The opportunity of trying to come back from 18 down in back-to-back weeks was in the equation until the game's last play. That is where the Eagles dropped their third game of the season.
The Eastern Michigan University football team traveled to Northeast Ohio for the second time this season to take on the Akron University Zips. Eastern Michigan lost the game, 25-21. The Eagles are now 5-3 (2-2 MAC) on the season.
It looked like one of those games where Akron (2-6, 1-3 MAC) would blow it out, but the Eagles had other thoughts of making it close. Akron once led by as many as 18 points, where they led 18-0 with six minutes to go in the second quarter.
Eastern did not score in the first half, and in fact, they were forced to punt or turn the ball over on all six possessions they had in the football, not even getting into the red zone in the first half.
Although Eastern Michigan outscored Akron 21-7 in the second half, it was not enough to take home the victory. Quarterback Cole Snyder (Lakewood, New York) threw for 346 yards, a season-best for the senior. He also had two touchdown passes without a single interception on the day.
Because Snyder threw for 346 yards, receiving was a success for Eastern Michigan. Oran Singleton (Clewiston, Florida) had 102 yards, and Terry Lockett (Saint Paul, Minnesota) had 98 yards to lead Eastern Michigan in this category. Additionally, one of Lockett’s receptions was a 79-yard play.
Rushing was a struggle for Eastern Michigan outside of a 40-yard play by Elijah Jackson-Anderson (Flint, Michigan). Delbert Mimms III (Indianapolis, Indiana) led the team in the rushing category with 52 yards, while the Eagles finished with 114 yards.
The Eagles could record 57 tackles on defense, led by James Djonkam (Springfield, Virginia) and Quentavius Scandrett (Lovejoy, Georgia), who had ten and nine tackles on the Eastern Michigan defense.
They almost pulled off the comeback for the second straight week, but it came just short in a close matchup.
First Quarter
Akron was the only team to score in the first quarter. Eastern Michigan had an opportunity to score first, but Jesús Gómez (Puebla, Mexico) missed a field goal from 54 yards out.
After being forced to punt in their first possession with the football, Akron scored a touchdown on a three-yard run and ended up going for the two-point conversion, which they ended up converting, and it gave them an 8-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Second Quarter
In the second quarter, the score from a football perspective became very odd when Akron converted on a field goal to make it 11-0. The field goal was from 34 yards, and it came after Eastern Michigan was forced to punt after a three-and-out
They turned the ball over on downs, a struggling offense for Eastern Michigan at the time, and Akron got it back and scored a touchdown. At that point, the score became 18-0, and the touchdown was a 15-yard run for the Zips.
The score remained 18-0 at halftime, and the game became the first in which Eastern Michigan was shut out in any half during the 2024 season.
Third Quarter
Akron got the ball to start the second half because Eastern Michigan got it to start the game. They drove down to the 37-yard line on the EMU side of the field, but turned the ball over shortly afterward.
Desperately needing a touchdown before the half since the Eagles got the ball first, they were able to do just that, driving for 65 yards on 14 plays before Snyder threw a two-yard touchdown pass to tight end Jere Getzinger (West Branch, Michigan) and the Eagles were able to get the two-point conversion.
After a quick three-and-out by Akron, the Eagles could score another touchdown right away to pull back to within four points, 18-14. Gomez missed the point after, and the game remained 18-14. The game lasted 45 minutes, and Akron had the ball to start the fourth.
Fourth Quarter
The Eagles' defense came alive in the second half, and Akron was forced to punt on its first possession of the fourth quarter. The punt was pinned inside the 1-yard line, and the Eagles were in a tough spot on that first possession.
At the two-yard line on third down and nine, the 79-yard pass to Lockett put the Eagles in the red zone. From there, they could score a touchdown on a one-yard run by Mimms to take their first lead of the afternoon.
Although Eastern had the lead, Akron got the ball back, drove 75 yards, and scored a touchdown to give themselves the lead on a 21-yard completion to the end zone. It put Eastern Michigan in a tough spot down four with 1:52 to go.
On that possession, the Eagles had a fumble after Jackson-Anderson was able to run to the 16-yard line. From there, Eastern Michigan was able to use all three of their timeouts and get the ball back with less than a minute to go.
The Eagles were able to drive during that possession, but because they were down by four points, they needed a touchdown. Snyder threw a pass that was broken up at the end, and Eastern Michigan would suffer the loss because of it.
Up Next
Eastern Michigan will return home for another MAC Battle against Toledo on Nov. 2. Kickoff is set for Noon ET, and it will be televised on ESPNU as part of the 12-day selection for the starting times of games.
For more information on the Eastern Michigan University Football program, you can visit The Echo’s Website.
