Eastern Michigan University’s football team wrapped up its home schedule with a hard-fought 37-20 loss to the University at Buffalo on senior night, Nov. 20, at Rynearson Stadium.
The Eagles, now 5-6 overall and 2-5 in the Mid-American Conference, honored 12 seniors before the game, marking their final appearance at The Factory this season.
Buffalo struck early in the game with a 90-yard touchdown pass and a two-point conversion, taking an 8-0 lead. The Bulls extended their advantage to 17-0 by halftime, adding a safety and another touchdown while Eastern’s offense struggled to find its rhythm.
Despite the deficit, Eastern’s defense showed resilience, led by senior James Djonkam (Springfield, Virginia/West Springfield/Independence CC/Arizona State). The linebacker recorded a career-high 22 tackles, setting a new single-game record for the program.
“It’s good, but we didn’t win,” Djonkam said of his record-setting performance. “Twenty-two is great, but I set myself a high standard. If I get 22 and we lose, it means nothing.”
The Eagles found momentum in the third quarter after forcing a Buffalo three-and-out. Quarterback Cole Snyder (Lakewood, New York/Southwest/Rutgers/Buffalo) connected with Terry Lockett Jr. (St. Paul, Minnesota/Minnehaha Academy/Michigan State) for a 38-yard touchdown, cutting the deficit to 17-7. Buffalo quickly responded with a rushing touchdown, extending their lead to 23-7. Eastern’s offense answered again late in the quarter when Snyder and Lockett connected for another touchdown, narrowing the gap to 23-13.
“I was doing whatever it took to win,” Lockett said. “It came out pretty slow, but we had to pass the ball more and make plays.”
The fourth quarter saw Snyder launch a 78-yard touchdown pass to Markus Allen (Dayton, Ohio/Northmont/Wisconsin/Butler CC), bringing the Eagles within three points at 23-20. However, Buffalo responded with a 75-yard touchdown reception just 11 seconds later, followed by a 60-yard interception return that sealed the Eagles’ fate.
Head coach Chris Creighton reflected on the night’s loss and the emotional significance of Senior Night. “That’s a sad locker room for sure,” Creighton said. “We all committed to giving everything we had to those 12 guys one last time here in the Factory, but we didn’t get it done. We turned the ball over three times.”
Creighton also noted the unique composition of this year’s senior class. “It’s a really different senior class. Half of the guys, this is their first year here. In my career, that’s never really been the case. Usually, it’s been fifth-year guys that came in as freshmen,” Creighton said. “Even though the guys hadn’t been here as long, they came in January and became close quickly.”
Despite the loss, Lockett expressed admiration for his team. “This is a special group; I wouldn’t want any other senior captain to play for,” he said. “Unfortunately, we couldn’t send them out the right way playing our last game here at our stadium. We didn’t develop a dub, but I love those guys for life.”
Eastern Michigan still has a chance to secure bowl eligibility in their final regular-season game against in-state rival Western Michigan on Nov. 30. Both teams enter the matchup with identical 5-6 records, and the winner will earn a spot in bowl season and claim the Michigan MAC Trophy. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:30 p.m., with the game streamed live on ESPN+.
“We’re not going to go out losing,” Djonkam said about the team’s mindset for next week. As the Eagles head into their final game, their bond and determination remain strong, keeping postseason hopes alive.
