EASTERN MICHIGAN at CENTRAL MICHIGAN
Friday, Nov. 26 -- Noon ET
Kelly Shorts Stadium -- Mount Pleasant, MI
ESPNU
Who is the hottest football team in the Mid-American Conference?
Many people might go wrong on this question, but the correct answer is Central Michigan.
True, the Chippewas won't be playing in the 2021 Mid-American Conference championship game. That will be Northern Illinois, which has earned the spot after finishing 6-2 in conference play. Central Michigan can match that mark with a win over Eastern Michigan Friday, but the Huskies own a tie-breaker with their razor-thin 39-38 win over CMU Oct. 23.
That contest was Central Michigan's only loss in the last six outings, and the Chippewas are currently riding a three-game winning streak. They can go to 8-4 overall with a home win over Eastern Michigan. The Eagles are also seeking their eighth win and have won three of their last four.
Which ever team win, it will take home the Michigan MAC Trophy. Given annually to one of the Michigan-based, Mid-American Conference institutions (EMU, WMU, CMU), the trophy is awarded to the team which has the best head-to-head record against each other. It 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). Because both EMU and CMU have already defeated WMU this season, the game between the Eagles and Chippewas will decide the winner of this year’s trophy.
EMU and CMU will meet on the gridiron for the 99th time in history between the two programs, with the Chippewas holding the series lead, 62-30-6. The EMU-CMU series is the longest-running rivalry between any two MAC schools. Central Michigan posted a 31-23 victory over the Eagles last year.
Here's more on the two teams . . .
EASTERN MICHIGAN EAGLES (7-4, 4-3 MAC)
>> Winners in three of their last four, the Eagles are coming off a 22-21 victory over Western Michigan. The Broncos led 7-6 at intermission and 21-9 late in the third quarter. However, EMU scored 13 unanswered points for the win.
>> Eastern Michigan had just one TD against the Broncos, but junior kicker Chad Ryland nailed all five field goal attempts. He is now just two points behind Andrew Wellock (2003-07) for the most points in EMU history (299)
>> Quarterback Ben Bryant completed 13 of 23 passes for 156 yards against the Broncos. Hassan Beydoun caught five balls for 48 yards and a TD. He ranks second in the MAC (13th nationally) with 7.1 receptions per game, and sits at fourth in the conference in receiving yards (863) and 10th in receiving yards per game (61.4).
>> Eastern Michigan's run game thrived against WMU, churning out 247 yards while averaging 5.7 ypc. Jawon Hamilton led the way with 19 totes for 179 yards (9.4 ypc) and Samson Evans added 47 yards on 10 trips.
>> EMU forced two turnovers by Western Michigan while playing turnoverless football.
>> Eastern Michigan is one of just three FBS teams to have multiple wins by a one-point margin this season (Miami, 13-12; WMU, 22-21). Coincidentally, the other two teams that can make that claim also reside in the Mid-American Conference (Northern Illinois 3, Buffalo 2).
>> No team in the Mid-American Conference is more successful on third down than Eastern Michigan. As an offense, Eastern down tries. That number ranks 35th in the nation. EMU was 2-of-14 in its most recent contest, against Western Michigan, Nov. 16.
>> Eastern Michigan’s offense is the best scoring unit in the Mid-American Conference. Averaging 32.9 points per game, EMU has put up 362 total points on 45 touchdowns, 14 field goals, and 44 extra points. In total, 14 different Eagles have found the pay dirt in 2021, including five players who have scored multiple touchdowns. Sophomore Samson Evans leads all Eagles with 11 touchdowns.
>> Senior defensive end Turan Rush had a career-best game in terms of pressure against Miami, Oct. 9. Rush accounted for a career-high eight quarterback hurries. In addition to the impressive single-game stat, his effort also catapulted him into the EMU record book. With 21 career QB hurries as of Oct. 9, Rush now sits at fourth all-time in the category (recorded since 1998).
>> EMU has been one of the most disciplined teams in the country thus far in 2021. The Eagles rank first in the nation in fewest penalties per game (3.64), second in fewest penalty yards per game (32.0), fifth in fewest penalties (40), and fifth in fewest penalty yards (351).
>> EMU’s special teams once again proved clutch against Western Michigan as it blocked a 29-yard field goal. During the Chris Creighton era, Eastern has blocked 18 field goal or punts.
CENTRAL MICHIGAN CHIPPEWAS (7-4, 5-2 MAC)
>> The Chippewas' current win streak came against Western Michigan, Kent State and Ball State by an average victory margin of 15.3 ppg.
>> Central Michigan out-gained BSU 567-329 and had eight more first downs (26-18). After trailing 7-0 early, the Chippewas scored 21 second quarter points to take a permanent lead. CMU tallied nine points in the second half and the Chips held BSU scoreless after intermission.
>> Central Michigan used a well-balanced offense against the Cardinals, gaining 285 yards on the ground and 282 through the air.
>> Freshman QB Daniel Richardson completed 20 of 25 passes totaling 283 yards with two TDs and two interceptions. Junior wideout Kalil Pimpleton recorded seven catches for 144 yards and a touchdown. JaCorey Sullivan also had a TD among his three receptions for 28 yards. The pair have combined to catch 140 passes for 2,172 yards and 19 touchdowns over the past three seasons.
Pimpleton’s first half performance at Western Michigan will go down in CMU history. The junior brought CMU back from a 14-0
deficit with a five-minute stretch on the game clock that saw Pimpleton return 2 punts for a touchdown and catch a touchdown pass. The junior was also the only CMU player to catch a pass in the first half, grabbing 3 balls for 104 yards.
>> Lew Nichols III had a huge day rushing, totaling 219 yards on 32 carries with three TDs against WMU.
Nichols leads the nation in rushing yards (1,516), carries (267) and per-game average (137.8) and his 14 rushing touchdowns is 10th. Nichols leads the MAC in all four categories. Nichols also ranks second in the nation in allpurpose yards with 1,777. The redshirt freshman has 36 receptions for 261 yards this season. He leads the MAC in total all-purpose yards and all-purpose yards per game (161.5). His 16 total touchdowns ranks 11th in the nation.
>> The Chippewas have been strong with their third-down defense this season, allowing opponents to convert just 53 of 160
opportunities (33%). That is second in the MAC and ranks 20th in the nation. Last year, CMU allowed opposing teams to convert 45% (40-89) of their third-down opportunities.
>> Central Michigan continues to be one of the top teams in stopping the run. CMU is allowing only 139.4 rushing yards per game this season, which ranks third in the MAC.
>> Linebacker Tony Brown is trying to become the first CMU linebacker since Nick Bellore (2008-10) to earn first team all-conference recognition three times. Over the past two seasons, Brown has posted 133 tackles (106 solo), 24.5 tackles-for-loss and 5.5 sacks. Those are the program’s top marks in total tackles, solo tackles and TFLs.
Kelly Shorts Stadium -- Mount Pleasant, MI
ESPNU
Who is the hottest football team in the Mid-American Conference?
Many people might go wrong on this question, but the correct answer is Central Michigan.
True, the Chippewas won't be playing in the 2021 Mid-American Conference championship game. That will be Northern Illinois, which has earned the spot after finishing 6-2 in conference play. Central Michigan can match that mark with a win over Eastern Michigan Friday, but the Huskies own a tie-breaker with their razor-thin 39-38 win over CMU Oct. 23.
That contest was Central Michigan's only loss in the last six outings, and the Chippewas are currently riding a three-game winning streak. They can go to 8-4 overall with a home win over Eastern Michigan. The Eagles are also seeking their eighth win and have won three of their last four.
Which ever team win, it will take home the Michigan MAC Trophy. Given annually to one of the Michigan-based, Mid-American Conference institutions (EMU, WMU, CMU), the trophy is awarded to the team which has the best head-to-head record against each other. It 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). Because both EMU and CMU have already defeated WMU this season, the game between the Eagles and Chippewas will decide the winner of this year’s trophy.
EMU and CMU will meet on the gridiron for the 99th time in history between the two programs, with the Chippewas holding the series lead, 62-30-6. The EMU-CMU series is the longest-running rivalry between any two MAC schools. Central Michigan posted a 31-23 victory over the Eagles last year.
Here's more on the two teams . . .
EASTERN MICHIGAN EAGLES (7-4, 4-3 MAC)
>> Winners in three of their last four, the Eagles are coming off a 22-21 victory over Western Michigan. The Broncos led 7-6 at intermission and 21-9 late in the third quarter. However, EMU scored 13 unanswered points for the win.
>> Eastern Michigan had just one TD against the Broncos, but junior kicker Chad Ryland nailed all five field goal attempts. He is now just two points behind Andrew Wellock (2003-07) for the most points in EMU history (299)
>> Quarterback Ben Bryant completed 13 of 23 passes for 156 yards against the Broncos. Hassan Beydoun caught five balls for 48 yards and a TD. He ranks second in the MAC (13th nationally) with 7.1 receptions per game, and sits at fourth in the conference in receiving yards (863) and 10th in receiving yards per game (61.4).
>> Eastern Michigan's run game thrived against WMU, churning out 247 yards while averaging 5.7 ypc. Jawon Hamilton led the way with 19 totes for 179 yards (9.4 ypc) and Samson Evans added 47 yards on 10 trips.
>> EMU forced two turnovers by Western Michigan while playing turnoverless football.
>> Eastern Michigan is one of just three FBS teams to have multiple wins by a one-point margin this season (Miami, 13-12; WMU, 22-21). Coincidentally, the other two teams that can make that claim also reside in the Mid-American Conference (Northern Illinois 3, Buffalo 2).
>> No team in the Mid-American Conference is more successful on third down than Eastern Michigan. As an offense, Eastern down tries. That number ranks 35th in the nation. EMU was 2-of-14 in its most recent contest, against Western Michigan, Nov. 16.
>> Eastern Michigan’s offense is the best scoring unit in the Mid-American Conference. Averaging 32.9 points per game, EMU has put up 362 total points on 45 touchdowns, 14 field goals, and 44 extra points. In total, 14 different Eagles have found the pay dirt in 2021, including five players who have scored multiple touchdowns. Sophomore Samson Evans leads all Eagles with 11 touchdowns.
>> Senior defensive end Turan Rush had a career-best game in terms of pressure against Miami, Oct. 9. Rush accounted for a career-high eight quarterback hurries. In addition to the impressive single-game stat, his effort also catapulted him into the EMU record book. With 21 career QB hurries as of Oct. 9, Rush now sits at fourth all-time in the category (recorded since 1998).
>> EMU has been one of the most disciplined teams in the country thus far in 2021. The Eagles rank first in the nation in fewest penalties per game (3.64), second in fewest penalty yards per game (32.0), fifth in fewest penalties (40), and fifth in fewest penalty yards (351).
>> EMU’s special teams once again proved clutch against Western Michigan as it blocked a 29-yard field goal. During the Chris Creighton era, Eastern has blocked 18 field goal or punts.
CENTRAL MICHIGAN CHIPPEWAS (7-4, 5-2 MAC)
>> The Chippewas' current win streak came against Western Michigan, Kent State and Ball State by an average victory margin of 15.3 ppg.
>> Central Michigan out-gained BSU 567-329 and had eight more first downs (26-18). After trailing 7-0 early, the Chippewas scored 21 second quarter points to take a permanent lead. CMU tallied nine points in the second half and the Chips held BSU scoreless after intermission.
>> Central Michigan used a well-balanced offense against the Cardinals, gaining 285 yards on the ground and 282 through the air.
>> Freshman QB Daniel Richardson completed 20 of 25 passes totaling 283 yards with two TDs and two interceptions. Junior wideout Kalil Pimpleton recorded seven catches for 144 yards and a touchdown. JaCorey Sullivan also had a TD among his three receptions for 28 yards. The pair have combined to catch 140 passes for 2,172 yards and 19 touchdowns over the past three seasons.
Pimpleton’s first half performance at Western Michigan will go down in CMU history. The junior brought CMU back from a 14-0
deficit with a five-minute stretch on the game clock that saw Pimpleton return 2 punts for a touchdown and catch a touchdown pass. The junior was also the only CMU player to catch a pass in the first half, grabbing 3 balls for 104 yards.
>> Lew Nichols III had a huge day rushing, totaling 219 yards on 32 carries with three TDs against WMU.
Nichols leads the nation in rushing yards (1,516), carries (267) and per-game average (137.8) and his 14 rushing touchdowns is 10th. Nichols leads the MAC in all four categories. Nichols also ranks second in the nation in allpurpose yards with 1,777. The redshirt freshman has 36 receptions for 261 yards this season. He leads the MAC in total all-purpose yards and all-purpose yards per game (161.5). His 16 total touchdowns ranks 11th in the nation.
>> The Chippewas have been strong with their third-down defense this season, allowing opponents to convert just 53 of 160
opportunities (33%). That is second in the MAC and ranks 20th in the nation. Last year, CMU allowed opposing teams to convert 45% (40-89) of their third-down opportunities.
>> Central Michigan continues to be one of the top teams in stopping the run. CMU is allowing only 139.4 rushing yards per game this season, which ranks third in the MAC.
>> Linebacker Tony Brown is trying to become the first CMU linebacker since Nick Bellore (2008-10) to earn first team all-conference recognition three times. Over the past two seasons, Brown has posted 133 tackles (106 solo), 24.5 tackles-for-loss and 5.5 sacks. Those are the program’s top marks in total tackles, solo tackles and TFLs.
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