The Sports Xchange
NCAAF Team Report – Eastern Michigan – INSIDE SLANT
It had been more than 11 months since Eastern Michigan last won a football game. When the Eagles lined up to face Army, they figured they had their best shot to end that extensive drought.
The Black Knights had struggled to a 1-5 start, and had to consider their visit to Ypsilanti to play Eastern Michigan as a prime opportunity for a second victory.
A shootout ensued, and the Eagles managed to explode on the offensive side and craft a 48-38 win over Army. Eastern Michigan improved to 1-6, and for a second straight game, scored nearly 50 points.
For head coach Ron English, the Eagles followed the script offensively and that was one of the major reasons they emerged victorious.
After opening the game with a lightning-quick three-play drive that covered almost 70 yards and resulted in a touchdown, the Eagles stopped Army, forced a punt, and then tackled the Army punter inside the 15-yardline to set up another opportunity. Five snaps later, the Eagles were off and running with a 14-0 lead in a game that was less than six minutes old.
“The one thing we wanted to do was get out and get ahead by possessions and we did that,” English said to AnnArbor.com. “We just stayed ahead by two possessions for most of the game and I think that made a big difference.”
Eastern Michigan could not slow down the efficient and methodical Army rushing attack, but the Eagles managed to simply outscore the Black Nights. Eastern Michigan rolled up 577 yards of total offense, passing for 369 and rushing for another 208 yards.
One win does not change the entire picture, but it does appear that an Eastern Michigan team under the direction of sophomore quarterback Tyler Benz is a much more effective offensive power than the Eagles were in the first month of the season when senior quarterback Alex Gillett was calling the shots.
Eastern Michigan managed just 77 points in its first five games of the season, but the Eagles have scored 95 points in their last two games.
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NCAAF Team Report – Eastern Michigan – NOTES, QUOTES
WHAT’S AHEAD: The Eagles jump back into Mid-American Conference play and travel about an hour south to face Bowling Green, one of the stronger teams in the MAC’s East Division. The Falcons featured a balanced offensive attack and the ability to put up some points, so the Eagles will need to practice ball control and get a solid performance from their defense.
–Army entered the game with the top rushing attack in the nation, and gained 412 yards on the ground against the Eagles.
–The Eagles have now scored 85 points in the last six quarters of football after putting up 37 points in the second half last week against Toledo. Eastern scored just 77 points in its first five games.
–The Eagles’ win over Army was their first over a FBS school from outside the Mid-American Conference since September of 2005 when Eastern Michigan defeated Louisiana-Lafayette by a 31-10 score.
KEEP AN EYE ON: The Eagles’ offense has suddenly found a charge of energy that has led to an unexpected streak of efficiency. After struggling and scoring only 21 points in losses to Kent State and Michigan State, Eastern Michigan has scored 95 points in its past two games. Against Army, the Eagles streaked to 577 yards of total offense. Sophomore QB Tyler Benz has been at the helm for both of those offensive explosions. With that kind of offensive firepower, the Eagles have the potential to be competitive with everyone left on the schedule.
LOOKING GOOD: QB Tyler Benz, thrown into the breach several weeks ago against Purdue as the Eagles’ fortunes floundered, has led a remarkable turnaround on the offensive side. The sophomore was on target on 19 of his 31 passes against the Black Knights, for 369 yards and five touchdowns. A confident quarterback will go a long ways as this team tries to salvage the final segment of the season after an 0-6 start.
STILL NEEDS WORK: The Eastern Michigan defense was pounded by Army’s relentless rushing attack, surrendering some 412 yards on the ground to the Black Knights. In their games against Purdue, Kent State, Toledo and Army, the Eagles have allowed 185 points. It puts too much pressure on a still evolving Eastern Michigan offense to expect it to be able to simply outscore people. This defense needs to be more reliable for this team’s fortunes to change.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “It’s huge for the development of this team. What I want is for this team to know that if they keep working hard and continue to improve, that we’ll have success.” — Eastern Michigan coach Ron English in AnnArbor.com on what his team should take from the win over Army.
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NCAAF Team Report – Eastern Michigan – STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
PLAYER NOTES:
–RB Bronson Hill had 252 yards of total offense in the win over Army, including a 41-yard touchdown reception and a 42-yard touchdown run.
–QB Tyler Benz hit on 19-of-31 passes for 369 yards and threw five touchdown passes to five different receivers.
–TE Garrett Hoskins had seven receptions against Army, accumulating a career-high 158 yards. One of Hoskins’ receptions went for a touchdown.
–Sophomore QB Tyler Benz passed for 301 yards against Toledo, and then 369 more yards against Army.
ROSTER REPORT
–PK Dylan Mulder had field goals of 34 and 23 yards in the win over Army.
–RB Bronson Hill made just the second start of his career but did most of the heavy lifting against Army, rushing for 185 yards on 26 carries.
–DB Marlon Pollard, the UCLA transfer who was expected to receive all-conference consideration this season, injured his knee in the opener against Ball State and was lost for the year.
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