The Eastern Michigan Football team dominated Ball State this Saturday on their way to a 42-20 rout. Quarterback Tyler Wiegers scored a total of four times, three through the air and one on the ground. EMU’s offensive onslaught proved to be too much to handle as Ball State fell behind early and failed to close the gap.
Both halves were dominated by EMU. After six straight games decided by seven points or less, Eastern finally managed to win in deciding fashion. Much of their success against Ball State can be attributed to the quarterback play delivered by Wiegers. Wiegers scored twice in the first. His first score came on a 41 yard strike to wide receiver Line Latu that pushed the Eagles lead to 14. Prior to the pass, running back Shaq Vann scored on a one yard rushing play that capped off an eight play drive for the Eagles. Right before the end of the half, Wiegers scored his second touchdown of the game on a one yard scramble at the goal line with under thirty seconds to play.The rushing score was Wiegers first of the season in addition to being the first of his career on the ground. Ball State was left with no time to respond and Eastern Michigan took a 21-6 lead into the halftime break.
The second half was more of the same for EMU. The team continued to dominate through the air. The first score came on a 17 yard connection between Wiegers and Arthur Jackson III. Ball State responded with a touchdown of their own on the following possession but it was too little too late. The EMU offense was rolling and nothing was going to stop them. In similar fashion to the touchdown Latu scored in the second quarter, Wiegers connected with Isaac Holder for a 41 yard touchdown again. EMU stretched their lead to 35-13. With the game in hand Eastern opted to swap quarterbacks and bring in sophomore Isaac Stiebeling. Stiebeling made the most of his playing time by scoring his first career touchdown on a 14 yard rush.
The dominate victory over Ball State is a step in the right direction for the Eagles. EMU currently sits at a .500 record, 4-4, on the season. Four games remain on the schedule and Eastern will need to win at least two if they plan on playing postseason football. The journey towards six wins continues when Army marches their way into Ypsilanti for a noon kickoff on Saturday, October 27th.
