Saturday, Dec. 15 -- 5:30 p.m. ET
Historic Crampton Bowl - Montgomery, Ala.
After winning their final three games and five of the final six outings, the Eastern Michigan Eagles (7-5) are again headed to a bowl game. They are faced with a big challenge when they battle another Eagles team -- this one wearing the blue and white of Georgia Southern.
GSU enjoyed considerable success before joining the FBS ranks in 2014. After winning six national championships at the I-AA level, Georgia Southern joined the Sun Belt Conference. The Eagles then became the first team to ever go undefeated in conference play in their first year at the FBS level.
Finishing 9-3 overall, they were ineligible to go bowling in their transitional year of 2014. However, GS joined the bowl fun in 2015, defeating Bowling Green 58-27.
Georgia Southern then went through two losing seasons before posting a 9-3 regular season record this season.
Eastern Michigan, meanwhile, is having a “bounce-back” year of its own. The Ypsilanti-based Eagles reached their second-bowl game ever in 2016 when they fell to Old Dominion 24-20 in the Bahamas Bowl. A 5-7 season followed, but winning three of their last four 2017 outings perhaps pointed to better things to come.
Indeed, Eastern opened this year with two wins, including a dramatic 20-19 victory at Purdue in Week Two.
Four straight losses followed, although two were in overtime. By the halfway point, EMU was 2-4 overall and winless in three MAC outings.
Things changed for the better after the Eagles upset Toledo 28-26 Oct. 13. It was the first of five wins over the final six contests. The one loss was to Army, which finished the year 10-2.
As well as EMU has been playing, the loss to Army gives some cause for concern heading into Eastern’s bowl game. Why?
Because like Army, Georgia Southern is one of the nation’s top rushing teams. It employs a similar option offense and will present similar challenges.
For what it’s worth, having played Army earlier in the year (and also in 2017 -- a 28-27 loss), EMU likely has some valuable “option defense” experience upon which to draw.
Here’s more on the two teams:
GEORGIA SOUTHERN EAGLES (9-3, 6-2 Sunbelt)
➤➤ With a win, the Eagles would set a program high for wins in a season as an FBS program). They previously won nine games in 2014 and 2015).
➤➤ Georgia Southern is 2-1 all-time against Mid-American Conference foes, having split with Western Michigan and lost to Bowling Green).
➤➤ The Eagles are ninth among 128 FBS teams in rushing offense (260.83 ypg). Their 5.35 yards per carry is 18th and
➤➤ Georgia Southern won all nine games in which it out-rushed the opponent and lost the three in which its opponent topped the rushing stats.
➤➤ The Eagles won all seven games this year in which they produced a 100-yard rusher.
➤➤ GS’s 33 rushing touchdowns are 33rd among FBS teams.
➤➤ Georgia Southern leads the nation in turnover margin. It has now forced a turnover in 15 straight games. It is the only team in the nation to win or tie every opponent in turnovers,
➤➤ The Eagles have turned the ball over just five times this season. The NCAA FBS record for fewest giveaways in a season is eight.
➤➤ Senior running back Wesley Fields (6-0, 205) is Georgia Southern’s top rusher. He has carried 177 times for 959 yards (5.4 ypc) and produced nine TDs.
➤➤ Sophomore QB Shai Werts (5-11, 200) is another major rushing threat. His 109 rushing attempts have yielded 954 yards and 10 scores.
➤➤ The Eagles pass very sparingly! They rank 129th of 130 FBS teams in pass attempts (110) and are just two stops better in completions (66).
➤➤ Sophomore running back/receiver Wesley Kennedy has been proven to be a dynamic threat in several aeas. He has 388 yards rushing and three scores, 182 yards receiving, 100 yards in punt returns and 504 on kickoff returns.
His 47-yard run off a reverse in the final minute was decisive in FS’s 28-21 win over Arkansas State.
➤➤ Junior Tyler Bass missed just one PAT kick on the season and also hit nine field goals of 40-yards or longer. His season long is 48 yards. He also has a 61 punt to his credit.
➤➤ Georgia Southern’s defense includes some serious talent in the secondary Cornerbacks Monquavion Brinson and Kindle Vildor are standouts who have combined for 10 career interceptions.
➤➤ The program still makes use of two yellow school buses which the Bulloch County Board of Education sold to GS for $1 apiece when it resumed football back in 1981.
EASTERN MICHIGAN EAGLES (7-5, 5-3 MAC)
➤➤ This bowl game pits the top two teams nationally in fewest interceptions thrown. GS has yet to throw a pick this season, while EMU is second among MAC teams with four picks.
➤➤ Eastern Michigan has the nation’s fourth-best red zone defense, allowing opponents to score only 33 times on 46 attempts.
➤➤ EMU is ranked 14th nationally in the fewest second half points allowed (8.9)
➤➤ Defensive lineman Maxx Crosby ranks fifth nationally in force fumbles per game and is 10th in tackles for loss per game. He is fifth in the MAC and 35th nationally in sacks (0.68 per game).
➤➤ Eastern’s defense was especially tough down the stretch. In back-to-back contests against Central Michigan and Akron, EMU gave up a total of just 228 yards and zero points. Opponent scoes came on a 68-yrd fumble return and 70-yard punt return. Akron managed just 90 yards of total offense.
➤➤ Eastern Michigan finished the regular season ranked sixth among MAC teams in scoring (27.5 ppg) and second in scoring defense (22.0 ppg),
➤➤ The Eagles were ninth (MAC) in rushing offense (149.4 ypg) and seventh in rushing defense (192.9 ypg). EMU was second in pass defense and third in pass defense efficiency, but Georgia Southern prefers to use its running game.
➤➤ Quarterback Tyler Wiegers led the MAC in completion percentage (64.8%). He has shared time with Mike Glass II, who has missed four games due to injury, but the two have combined for 23 touchdowns (17, passing, 6 rushing), 2,707 passing yards and just four interceptions.
➤➤ Senior running back Ian Eriksen carried the ball 17 times for a season high 118 yards and career-best three TDs in a 28-20 win at Kent State.
➤➤ Senior Shaq Vann (5-10, 215) leads Eagle rushers with 135 carries for 590 yards (4.4 ypc), along with six touchdowns.
Blake Banham and Arthur Jackson II have combined for 97 catches, 1,220 yards and eight TDs.