Football - The Eastern Echo

Eastern Michigan upsets the Big Ten's Illinois with last-second field goal

By Charles Post and Joey Pisaneschi · Saturday, Sept. 14, 2019

After defeating Rutgers in 2017 and Purdue in 2018, Eastern Michigan has defeated an opponent from the Big Ten conference for the third consecutive season. The Eagles upset the previously unbeaten Illinois Fighting Illini on Saturday by a final score of 34-31. Sophomore kicker Chad Ryland made a 24-yard field goal as time expired to seal the Eastern Michigan victory. Ryland converted on both of his field goal attempts, including a career-high of 52 yards. He also connected on all but one of his extra-point tries.

Quian Williams continues to make major impact in sophomore season

By Joey Pisaneschi · Saturday, Sept. 14, 2019

Playing in just four games as a redshirt freshman, wide receiver Quian Williams of Oklahoma City gained valuable playing experience with the Eagles but did not record any receptions. However, his sophomore season has gotten off to a very promising start. After the first two games of 2019, Williams has found himself in a position where he is one of quarterback Mike Glass III's favorite targets. Williams has already snagged eight passes for 92 total yards and his first career touchdown.

Week 3 Preview: Eagles hoping for another Big Ten upset

By Charles Post and Joey Pisaneschi · Thursday, Sept. 12, 2019

The Eastern Michigan football program took a tough loss at the hands of the Kentucky Wildcats on Saturday, September 7, by a final score of 38-17. The Eagles now set their sights on the Fighting Illini of the University of Illinois, who earned a 31-23 victory against Connecticut a week ago. Despite a season-high 337 passing yards by QB Mike Glass III, the Eagles found the end zone just twice, both coming through the air. Glass also threw his first two interceptions of the season against the Wildcats.

Eastern Michigan football travels to play Kentucky in Lexington

Eastern Michigan football loses to Kentucky, falls to 1-1 on the year

By Charles Post and Joey Pisaneschi · Sunday, Sept. 8, 2019

The Eastern Michigan Eagles fell to the Kentucky Wildcats, 38-17, on Saturday, Sept. 7 at Kroger Field in Lexington. Senior quarterback Mike Glass III had 337 yards in the loss. With the loss, the Eagles fall to 1-1 on the season, while Kentucky stays perfect with a 2-0 record. The Wildcats out-gained Eastern Michigan, 461-386 in total yardage. Arthur Jackson III led the Eagles in receiving with 71 yards on five catches.

Week 2 Preview: Eastern Michigan looks to upset Kentucky

By Charles Post and Joseph Pisaneschi · Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2019

Fresh off a 30-23 victory over the Chanticleers of Coastal Carolina, the Eastern Michigan Eagles remain on the road for a battle with the Kentucky Wildcats out of the SEC on Saturday, Sept. 7. The University of Kentucky spent a majority of the 2018 college football season in the top 25 of the AP Poll. The Wildcats defeated MAC rival Toledo in its previous game by a score of 38-24. Kentucky quarterback Terry Wilson, took the reigns of the offense and completed 19 of 26 passes for 246 yards and two touchdowns.

Myles McNeal talks Eagles football and senior season

By Charles Post · Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2019

Myles McNeal, who is a 3-star recruit according to 247 Sports, committed to play for the Eastern Michigan football program on April 16, 2019. He is scheduled to graduate from Grand Blanc Community High School in 2020 and will join the Eagles team following that. McNeal is a 5’11”, 180-pound cornerback for the Grand Blanc Bobcats, and is rated the 50th best player in the state of Michigan.

The Eagles escape Coastal Carolina with 30-23 victory

By Charles Post and Joseph Pisaneschi · Saturday, Aug. 31, 2019

For the first time in school history, the Eastern Michigan Eagles took on the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers at Brooks Stadium in Conway, South Carolina on Saturday, Aug. 31. Despite a slow start by the Eagles, they escaped with a 30-23 victory to begin their season with a 1-0 record.

Week 1 Preview: Eagles head south to face Coastal Carolina

By Charles Post and Joseph Pisaneschi · Thursday, Aug. 29, 2019

This Saturday marks the beginning of the much anticipated season for the 2019 edition of the Eastern Michigan Eagles football program. The Eagles will travel to Conway, South Carolina to take on the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers, who are coming off a 5-7 season in which they won just one home game.

MAC announces upcoming bowl schedule from 2020-2025

By Charles Post and Zach Sturgill · Thursday, Aug. 15, 2019

The Mid-American Conference will continue a six-season partnership with ESPN, the billion-dollar media company, into the 2025 season. The partnership has a plan of televising two set bowl games, the Makers Wanted Bahamas Bowl and the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. There is also a list of games that potentially could feature MAC teams. Two out of the nine are for sure to be played when decided by the bowl committee each year. This makes at least four bowl games played by the MAC annually.

Football position breakdown: Running backs

By Charles Post · Thursday, Aug. 15, 2019

Following the deep dive into the quarterbacks room for Eastern Michigan, it’s time to check in on the guys they’ll be handing the ball off to. The team has seven running backs listed on the roster, but Shaq Vann and Breck Turner have pulled away from the rest of the group. With that said, though, at least one other Eagles running back is going to get significant playing time in the upcoming season.

Football Position Breakdown: Quarterbacks

By Charles Post · Thursday, Aug. 15, 2019

Eastern Michigan opens their 2019 college football slate on August 31 against Coastal Carolina. Head coach Chris Creighton has named senior quarterback Mike Glass III the starting quarterback heading into the season, but Glass is far from the only QB on the depth chart. The Eagles have seven passers in total listed on the roster: Glass, Jairus Grissom, Preston Hutchinson, Aaron Jackson, Christopher Kaminski, Jayden Machado and Isaac Stiebling.

Football Position Breakdown: Pass Catchers

By Charles Post · Thursday, Aug. 15, 2019

The wide receiving group for the Eagles is one of the most talented in the MAC as EMU has 16 receivers on the depth chart. The collective is as follows: Line Latu, Isaac Holder, Hassan Beydoun, Michael Thompson, Keyan Marshall, Tanner Knue, De’Anthony Ball, Amir Spivey, Joe Nowden, Eddie Daugherty IV, Noah Cameron, Dylan Drummond, Quian Williams, Logan Giordano, Matthew Sexton and Arthur Jackson III.

EMU defensive back added to Wuerffel Trophy watch list

By Tiauna Allen · Monday, Aug. 5, 2019

Senior defensive back, Brody Hoying was named to the Wuerffel Trophy watch list presented by the Chick-fil-A Foundation, per EMU Athletics. The list mostly consists of conferences from the Football Bowl Subdivision. Hoying is one of 91 players from FBS who was named to the list.

Eagles' Odukoya named to Mackey Award watch list

By Zach Sturgill · Sunday, July 28, 2019

Thomas Odukoya's name was announced on the 2019 John Mackey Award Preseason watch list on July 19, 2019. 60 players are on the watch list for the college football's most outstanding tight end. Odukoya stands 6'6" and weighs 264 pounds. The preseason All-MAC teams by Phil Steele's College Football Preview has Odukoya on the second team. EMU had 11 players in total that made the four teams from the magazine's preseason list.

EMU running back named a Doak Walker preseason candidate

By Tiauna Allen · Sunday, July 28, 2019

The PWC SMU Athletic Forum announced that Eastern Michigan University senior running back, Breck Turner has been named a preseason candidate for the Doak Walker award, per EMU Athletics. Turner joined the list of 71 college running backs and he is one of six running backs from the MAC to be added to the list of candidates.

Eagles attend MAC media day

By Charles Post · Sunday, July 28, 2019

Eastern Michigan opens their season in just over a month on August 31 against Coastal Carolina on the road. In the meantime, head coach Chris Creighton, quarterback Mike Glass III, and defensive back Vince Calhoun attended MAC media day in Detroit on July 23. Despite the media picking the Eagles to finish fourth in the division, Creighton and his team believe they have what it takes to reach the MAC championship game.

MAC Media Day news and notes

By Charles Post · Thursday, July 25, 2019

The annual MAC Media Day occurred on July 23 at Ford Field in Detroit.

Breaking down each MAC football program

By Charles Post · Wednesday, July 24, 2019

The college football season is about a month away as it begins on Aug. 24 when Florida and Miami face off at Camping World Stadium in Orlando. The majority of MAC teams will start their campaigns on Aug. 31. Eastern Michigan’s first game is against Coastal Carolina on the road.

Eagles football predicted to finish in the middle of MAC

By Zach Sturgill · Saturday, July 20, 2019

Eastern Michigan football opens up the season on August 31 at Coastal Carolina, and before that there is only speculation on what the 2019 season will bring. The team went 7-6 overall last year with a 5-3 conference record. Athlon Sports foresees a similar outcome this fall. The site predicts EMU at a 6-6 overall record and a 5-3 record in the MAC.

Kevin McGill named on Bednarik Award watch list

By Charles Post · Friday, July 19, 2019

Kevin McGill, Eastern Michigan senior defensive back, was named to the Bednarik Award watch list on Monday, July 15. The Bednarik Award is presented to the College Defensive Player of the Year. The award winner will be announced on Dec. 12, following the completion of the regular season and before the bowl season takes place.