Ohio Week By The Numbers: Pulse check after reality sets in
A bowl game is still on the line for EMU as it gears up for some weeknight MACtion vs. Ohio Wednesday.
As Eastern Michigan enters its final stretch of the regular season, this team finds itself in a familiar place.
In 2022, EMU suffered a fourth-quarter collapse at home to Toledo to all but end its hopes of finally winning a division crown. Last week, yet again, EMU let the Toledo game get by them in the fourth quarter.
Another thumbs down is this: there’s no way out of the hole EMU dug for itself in the MAC standings. With a 5-4 record overall, 2-3 in MAC play, the only thing EMU has to play for at this point is bowl eligibility, then the bowl game itself (assuming EMU makes one). Experiencing that first MAC Championship game appearance since it began being played in Detroit 20 years ago — not winning one, but just getting there — is out of consideration two weeks before Thanksgiving.
Add up the vibes-based math, and that’s a double thumbs-down heading into the portion of the calendar where EMU’s going to have its face shown on ESPN2 for its slice of national exposure.
Eastern’s had a few extra days off since its Toledo game, and the MACtion-scaled bye week probably came at a good time for this team to hit the refresh button on its season. The last three games EMU has played have been very, very busy to say the least. First, an 18-point comeback in the fourth quarter to beat Central Michigan. The next, rally back from an 18-0 halftime deficit and still lose at Akron. Then, in a pivotal Toledo matchup, EMU wasted some obvious scoring opportunities throughout the game to lose by 1 point on a failed 2-point play at the end of the game.
Ah well. Onward Ohio.
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By the Numbers
4 INT
Eastern’s defense has captured 4 interceptions this season — two by linebackers (Ali Abdul-Barr, Luke Murphy), and two by defensive backs (David Carter Jr., Dramarian McNulty). EMU’s defense has allowed 18 touchdowns through the air this year too; Ohio’s passing D has allowed 10 TD to 6 INT this season.
5-3
Is ESPN2 EMU’s lucky cable channel? Eastern Michigan and Ohio will be broadcasted on ESPN2 Wednesday night, and since 2011, EMU has posted a 5-3 record on the channel. ESPN2 was actually the host channel for the EMU-Ohio game in 2021 as well.
EMU ON THE DEUCE
2011- Penn State 34, EMU, 6
2019- EMU 42, Northern Illinois 14
2021- EMU 52, Toledo 49
2021- Ohio 34, EMU 26
2021- EMU 22, Western Michigan 21
2022- EMU 31, Kent State 24
2023- Toledo 49, EMU 23
2023- EMU 24, Buffalo 11
6 wins
Everybody loves the feeling of a sixth win, right? Bowl eligibility is on the line for EMU as Ohio will be playing for something more this week. EMU, which has obviously not been a winner since Creighton’s arrival has turned into a perennial bowl-bound team out of the MAC. A win would give EMU its seventh bowl-eligible season under Creighton and would extend his current streak of bowl trips to four.
EMU is 1- 5 in bowl games under Creighton, and its 2022 Potato Bowl victory over San Jose State snapped a 35-year wait since the school’s last bowl win.
12-20
All-time, EMU trails in the series against Ohio with 12 wins and 20 losses, dating back to 1976. In games at Peden Stadium, the Bobcats have a 9-5-1 record vs. EMU
LAST 5 MATCHUPS
2021- Ohio 34, EMU 26
2017- Ohio 27, EMU 20 (2OT)
2016- EMU 27, Ohio 20
2013- Ohio 56, EMU 28
2012- Ohio 45, EMU 14
Rushes for 20+ yards
Ohio and Western Michigan lead the MAC in big rushes. The two are tied for the MAC’s lead for 17 rushes of 20+ yards, and the Bobcats lead the league in rushes for 10+ yards with 65 — tied for 8th-most nationally with UNLV. EMU has had 11 rushes for 20+ yards and 35 for 10+.
40+ passes per game lately
Can’t say I’m surprised by how things have added up, but EMU has really put more on Cole Snyder’s plate in the pass game since its first bye week after the Kent State game. Snyder’s had at least 40 passing attempts in three of the last four games, and the one time he didn’t hit 40 passes, he got up to 38.
In the first five games of the year, Snyder was a 70% or better passer in two games and had yet to throw an interception on the season. He threw his first INT in 11 months against Miami, and is now up to three picks after the Toledo game.
In the first five games, Snyder was a 65% passer (94/144) for 957 yards (6.6 Y/A) with 4 TD through the air and 2 on the ground. In the last four games, Snyder’s been a 56% passer (97/173) for 1,130 yards (6.5 Y/A) with 8 TD through the air and, again, two on the ground.
500+
Wide receivers Oran Singleton (557, 57 receptions, 2 TD) and Terry Lockett (526, 36 rec., 3 TD) have over 500 receiving yards this season. Markus Allen (377 yards, 28 rec., 2 TD) isn’t too far behind them to join the club.
No EMU receiver had 500 receiving yards last year, but this is the sixth time EMU has had two receivers reach at least 500 yards on the season under Chris Creighton’s watch. If Allen reaches the milestone, then it’ll be the second time three receivers hit the mark on the season.
2022- Tanner Knue (632 yards), Dylan Drummond (525)
2021- Hassan Beydoun (1,015), Drummond (704)
2019- Arthur Jackson III (732), Quian Williams (661), Mathew Sexton (508)
2018- Blake Banham (758), Jackson (592)
2017- Sergio Bailey (878), Antoine Porter (548)
731 combined rushes
EMU and Ohio are two of the most rush-heavy offenses in the MAC with 376 and 355 rush attempts, respectively, this season. In terms of productivity, Ohio’s seen more gains on its ground game with 1,854 yards (5.2 avg.) and 19 TD scored while EMU has 1,318 yards with 15 TD.
EMU’s Delbet Mimms III is the MAC’s leader in rush attempts at 138 with 558 yards (7th in MAC, 4.0 avg.) and 7 scores. Ohio’s Anthony Tyus III is tied for second in the league at 126 carries with 694 yards (2nd in MAC, 5.5 avg.) and 6 TD.
Ohio QB Parker Navarro is the MAC’s top rushing quarterback with 90 carries and 548 yards with 5 TD; his 6.09 rushing average is third-best overall in the league.
Great post.
Not too much relevance, but any time we play in Athens I reminisce about one of my favorite games as an EMU fan: https://youtu.be/c_yncT2pZk4?si=ZRC7nId4-x7JJ-uh