On Wednesday night, the Eastern Michigan University Eagles traveled to Athens, Ohio, to face the Ohio University Bobcats in a tough Mid-American Conference (MAC) matchup.
The Eagles lost 35-10, marking their third consecutive defeat. EMU now has a 5-5 overall record and is 2-4 in MAC play, while Ohio improves to 7-3 overall and 5-1 in the conference.
Leading the Eagles’ offensive efforts, quarterback Cole Snyder (Lakewood, New York) threw for 155 yards, one touchdown, and a season-high three interceptions. Snyder’s sole touchdown pass came in the second quarter, putting Eastern Michigan on the scoreboard. However, turnovers plagued the Eagles, with two fumbles in the fourth quarter – one of which Ohio recovered, adding to Eastern’s struggles.
Despite difficulties, standout performances on offense came from running back Delbert Mimms III (Indianapolis, Indiana), who rushed for 70 yards, and receiver Oran Singleton (Clearwater, Fla.), who had 70 receiving yards including a 44-yard play in the second quarter. The Eagles totaled 266 yards of offense on the night.
Defensively, linebacker Luke Murphy (Massillon, Ohio) shone, leading the Eagles with 12 tackles. As a unit, EMU’s defense tallied 63 tackles but could not contain Ohio’s rushing attack, which accounted for five touchdowns.
Game Recap
First Quarter: Both teams struggled offensively in the opening quarter, resulting in a scoreless period. This was the second time EMU had played a scoreless first quarter this season, the first occurring in the season opener at UMass.
Second Quarter: The Eagles struck first in the second quarter when Snyder connected with Mimms for an 18-yard touchdown pass, putting EMU up 7-0. However, Ohio responded quickly, tying the game with a three-yard rushing touchdown and adding another touchdown before halftime to lead 14-7.
Third Quarter: Ohio maintained control in the third quarter, scoring on a 25-yard touchdown run to extend their lead to 21-7. Eastern Michigan’s offense remained stagnant, and they could not find the end zone.
Fourth Quarter: Early in the final quarter, the Eagles scored their last points with a 29-yard field goal from kicker Jesús Gómez (Puebla, Mexico), narrowing the gap to 21-10. Ohio scored two more rushing touchdowns, sealing a 35-10 victory.
Up Next: Despite the loss, EMU still has a shot at earning a bowl bid with one more win. They’ll have an opportunity to secure that victory on Wednesday, Nov. 20, when they host the Buffalo Bulls at Rynearson Stadium. Kickoff is at 7 p.m. and the game will be televised on ESPNU. Live radio coverage will be available on WEMU 89.1 FM.
With only two games remaining, Eastern Michigan aims to finish strong and keep their postseason hopes alive.
