Staff Report
Two teams coming off one-point losses collide Saturday when Western Michigan visits the Eastern Michigan Eagles Saturday at Rynearson Stadium.
The 14-13 Akron victory last Sunday was WMU’s first MAC setback since November of 2015, when the Broncos dropped back-to-back games against Bowling Green and Northern Illinois.
Eastern Michigan, meanwhile, is . . .
Two teams coming off one-point losses collide Saturday when Western Michigan visits the Eastern Michigan Eagles Saturday at Rynearson Stadium.
The 14-13 Akron victory last Sunday was WMU’s first MAC setback since November of 2015, when the Broncos dropped back-to-back games against Bowling Green and Northern Illinois.
Eastern Michigan, meanwhile, is . . .
. . . coming off four straight encounters of the wrong kind – close losses. The latest was a 28-27 loss at Army. EMU scored the game’s final touchdown with 49 seconds to play, but went for two points on the PAT and came up inches short.
That was something of a microcosm of EMU’s last four weeks as it absorbed four losses. None were by more than seven points, and the seven-point game was a double-overtime affair.
That was something of a microcosm of EMU’s last four weeks as it absorbed four losses. None were by more than seven points, and the seven-point game was a double-overtime affair.
Western Michigan at Eastern Michigan
Saturday, Oct. 21 – 2 p.m. ET
Rynearson Stadium -- Ypsilanti, Michigan
ESPN3
Saturday, Oct. 21 – 2 p.m. ET
Rynearson Stadium -- Ypsilanti, Michigan
ESPN3
The Eagles and Broncos have met 52 times, with WMU holding a 32-18-2 advantage. The Broncos are currently on a three-game series win streak.
The last Eastern Michigan win was in 2013 when it posted a 35-32 overtime victory at home.
The last Eastern Michigan win was in 2013 when it posted a 35-32 overtime victory at home.
Here’s more on the two teams:
EASTERN MICHIGAN (2-4, 0-2 MAC
>>> The Eagles will be playing on the gray home turf for the first time in a month after coming up just short at three straight road games. EMU’s last home appearance was a 27-20 double overtime loss to East Division preseason favorite Ohio.
>>> This is Eastern’s 90th homecoming after a football game was added to the festivities. The Eagles are 45-42-2 in homecoming tilts, with the last such win coming in 2014 when they defeated Buffalo 37-27.
>>> EMU opponents are averaging 19.8 ppg. That is the lowest average for Eastern through the first six games since 1989.
>>> The Eagles scored their most points of the season (27), while totaling the second most yards (34) against Army. The 135 rushing yards were also the most for EMU during 2017.
>>> Brogan Roback earned MAC Player of the Week honors after throwing a career-high four TDs at Army. Roback needs seven more passing TDs to pass former EMU standout Charlie Batch for the all-time program record.
>>> Roback has completed 137 of 223 pass attempts (61.4%) with nine TDs and seven interceptions on the campaign.
>>> Junior Ian Eriksen carried 20 times for 107 yards against Army. That moved him into the team lead with 60 rushes for 249 yards this year. He has also scored all four EMU rushing touchdowns.
>>> Sergio Bailey II tied his reception high for the season with eight catches for 99 yards and two TDs against Army. He owns team highs in both receptions (37), yards (518) and receiving TDs (4).
>>> Eastern Michigan’s defense ranks No. 1 among MAC teams in passing yards allowed and is fifth nationally. The pass defense efficiency rank is No. 2 MAC and No. 15 nationally. Helping the cause is a No. 3 MAC rank is sacks (27th nationally).
>>> DE Max Crosby leads the Eagles with 4.0 sacks, while totaling 7.5 TFL. Harris has a team-high 8.0 TFL and 3.5 sacks.
EASTERN MICHIGAN (2-4, 0-2 MAC
>>> The Eagles will be playing on the gray home turf for the first time in a month after coming up just short at three straight road games. EMU’s last home appearance was a 27-20 double overtime loss to East Division preseason favorite Ohio.
>>> This is Eastern’s 90th homecoming after a football game was added to the festivities. The Eagles are 45-42-2 in homecoming tilts, with the last such win coming in 2014 when they defeated Buffalo 37-27.
>>> EMU opponents are averaging 19.8 ppg. That is the lowest average for Eastern through the first six games since 1989.
>>> The Eagles scored their most points of the season (27), while totaling the second most yards (34) against Army. The 135 rushing yards were also the most for EMU during 2017.
>>> Brogan Roback earned MAC Player of the Week honors after throwing a career-high four TDs at Army. Roback needs seven more passing TDs to pass former EMU standout Charlie Batch for the all-time program record.
>>> Roback has completed 137 of 223 pass attempts (61.4%) with nine TDs and seven interceptions on the campaign.
>>> Junior Ian Eriksen carried 20 times for 107 yards against Army. That moved him into the team lead with 60 rushes for 249 yards this year. He has also scored all four EMU rushing touchdowns.
>>> Sergio Bailey II tied his reception high for the season with eight catches for 99 yards and two TDs against Army. He owns team highs in both receptions (37), yards (518) and receiving TDs (4).
>>> Eastern Michigan’s defense ranks No. 1 among MAC teams in passing yards allowed and is fifth nationally. The pass defense efficiency rank is No. 2 MAC and No. 15 nationally. Helping the cause is a No. 3 MAC rank is sacks (27th nationally).
>>> DE Max Crosby leads the Eagles with 4.0 sacks, while totaling 7.5 TFL. Harris has a team-high 8.0 TFL and 3.5 sacks.
WESTERN MICHIGAN (4-3, 2-1 MAC)
>>> The Broncos reeled off four straight wins before falling to Akron 14-3 Sunday. That contest was supposed to be played Saturday, but bad weather and flooding in the Kalamazoo area forced a postponement. WMU pumped more than one million gallons of water out of Waldo Stadium early Sunday morning.
>>> An extra day’s rest might have been welcome after WMU went seven overtimes in a 71-68 win at Buffalo the previous week.
>>> Akron went up 14-0 on Western by the 10:51 mark of the second quarter. WMU scored the game’s final 13 points on a 50-yard TD pass from Jon Wassink to D’Wayne Eskridge and two Josh Brant field goals. The first was from 49 yards out midway through the second period. The second – a 35-yarder – came with 5:07 left in the contest.
>>> Jon Wassink completed 17 of 29 passes for 182 yards with one touchdown and ne interception. After seven games, he ranks third among MAC passers in quarterback rating. On the season, he is also third in completion percentage(63.9%). Wassink has thrown 13 TDs and four interceptions. He also has four rushing and two receiving touchdowns to his credit.
>>> Keishawn Watson leads the Broncos in receptions (29 for 250 yards) and receiving TDs (6). D’Wayne Eskridge is tops in yards (24 catches for 445 yards, 3 TDs).
>>> Western Michigan leads the MAC in rushing (237.9 ypg) and is 20th nationally. Senior Jarvion Franklin leads a committee of productive packs. His 76.9 ypg average is third (MAC), while junior Jamauri Bogan is seventh (66.0 ypg).
>>> The Broncos are third among MAC teams in rushing defense (141.6 ypg). They are facing an Eastern Michigan team that is last in rushing offense (84.3 ypg).
>>> WMU is ninth in pass defense efficiency, while Eastern is No. 3 (MAC) in pass offense and No. 6 in pass offense efficiency.
>>> Senior Darius Phillips, 2016 MAC Special Teams Player of the Year, has two 100-yard kickoff returns for TDs this season.
The Broncos special teams rank No. 5 nationally. WMU has three special teams TDs and is 12th in the nation with 503 kickoff return yards.
>>> Western Michigan has held the Michigan MAC Trophy since 2014. The trophy goes to the MAC’s Michigan team with the best record in competition between WMU, EMU and CMU. In case of a tie, the trophy remains in place.
>>> The Broncos’ Plus-5 turnover margin ranks 31st in the nation and tops the MAC.
>>> Senior Asantay Brown leads the defense with 57 tackles, including 5.0 TFL and 2.0 sacks. Sophomore Vince Calhoun owns 47 tackles (25 solo).
>>> The Broncos reeled off four straight wins before falling to Akron 14-3 Sunday. That contest was supposed to be played Saturday, but bad weather and flooding in the Kalamazoo area forced a postponement. WMU pumped more than one million gallons of water out of Waldo Stadium early Sunday morning.
>>> An extra day’s rest might have been welcome after WMU went seven overtimes in a 71-68 win at Buffalo the previous week.
>>> Akron went up 14-0 on Western by the 10:51 mark of the second quarter. WMU scored the game’s final 13 points on a 50-yard TD pass from Jon Wassink to D’Wayne Eskridge and two Josh Brant field goals. The first was from 49 yards out midway through the second period. The second – a 35-yarder – came with 5:07 left in the contest.
>>> Jon Wassink completed 17 of 29 passes for 182 yards with one touchdown and ne interception. After seven games, he ranks third among MAC passers in quarterback rating. On the season, he is also third in completion percentage(63.9%). Wassink has thrown 13 TDs and four interceptions. He also has four rushing and two receiving touchdowns to his credit.
>>> Keishawn Watson leads the Broncos in receptions (29 for 250 yards) and receiving TDs (6). D’Wayne Eskridge is tops in yards (24 catches for 445 yards, 3 TDs).
>>> Western Michigan leads the MAC in rushing (237.9 ypg) and is 20th nationally. Senior Jarvion Franklin leads a committee of productive packs. His 76.9 ypg average is third (MAC), while junior Jamauri Bogan is seventh (66.0 ypg).
>>> The Broncos are third among MAC teams in rushing defense (141.6 ypg). They are facing an Eastern Michigan team that is last in rushing offense (84.3 ypg).
>>> WMU is ninth in pass defense efficiency, while Eastern is No. 3 (MAC) in pass offense and No. 6 in pass offense efficiency.
>>> Senior Darius Phillips, 2016 MAC Special Teams Player of the Year, has two 100-yard kickoff returns for TDs this season.
The Broncos special teams rank No. 5 nationally. WMU has three special teams TDs and is 12th in the nation with 503 kickoff return yards.
>>> Western Michigan has held the Michigan MAC Trophy since 2014. The trophy goes to the MAC’s Michigan team with the best record in competition between WMU, EMU and CMU. In case of a tie, the trophy remains in place.
>>> The Broncos’ Plus-5 turnover margin ranks 31st in the nation and tops the MAC.
>>> Senior Asantay Brown leads the defense with 57 tackles, including 5.0 TFL and 2.0 sacks. Sophomore Vince Calhoun owns 47 tackles (25 solo).
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