MOBILE, Ala. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University football team, playing in its third consecutive bowl game for the first time in program history, is set to face the University of South Alabama in the 68 Ventures Bowl Saturday, Dec. 23, inside Hancock Whitney Stadium in Mobile, Ala. Eastern, which is looking to make program history with back-to-back bowl wins after defeating San Jose State University at the 2022 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl in Boise, Idaho, Dec. 20, 2022, is returning to Mobile after facing Liberty University in the then-LendingTree Bowl, Dec. 18, 2021.
EMU enters the contest winners of two in a row, including a 24-11 road victory at the University at Buffalo, Nov. 21, that secured bowl eligibility for the Eagles at 6-6 overall and 4-4 in the Mid-American Conference. The Jaguars (6-6, 4-4 Sun Belt Conference) enter the bowl game on their home field following a 52-44 loss at Texas State University to close out the regular season.
The game will be televised nationally on ESPN. As always, fans can hear the game on WEMU (89.1 FM), SiriusXM Channel 84, or the Varsity Network app with veteran broadcasters Tom Helmer and Rob Rubick calling the action from the press box. Pregame coverage begins at 6:30 p.m.

AUBREE’S WATCH PARTY
Staying home to watch? Join local EMU Football supporters and alumni at the Depot Town Aubree’s Pizzeria & Grill for the Official 68 Ventures Bowl Watch Party. From 6-10 p.m., enjoy the game with the famous all-you-care-to-eat pizza buffet, drink specials, exclusive giveaways and more! Wear your green and block E gear and cheer on your Eagles! No registration required.

QUICK HITTERS
» Brian Dooley made his 59th career start while playing in his 61st game at EMU to surpass Sidy Sow (2018-22) for the program record in both categories. Dooley’s 59 starts also rank as the most among all active FBS players.
» Brian Dooley has been named the recipient of the 2023 Disney Spirit Award, given since 1996 to the most inspirational figures in college football. The award was created to honor people like Dooley who demonstrate an indomitable spirit and a willingness to help others.
» Chase Kline (143) and Joe Sparacio (131) have collected 274 tackles in 12 games, which is 28.6 percent of the team’s total. Combined, the 274 tackles are the most by an Eastern duo since 1982 when Bill Rush (126) and Joe Ilano (160) combined for 286.
» Six Eagles earned All-MAC accolades, led by punter Mitchell Tomasek, who earned first-team honors.
» With the victory at Buffalo, Nov. 21, EMU punched its ticket for bowl eligibility for the sixth time in the previous seven full seasons and just the seventh time in program history. The win also gave EMU bowl eligibility in five consecutive seasons for the first time in program history (excluding COVID-shortened 2020 season).
» Since 2016, all 12 teams in the Mid-American Conference have played in at least one bowl game with the Eagles appearing in a league-best six, joining Ohio and Toledo for the top spot.
» Several firsts are available for the Eagles in the 68 Ventures Bowl, including back-to-back bowl victories for the first time program history, EMU’s first bowl win in Alabama (0-2 entering the game), and the Eagles’ first win in the state of Alabama (0-3 entering the game).

MAXX-IMUM IMPACT
Eastern Michigan football/current Las Vegas Raiders standout Maxx Crosby, along with his wife/former EMU soccer student-athlete, Rachel Crosby, have committed $1 million to the EMU Athletics Department, Vice President/Director of Athletics Scott Wetherbee announced Oct. 30. As recognition of the Crosbys’ generosity, the football playing surface inside Rynearson Stadium will be named after him. Recently, Crosby was nominated as the Raiders’ nominee for the NFL’s Walter Payton Man of the Year honor.

LET’S ROCK AND BOWL
With the victory at Buffalo, Nov. 21, EMU earned bowl eligibility for the sixth time in the previous seven full seasons and just the seventh time in program history. The win also gave EMU bowl eligibility in three consecutive seasons for the first time in program history (excluding COVID-shortened 2020 season). Of note, EMU’s 1971 appearance in the Pioneer Bowl does not figure into the bowl count since it was an NCAA Division II affiliate.

CHASING HISTORY
Eastern has a chance to make history when it takes on South Alabama in the 68 Venture Bowl as victory for the Eagles would mark consecutive bowl wins for the first time in the 132-year history of the program. The Eagles defeated San Jose State, 41-27, Dec. 20, 2022, in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl in Boise, Idaho, to snap a four-game slide in bowl games and set themselves up for back-to-back wins for the first time.

AND YOU ARE?
Eastern Michigan is set to face South Alabama in the 68 Ventures Bowl and, while it is not the first game the Eagles have played inside Hancock Whitney Stadium (2021 LendingTree Bowl), it is the first game, regardless of location, EMU has played against USA. The Eagles-Jaguars meeting will mark the third time Eastern has faced an opponent for the first time in program history this season after falling on the road both Minnesota, Sept. 9, and at Jacksonville State, Sept. 23.

MAC-SBC CHALLENGE, GRIDIRON EDITION
In early November, men’s and women’s basketball teams took part in the MAC-SBC Challenge with the MAC hosting men’s games and the SBC hosting women’s contests with the hosts set to switch for the follow-up contests in February (announced in January). In the first weekend, EMU faced Georgia Southern with the men winning at home and the women falling on the road. While unofficial, the bowl season appears to have a MAC-SBC Challenge flavor of its own as four of the MAC’s six bowl participants will meet SBC foes, including the 68 Ventures Bowl, the Myrtle Beach Bowl (Ohio vs. Georgia Southern), the Cure Bowl (Miami vs. Appalachian State), and the Camellia Bowl (Northern Illinois vs. Arkansas State).

KINGS OF THE LANES
Since 2016, all 12 MAC teams have played in at least one bowl game with the Eagles appearing in a league-best six, joining Ohio and Toledo for the top spot.

6 • Eastern Michigan, Ohio, Toledo
5 • Miami
4 • Buffalo, Central Michigan, NIU, Western Michigan
2 • Ball State, Bowling Green, Kent State
1 • Akron

RETURNING TO THE YELLOWHAMMER STATE
The Eagles are no stranger to the state of Alabama in recent years, especially during bowl season. This year’s 68 Ventures Bowl will mark the second time EMU has played in the game in Mobile after falling to Liberty, 56-20, Dec. 18, 2021, in the then-LendingTree Bowl. The first instance came in Montgomery at the 2018 Camellia Bowl, a close 23-21 loss to Georgia Southern. EMU also played at Jacksonville State earlier this year (Sept. 23), falling, 21-0.

‘BAMA BARN BURNERS
Historically, bowl games in Mobile have had a penchant for high scores. In the previous 24 games, the teams have combined for 1,519 total points, an average of 63.3 points per game. Additionally, two of the highest scoring games in NCAA bowl history have taken place in Mobile: Marshall defeated East Carolina, 64-61, in double-overtime in 2001, while Toledo outscored Arkansas State, 63-44, in 2005.

GROUP OF FIVE BOWL ELIGIBILITY
This season marks the eighth time the MAC had six or more programs receive a bowl invitation (2012, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023) in a single season and the 14th time with five or more programs receiving a bowl invitation (2004, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023). Moreover, the MAC is tied with the AAC, who also has six bowl teams, for the third most out of the Group of Five. The Sun Belt leads the way with 12 berths, followed by the Mountain West with seven. Conference USA has the least with four teams receiving bids.

QUALITY NON-CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
EMU’s non-conference opponents were no slouch this season as three of the four earned bowl berths, including Minnesota, Jacksonville State, and Howard. What’s more, the Eagles are one of just 12 teams nationally – and one of two in the MAC (Bowling Green) – to face three non-conference opponents whom earned bowl eligibility at the conclusion of the 2023 regular-season.

Boise State: Washington, UCF, Memphis
Bowling Green: Liberty, Michigan, Georgia Southern
EMU: Howard, Minnesota, Jacksonville State
Georgia Tech: Ole Miss, Bowling Green, Georgia
Memphis: Arkansas State, Missouri, Boise State
Minnesota: Eastern Michigan, North Carolina, Louisiana
San Jose State: USC, Oregon State, Toledo
Texas: Rice, Alabama, Wyoming
USF: Western Kentucky Florida A&M, Alabama
Virginia Tech: Old Dominion, Rutgers, Marshall
Western Kentucky: USF, Ohio State, Troy
Wyoming: Texas Tech, Texas, Appalachian State

STAYING HOME FOR THE BOWL
The Eastern Michigan-South Alabama match-up is one two bowl games in 2023 that features one of the teams playing at its home venue. Along with the Jaguars playing inside their own Hancock Whitney Stadium in Mobile, Ala., Iowa State will take on Memphis at the AutoZone Liberty Bowl inside the Tigers’ Liberty Bowl Stadium. Overall, the 68 Ventures Bowl is one of 10 bowl games played in an on-campus stadium, joining Arizona, Boise State, Charlotte, Coastal Carolina, FAU, Navy, New Mexico, SMU, and TCU, with three other bowl games being played in college stadiums, but at off-campus sites, including UAB (Protective Stadium), USF (Raymond James Stadium),  and UCLA (Rose Bowl).

INTERESTING COMPANY
According to the final NCAA regular season statistics, seven teams in the FBS averaged less than 300 yards of total offense per game. Oddly enough, two of those teams earned bowl berths in 2023, including the Eagles (128th at 272.2) in the 68 Ventures Bowl against South Alabama and Iowa (130th at 238.8) in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl against Tennessee.

ALL-MAC SELECTIONS
For the eighth consecutive year, at least six members of the program earned All-MAC accolades, including Mitchell Tomasek, who garnered first-team honors for the second year in a row after another stellar season punting the ball. Four players earned second-team honors, including Brian Dooley (OL), Tanner Knue (WR), Joe Sparacio (LB), and Jaylon Jackson (KOR), while Chase Kline (LB) was selected to the third team.

DOOLEY EARNS DISNEY SPIRIT AWARD
Brian Dooley made headlines earlier this season when he donated his own scholarship to a teammate, a walk-on that was working multiple jobs and donating plasma for money to pay for college. That selfless act was notice far and wide, and recently, it was recognized by Walt Disney World as it selected Dooley for its 2023 Disney Spirit Award. Since 1996, the Disney Spirit Award has been presented every year by Walt Disney World Resort to the most inspirational figures in college football. The award was created to honor people like Dooley who demonstrate an indomitable spirit and a willingness to help others.

IRON MAN
With his start at home against Western Michigan, Oct. 28, Brian Dooley broke school records for both games started and games played with his then-56th and 58th games, respectively. Dooley surpassed the previous marks of 55 starts and 57 games played set by Sidy Sow (2018-22). Following the game against Buffalo, Nov. 21, Dooley now has 59 starts from 61 games played.

BREAKING EVEN OFTEN
Eastern Michigan won its last two games of the regular season to finish with a 6-6 regular-season record while posting a 4-4 record in MAC play. This season’s output marks the third consecutive season where Eastern has finished with a .500 or better record for the first time since the 1986-89 campaigns. EMU posted a 7-5 (4-4 MAC) record in 2021 before upgrading to 8-4 (5-3 MAC) in the 2022 season, prior to winning the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl for its ninth win of the season, Dec. 23.

PITTANCE OF POINTS
Eastern has allowed 288 points this year, which, through 12 games, is an average of 24.1 points per contest. That point total ranks as the fourth-fewest allowed since the NCAA moved to a 12-game regular season in 2006 and is third-fewest among Chris Creighton-led teams. His 2018 team allowed 264 points through 12 games while the 2017 squad surrendered just 280. The 2011 team is third on the list with 292 points allowed.

SCORELESS FRAMES
The EMU defense held Kent State scoreless through the first half of play, Oct. 14, and nearly made it three quarters in a row before the Golden Flashes jumped onto the scoreboard with a touchdown with 2:12 remaining in the third quarter. Dating back to the game with Ball State, Oct. 7, the Eagles had not allowed a point in four consecutive quarters after the Cardinals did not score in the second half. The last time the Eagles held a foe scoreless in the first half came Sept. 10, 2022, at Louisiana.
Overall in 2023, Eastern kept an opponent from scoring in 14 of the 48 quarters played (29.2 percent), the second-most blank frames posted by a Chris Creighton-led team, trailing only the 17 shutout stanzas recorded in 2018 (17-of-52, 32.7 percent). The Eagles recorded a majority of their blankings in the first quarter (six) with eight tallied before the intermission.

WHO’S BALL?
A question Chris Creighton and his staff regularly ask the team is simply, “Who’s Ball?” A call to the players and the team’s desire to win the turnover battle, the Eagles currently rank 36th nationally in turnover margin and fourth in the MAC at 0.25, having taken the ball away 18 times while giving it away 15 times. Eastern is 46th in the FBS and third in the MAC with those 18 turnovers gained, 11 of which are fumbles recovered.

TEAM EFFORT
EMU has recovered 11 fumbles, which ranks tied for first in the MAC and sixth nationally. Eastern has seen nine different players record at least one fumble, which ranks tied for the most in the MAC. Bowling Green also has nine different players having recovered at least one fumble followed by Western Michigan with eight.

FALLING FOR FUMBLES
After recovering three fumbles in its latest win at Buffalo, Nov. 21, Eastern stands as the only team in the MAC to recover three fumbles in multiple games this season. The Eagles previously recovered three in their 28-14 win over Kent State, Oct. 14. This comes as no shock as the Eastern defense stands sixth in the nation in fumbles recovered, having scooped-up 11, which also ranks as the most in the MAC along with Bowling Green.

KICKING UP TROUBLE
One of the three fumble recoveries at Buffalo, Nov. 21, was made by kicker Ryan Kingston, who recovered a fumble on an EMU kick off in Eastern’s 24-11 win over the Bulls. The fumble marked the first of Kingston’s career as well as the first instance of a kicker recovering a fumble in the Chris Creighton era (2014-pres.). Not only is Kingston the first kicker to recover a fumble under Creighton, he is also the only kicker in the MAC to recover a fumble this season.

JOE JARS EM’ LOOSE
Joe Sparacio forced a fumble in Eastern’s win over Buffalo, Nov. 21, marking his third forced fumble of the season. Sparacio has proven to have a knack for forcing the ball free as his three forced fumbles rank as the most on the team, standing tied for second in the MAC, and tied for third in the FBS.

DON’T GO FOR IT
So far this year, opposing offenses have gone for it on fourth down 33 times against the Eagles, but have found success just 12 times for a 36.3-percent conversion rate, the 12th-best stop rate in the nation and second in the MAC. One of just 11 teams nationally that have faced 33+ fourth-down conversion attempts, EMU ranks 11th in the nation with 33 attempts faced.

STOP RIGHT THERE
The Eastern defense has allowed 382.8 yards per game, which ranks 69th in the FBS and ninth in the MAC. Despite the yardage, opponents have not been able to turn those yards into points as the Eagles rank 47th nationally in points allowed (24.1) and 21st in red zone defense (76.9 percent), values that rank the team fifth and second, respectively, in the MAC.

TWO OF THE BEST
Speaking of red zone defense, the Eagles and Jaguars boast two of best in the nation as South Alabama is allowing a 76.7 percent conversion rate (23-of-30) for 20th on the list and Eastern is just behind in 21st with a 76.9 percent rate (40-of-52).

SMALL BUT MIGHTY
The Eagles’ offense is averaging 272.2 yards of total offense per game. One of seven teams nationally — and one of three in the MAC — that is averaging under 300 yards per contest, Eastern is one of two teams in the group with five or more wins, joining Iowa (10), and Navy (5). Additionally, of those teams, EMU is the only team that has not recorded 400+ yards of total offense in a single game this season.

WIN THE TURNOVER BATTLE
Eastern has won or tied (37 wins, 8 ties) the turnover battle in 45 of its last 48 victories under Chris Creighton. The trend held in EMU’s latest win, a 24-11 road victory against Buffalo, Nov. 21, as the Eagles forced and recovered three Bulls fumbles while giving up just one.

TOP POINT SCORER x2
Samson Evans finished the 2022 season as the Eagles’ top point scorer as he posted 90 points (15 touchdowns). The outstanding back led the team yet again this regular-season with 74 points. Evans has now become the first non-kicker to lead the Eagles in points in consecutive seasons since former Huron great Gary Patton led in 1986 (60 points) and 1987 (78 points).

SEASON-BEST OUTING FOR EVANS
Samson Evans rushed the ball 22 times for 127 yards in EMU’s triumph at Buffalo, Nov. 21, both of which marked season-highs, while adding one touchdown, the 41st of his stellar career. The rushing total makes him the first Eagles back to accumulate 100+ yards on the ground this year and the first since he rushed for 135 yards in last year’s finale at home against Central Michigan, Nov. 25, 2022.

ACTIVELY SCORING
Samson Evans added one rushing touchdown against Buffalo, Nov. 21, to bring his career total to 41. Through games played Dec. 4, Evans ranks second among active players in rushing touchdowns while Blake Corum of Michigan leads the way with 55. Additionally, Evans’ 41 scores rank fourth on the total touchdowns scored list with Corum in the lead at 57.

60 IMPORTANT YARDS
Samson Evans collected 127 yards and one touchdown against Buffalo, Nov. 21. Evans rushing for 60+ typically bodes well for the Eagles in his career; after the contest against the Bulls, EMU holds a 12-5 record when Evans goes for 60 or more on the ground.

LEAGUE OF HIS OWN
With his score against the Bulls, Nov. 21, Samson Evans brought his season total to 12 rushing touchdowns to mark the third season in a row in which he has scored 10+ rushing touchdowns for the Eagles. Evans, who scored 13 in 2021 before adding 15 last year, is the only player in EMU’s 132-year history to rush for 10+ touchdowns in three different seasons. He previously was one of three to accomplish the feat in two different seasons, joining Gary Patton, who ran for 10 in 1986 and 13 in 1987, and Anthony Sherrell, who tallied 13 in 2003 and 12 in 2004.
Overall, Evans has now scored multiple touchdowns in the same game 12 different times in his career, including three times this year. His three scores against Akron also tied a career high for single-game scoring he established three times prior with the most recent coming at home against Toledo, Oct. 29, 2022.

UNCOMMON CONNECTIONS
Along with his 12 rushing scores, Samson Evans has added one passing score, which came at Toledo, Nov. 8. He is now one of two active running backs in the FBS to have run for at least one score and thrown for one in 2023 along with Washington State’s Dillon Johnson. With five career passing touchdowns, Evans ranks second among active running back in the FBS with Frank Gore Jr. of Southern Miss leading the way with seven.

TARGETING TANNER
Tanner Knue has been a model of consistency for the offense as he has tallied at least one reception in 36 consecutive games, a streak that ranks 13th nationally among active FBS players. Knue, who tallied two receptions for seven yards in the win at Buffalo, Nov. 21, is one of 18 active players with a streak of 30+ games with at least one catch.

RISING IN THE RANKINGS
With 50 receptions and 479 yards in 2023, Tanner Knue has brought his career totals to 154 grabs and 1,866 yards. His 154 catches ranks as the sixth-most in program history and is 26 grabs away from tying former Eagle Jacory Stone (2006-09). On the yardage side of things, he currently ranks sixth all-time at 1,866 yards and is 134 yards shy of becoming the sixth EMU player to reach 2,000 career receiving yards.

KNUE SCORING IN THE AIR
Midway through the third quarter versus Kent State, Oct. 14, and with the Eagles leading, 14-0, Eastern drove down the field, covering 62 yards on 10 plays, culminating in Austin Smith hitting Tanner Knue in the back corner of the end zone for the touchdown. The score was Knue’s third of the season and brought his career total to 17, which granted him the third most in program history. Knue needs three more scoring grabs to join Kevin Walter (1999-02) for second on the ledger behind Eric Deslauriers (2003-06), who leads the way with 27.

DOUBLE-DIGIT (PAY) DIRT
For the eighth season in a row, at least 10 different Eagles scored at least one touchdown, led by Samson Evans’ 12 rushing scores. The last time EMU had fewer than 10 players score touchdowns in a season was 2015 (9).

DYNAMIC DUO
Chase Kline and Joe Sparacio continue to be one of the best tackling tandems in the nation as the duo rank among the top seven nationally in the FBS rankings, averaging 13 and 11 tackles per game, respectively. The top two tacklers in the MAC, the duo makes EMU the only school with two players in the top-seven and one of three in the top 15 with Old Dominion and Mississippi State.

DOUBLE TROUBLE
For the first time since the 2019 campaign, EMU boasts a pair of tacklers that have exceeded the century mark.  Chase Kline leads the way with 143 while Joe Sparacio is just behind him with 131. In the modern statistical era (since 1999), the feat has been accomplished just 12 times. Collectively, the duo has accounted for 28.6 percent of the team’s tackles in 2023 (274-of-955).

2023    Chase Kline (143); Joe Sparacio (131)
2019    Kobie Beltram (128); Vince Calhoun (108)
2016    Kyle Rachwal (109); Jason Beck (104)
2009    Andre Hatchett (113); Martavius Cardwell (105)
2007    Daniel Holtzclaw (125); Darran Matthews (107)
2006    Daniel Holtzclaw (114); Michael Richardson (108);         Darran Matthews (100)
2005    Rontrell Woodruff (110); Michael Richardson (102)
2004    Kevin Harrison (146); Jerry Gains (112)
2003    David Lusky (143); Beyvon Barbee (109)
2001    Kenny Philpot (116); Scott Russell (115)
2000    Kenny Philpot (118); Scott Russell (104)
1999    Donald McCall (154); Scott Russell (115)

HAIR ON FIRE
Chase Kline recorded a career-high and FBS-leading 23 tackles against Akron, Nov. 14, moving him past Jason Henderson (Old Dominion), who recorded 22 against Coastal Carolina, Nov. 4, for the single-game lead. With those tackles, Kline is the first player to recorded 23+ tackles in a single game since A.J. Hauley (New Mexico) recorded 24 last year (Oct. 22) against Fresno State.
By recording 21 against Western Michigan, Oct. 28, which ranks as the fourth-most in a single game this year, Kline is in rare company as one of only six players to record 20+ tackles in multiple games in the same season and the first since Henderson did so twice last year. Furthermore, Kline is one of two players to eclipse the 20-tackle plateau in a single game twice this season. Mississippi State University’s Nathaniel Watson recorded 21 in consecutive games against Southern Miss., Nov. 18 and Ole Miss, Nov. 23.

HAPPY TO HELP
Chase Kline has tallied 95 assisted tackles through 12 games for the Eagles, a total that ranks fourth in school history. The first EMU player to record 90+ assisted tackles in a season since Jim Durham tallied 99 in 1984, Kline needs five more assisted tackles to become only the third player in program history to record 100+ in a single season and eight more to tie Alvin Sanders (1974) for the single-season record.

GROUP PROJECT
Chase Kline’s 23-tackle effort against Kent State, Nov. 14, is not an anomaly for Eastern Michigan. Dating back to the start of the 2013 season, five different schools in the FBS have seen a player record 20+ tackles in a single game three or more times, including EMU, Massachusetts, New Mexico State, Tennessee, and Utah State. Of those schools, only the Eagles and NMSU have recorded five such games. Kline (twice) is joined by Joe Sparacio, who had 22 against Western Michigan earlier this year, and Great Ibe, who tallied 21 in back-to-back seasons against UMass (Oct. 18, 2014, and Nov. 14, 2015).

FUMBLE!
While Justin Jefferson continues to lead the way with two fumble recoveries in 2023, which is tied for 17th nationally, eight other Eagles have gotten in on the act with Ryan Kingston and Soloman Bell adding their names to the ledger with recoveries at Buffalo, Nov. 21. Along with recoveries by Chase Kline, David Carter Jr., Adrian Gonzalez, Peyton Price, Daiquan White, and Elijah Williams, the EMU defense’s 11 recoveries ranks sixth nationally and tied for first in the MAC along with 11 recoveries by Bowling Green.

BREAKOUT SEASON
While ranking tied for 17th in the nation with two fumble recoveries in the 2023 campaign, Eagles’ linebacker Justin Jefferson has added another layer to his game. The senior notched the second pass break up of his season and career against Northern Illinois, Oct. 21. Prior to this season, Jefferson had not recorded a PBU, forced fumble, or recovered fumble. Following the game with Western Michigan, Oct. 28, he added his first full sack recorded after being credited with 0.5 sacks at CMU, Sept. 30.

AIR DEFENSE
EMU ranks 34th nationally and ninth in the MAC for passing yards allowed as the Eagles are limiting teams to 205.2 yards per game through the air. A big help are the number of pass breakups (PBUs) the defense has recorded. Against Western Michigan, Oct. 28, EMU tallied eight PBUs, tying for the most it has posted in one game this year with the eight breakups recorded against both Massachusetts (Sept. 16) and Kent State (Oct. 14). Six different players recorded PBUs against the Broncos, including three by Daiquan White, with 17 total players having recorded at least one this season.

SHINING STAR
Kempton Shine continues his march towards becoming the EMU all-time leader for passes defended in a career. He added one more against Western Michigan, Oct. 28, and sits just behind Daiquan White’s 12 to lead the team. With 27 career breakups, Shine is one shy of tying DaQuan Pace (2013-16) for the most in program history. Shine, who is averaging 0.75 PBUs per game in 2023, has recorded nine through 12 games this season.

LONDYN CALLING
Although Chase Kline (23) and Joe Sparacio (15) led the defense in tackles in the team’s 30-27, double-overtime win against Akron, Nov. 14, another senior got into the major tackling totals as Londyn Craft finished his Senior Night game with nine tackles, including four solo stops. The total tackles are the most he has recorded during his lone season with the Eagles.

SPECIAL DELIVERY
Senior defensive back Josh McCarty continues to make a noticeable impact on the Eagles’ special teams efforts. A finalist for the 2022 National Special Teams Player of the Year Award, McCarty has played 246 special teams snaps with nine tackles (tied for third in the FBS) according to Pro Football Focus. Overall, he has a PFF grade of 80.9.

NUMBERS STANDING UP
In the season opener with Howard, Sept. 1, EMU returned five kickoffs for 224 total yards and two touchdowns. Through the end of the regular season, those yards stand as the third-most in a single game, surpassed only by Baylor, who tallied 279 yards and two scores against West Virginia (Nov. 25), and Texas Tech, who piled up 227 yards against Texas (Nov. 24). EMU and Baylor are the only teams in the FBS to have multiple kick returns for touchdowns in the same game in 2023.

HAPPY RETURNS
For the season, Eastern has three kick returns for touchdowns with the most recent coming Oct. 14 on the opening kick against Kent State. On the play, the Golden Flashes tried to surprise the Eagles with an onside kick that Kendric Nowling scooped and ran back for a score. He joins a pair of teammates in the return scoring column, including the 96-yard return from Hamze El-Zayat and an 84-yard return from Jaylon Jackson. against Howard, Sept. 1. Individually, El-Zayat, Jackson, and Nowling stand as one of two sets of teammates, along with Cal’s Jaydyn Ott and Zachariah Branchto return kicks for a touchdown this season with only 36 total players running a kick back for a score in 2023.

RECORD BREAKER EMU
Returners have accounted for three touchdowns this year, marking the fifth time in program history Eastern has had multiple return scores in a season. Two returns for touchdowns have been recorded in 1955, 1974, 1993, and 2022. Additionally, EMU has recorded five touchdowns on kick returns in 24 games since the start of the 2022 season.

JACKSON OF ALL TRADES
EMU all-purpose back Jaylon Jackson has proved himself versatile on the gridiron week-in and week-out for the Eagles as he has reached 100+ all-purpose yards in 12-of-25 (48%) games played donning the Block E, including the 105 yards he accumulated at Toledo, Nov. 8. Against the Rockets, he rushed for 74 yard and added 31 yards on kick returns. Prior to arriving in Ypsilanti, Jackson notched just one contest where he reached 100+ all-purpose yards in his time with Lamar. This occurrence coincidentally came against Jacksonville State, who Eastern played this year on the road, where Jackson totaled 127 yards in the tilt against the Gamecocks, Nov. 13, 2021.

GREAT RETURNS
EMU returners rank highly as the Eagles are first in kick returns and second in punt returns in the MAC while ranking 36th and 19th nationally, respectively. EMU averages 21.6 yards per kick return while averaging 12 yards per punt return. Individually, Hamze El-Zayat is averaging 12 yards per punt return, which ranks second in the MAC.

RETURN TO SENDER
Along with the yards in the return game, the Eagles also have taken three kick offs back to the house, making Eastern Michigan the only team in the nation with three or more kick return touchdowns in 2023. Individually, the trio of Hamze El-Zayat, Jaylon Jackson, and Kendric Nowling each have one return for a score, which leads the MAC and is tied for second in the nation. Additionally, of the 41 kick returns for TDs in 2023, only two have been brought back by non-offensive players with Nowling (DB) and Sam Martin of Temple (safety) making the list.

BIG BOOT
The last time EMU played in Alabama, Mitchell Tomasek had a career game at Jacksonville State as the junior kicked eight times for 398 yards for an average of 49.8 yards per boot. The highlight of his day came with a booming 72-yard punt in the second quarter that flipped the field from the EMU 20 to the Jax State eight-yard line. That boomer goes down as a career-best for the junior and is the longest punt by an Eagle since former EMU punter Jake Julien had a 71-yarder versus Army, Oct. 27, 2018. The only two longer punts in EMU history came by way of former Normalites punter Charles Nemeth in 1940 and 1943. Furthermore, he set a career-high in both punts (eight) and punting yards (398). For his effort, he was named MAC Special Teams Player of the Week for the seventh time in his career.

LEADING THE WAY
The 72-yard punt by Mitchell Tomasek at Jax State, Sept. 23, was the longest in the FBS at the time of the kick and, through games played Dec. 4, ranks tied for the fifth-longest in the NCAA this year. All told, 23 players have punted over 70 yards this year in the FBS.

TOMASEK TAKING OFF
Mitchell Tomasek continues to help the Eagles flip the field as the punter has boomed a pair of 70+ yard kicks in 2023 while averaging 45.3 yards per kick, the 15th-best average nationally and second-best in the MAC. Through the Buffalo game, Nov. 21, Tomasek remains one of the three punters in the FBS to record multiple punts of 70-yards or more, including his 72-yarder at Jacksonville State, Sept. 23, and 70-yarder against Ball State, Oct. 7, kicks that rank tied for fifth and tied for seventh, respectively, by distance nationally in 2023. A three-time MAC West Division Special Teams Player of the Week this year, Tomasek’s 45.3 average is a mark that would rank second for a single season behind Jake Julien’s 45.9 average in 2021. Tomasek currently has amassed 4,653 total yards on 110 career punts for an average of 42.3 per boot and is currently ranked 13th all-time for career punting yardage in program history. Tomasek became the 15th EMU player to record 4,000+ punting yards in a career when he totaled 186 punting yards against NIU, Oct. 21. Overall, his career average ranks second, just behind Julien, who averaged 44.0 per punt (2017-21).

SCOUTING SOUTH ALABAMA
A member of the Sun Belt Conference, South Alabama posted a 6-6 overall record and 3-5 mark in league play in 2023 and share a similar result against a common opponent as the Jaguars dropped a 34-30 decision to visiting Central Michigan, Sept. 23, the same Chippewa team that downed EMU one week later in Mount Pleasant, 26-23. The Jaguars’ signature win in 2023 came on the road, Sept. 16, when they handed eventual Big 12 Championship game participant Oklahoma State a 33-7 defeat in Stillwater, Okla.
Individually, USA is averaging 30.9 points per game and is led by the arm of Carter Bradley, who has accumulated 2,660 yards on 221-of-336 passing with 19 touchdowns to seven interceptions. His top target was Caulin Lacy, who made 91 receptions for 1,316 yards and seven scores. On the ground, La’Damian Webb led the way with 186 carries for 1,007 yards and 16 scores.
Defensively, the Jaguars allow just 21.9 points per game and recorded 27.0 sacks. Quentin Wilfawn leads the way with 81 tackles, including 15.0 TFLs and 6.5 sacks. A tackle-by-committee team, USA has six other players with at least 40 tackles recorded. Additionally, the Jaguars have forced 19 turnovers (11 INT, 8 FR).

ON THE HORIZON
The 68 Ventures Bowl marks the end of the 2023 season for the Eagles. Stay up-to-date by following the Eagles on social media and check back to EMUEagles.com for information on spring ball, newcomers to the program, and tickets for the 2024 season.

COURTESY EASTERN MICHIGAN ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS