan Beydoun were the top targets, combining for 13 receptions and 145 yards.
Sorenson topped Miami receivers with seven catches for 123 yards, followed by Hippenhammer's five receptions for 94 yards.