Rynearson Stadium -- Ypsilanti, Mich
It may still be relatively early in the season, but Saturday’s matchup between Northern Illinois and Eastern Michigan is one of those games that could have significant consequences down the line.
The Huskies entered 2018 as a preseason favorite, and it is 1-0 in conference play after defeating Central Michigan 24-16 in Week Three. But that is their only victory to go with three losses against a very challenging non-conference schedule.
Given Eastern Michigan’s performance to date, Saturday could be a good barometer for how the MAC West might unfold. The Eagles opened with two wins, including a 20-19 upset at Purdue.
An early MAC test at Buffalo, however, resulted in a tough 35-28 loss at still undefeated Buffalo. Last week’s 23-20 overtime loss at San Diego State then dropped Eastern to .500.
➤➤ Northern Illinois edged EMU 30-27 in overtime last October. The Eagles were up 24-10 until midway through the fourth quarter. However, NIU scored two TDs in the final 7:31 to tie things. After an Eagles field goal in overtime, the hosting Huskies won on a 9-yard Marcus Jones touchdown run.
NORTHERN ILLINOIS (1-3, 1-0 MAC)
➤➤ Florida State jumped out to a 14-0 first quarter lead and led 20-7 at the half in a 37-19 victory over NIU last week.
➤➤ FSU won despite turning the ball over four times, while Northern Illinois did not have a turnover. The Seminoles, however, held NIU to six rushing yards on 20 attempts.
➤➤ Northern Illinois QB Marcus Childers completed 20 of 41 attempts for 215 yards.
FSU. meanwhile, rushed for 121 yards and threw for another 352.
➤➤ The Huskies are last among MAC teams in scoring offense (14.0 ppg), total offense (236 ypg) and passing offense (135 yards). They are next-to-last in rushing offense (101.0 ypg)
➤➤ Tre Harbison tops NIU rushers with 235 yards on 36 attempts (6.6 ypc). D.J. Brown and Jauan Wesley have combined for 37 catches, 406 yards and four receiving touchdowns.
➤➤ Northern was actually outgained 322-284 in its win over Central Michigan.
➤➤ The Huskies strength this season has been defense. They are tied for second (MAC) in rushing defense (140.5 ypg). They are, however, ninth in pass defense and sixth in pass defense efficiency.
➤➤ Redshirt junior linebacker Antonio Jones -Davis has 37 tackles (10th MAC), while junior Sutton Smith has four solo sacks (2nd MAC). Smith tops the league in tackles for loss (8 solo, 1 assist).
➤➤ NIU’s 13 sacks leads the MAC.
➤➤ The Huskies best scoring quarter has been the second (21 points), while they have just 3 points in the opening stanza to date. Opponents have scored 31 points in the third period and 46 in the fourth quarter.
EASTERN MICHIGAN (2-2, 0-1 MAC)
➤➤ San Diego State no doubt appreciate’s its kicking game after last Saturday’s 23-20 win over Eastern Michigan. The Aztecs not only kicked three field goals, one was a 50-yard boot with 1:16 left to force overtime. After an Eagles turnover in overtime, John Baron II knocked a 38-yarder through for the win.
➤➤ Eastern Michigan’s two losses have been by a touchdown or less to a pair of teams who total one loss.
In EMU’s last 29 games, dating back to the start of the 2016 season, 20 have come down to final scores of seven points or less. Of the 20 games, EMU has a 9-11 record, including a 1-2 mark this season.
➤➤ Eastern Michigan’s kicking game was also productive as Chad Ryland went 2 for 2 with a long of 51 yards.
➤➤ EMU quarterback Mike Glass III completed 9 of 16 attempts for 153 yards with one TD and one interception against SDSU. The pick came in overtime.He ranks sixth among MAC QBs in pass efficiency.
➤➤ Senior QB Tyler Wiegers was 8 of 11 for 83 yards against SDSU.
➤➤ Shaq Vann carried 21 times for 76 yards against the Aztecs and leads the Eagles with 50 carries for a net of 196 yards (49.0 ypg).
➤➤ EMU is ninth in rushing offense (125.2 ypg) and first in pass offense (306.2 ypg).
➤➤ Blake Banham tops Eastern receivers with 23 catches for 361 yards and a pair of scores. His 5.8 receptions per game tops the MAC
➤➤ Junior Maxx Crosby has picked up right where he left off a season ago and continues to wreak havoc in opponent’s backfields. Crosby tallied 2.5 sacks and 3.5 tackles for loss at San Diego State, Sept. 22, his fourth multi-sack game of his career.
For his efforts, he was selected the MAC West Division Defensive Player of the Week for the second time in his career. For the season, the Colleyville, Texas native ranks second in the MAC and seventh nationally with 3.5 sacks.