WMU has held the Michigan MAC Trophy in each of the last three season but already has a loss to Central Michigan. EMU, on the other hand, still has a chance to sweep with wins Tuesday and next week against Central Michigan.
The Michigan MAC Trophy is one of just two regularly awarded trophies between three teams (the other is the Commander-in-Chief’s trophy between Army, Navy, and Air Force).
EMU and CMU will be meeting on the gridiron for the 99th time. The Chippewas hold the series lead, 62-30-6. Last year, Central trailed throughout the game and then scored 25 points in the fourth quarter to pull out an improbable 31-23 victory at Rynearson Stadium, Nov. 24, 2020.
Here's more on the two teams . . .
WESTERN MICHIGAN BRONCOS (6-4, 3-3 MAC)
>> The Broncos broke a two-game slide by edging Akron 45-40 last week. Beating EMU would give Western Michigan its first win against MAC West competition this season.
>> WMU trailed twice against Akron. The first was at 7-0 The second was 40-38 with 2:22 remaining in the game. However, the Broncos responded with a six-play drive that covered 75 yards. Kaleb Eleby hit Corey Crooms on a 45-yard pass for the winning score.
>> The Bronco running game thrived against UA, folling up 316 yards and producing three TDs. Sean Tyler led with 16 crries for 147 yards and a score. La'Darius Jefferson logged 19 carries for 99 yards.
>> Eleby completed 12 of 20 passes totaling 217 yards with two scores and one Akron interception. Crooms and Jaylen Hall combined for seven receptons, 137 yards and a score.
>> Sean Tyler returned a third quarter kickoff 96 yards for a TD. He also scored two second quarter touchdowns -- one on a run and another on a reception.
>> WMU ranks third among MAC teams in total offense (443.8 ypg) and second in total defense (334.6 ypg)
EASTERN MICHIGAN EAGLES (6-4, 3-3 MAC)
>> The Eagles had won two straight before falling to Ohio last week, 34-26.
>> Ohio led 14-7 after one quarter. The two teams then matched scores -- touchdowns and field goals -- the remainder of the night.
>> EMU was limited to 98 yards rushing. However, QB Ben Bryant completed 41 of 57 pass attempts, good for 354 yards with one TD and one INT.
>> Bryant is second among MAC passers, averaging 254.4 ppg. He has completed 69.7 percent of his passes (No. 1 MAC).
>> Tanner Knue led Eagle receivers against Ohio, grabbing 11 balls for 127 yards. Hassan Beydoun and Dylan Drummon combined for 18 catches, 158 yards and one TD. Beydoun is second among MAC receivers with 7.3 catches per game.
>> Hassan Beydoun has recorded three games with 10+ catches this season. He is currently one of only three players in the NCAA to have three or more such games
>> A win over Western Michigan would move Eastern Michigan to 7-4 on the season. EMU has not won seven of its first 11 games in a season since 1989. Additionally, two games remaining, EMU has the chance to get to eight regular-season wins for the first time since the 1987 season, when it finished with nine regular-season wins en route to the school’s only football MAC championship.
>> Ryland was 2-for-2 on FG attempts against Ohio, an effort which included his program-record-tying 55-yarder. After starting the season just 3-for-6, the Lebanon, Pa. has hit his stride, knocking in his last eight attempts and 10 of his last 11 overall. Ryland is now 11-for-14 on the season. He is 11th in the MAC in terms of points responsible for, with 76 on the season, while his 7.6 points per game average are fifth in the league.
>> Senior linebacker Terry Myrick came to play against Ohio. He led all Eagles with season-best 11 stops. The effort was Myrick’s first with double-digit tackles since Nov. 27, 2020, when he notched 17 against Central Michigan. Additionally, the game was his eighth with 10+ tackles in his career.
>> With 16 career sacks, senior defensive end Turan Rush is just one away from entering EMU’s top-five all-time.
>> Eastern has won or tied (27 wins, 4 ties) the turnover battle in 31 of its last 33 victories under Creighton.
>> No team in the Mid-American Conference is more successful on third down than Eastern Michigan. As an offense, Eastern converts 48 percent (63-of-132) of its thirddown tries. That number ranks 14th in the nation. EMU was 7-of-14 in its most recent contest, against Ohio.