YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – With a Homecoming victory in hand, the Eastern Michigan University football team returns to action Saturday, Oct. 14, with a noon kickoff inside 'The Factory' at Rynearson Stadium as the Kent State University Golden Flashes come to town for a Mid-American Conference tilt.
    Eastern (3-3, 1-1 MAC) enters the game on the heels of a 24-10 win over Ball State University, Oct. 7, in the Eagles' Homecoming game while the Golden Flashes sport a record of 1-5 (0-2 MAC) following a 42-17 loss on the road at defending MAC East Division champion Ohio University, Oct. 7.
    The game will be broadcast live on CBS Sports Network (AT&T U-Verse 643, DIRECTV 221, DISH Network 158, Xfinity 734). As always, fans can hear the game for free on WEMU (89.1 FM) or the Varsity Network app with veteran broadcasters Tom Helmer and Rob Rubick calling the action from the press box.

QUICK HITTERS
» Joe Sparacio was named the Mid-American Conference's West Division Defensive Player of the Week, Oct. 9. Against Ball State, he had a team-high nine tackles and added a third-down sack to force a punt.
» Head Coach Chris Creighton is just one win away from tying Fred Trosko (1952-64), for the number two spot at Eastern Michigan with 50. Creighton is one of just eight active FBS head coaches with 180+ career victories.
» The Eagles have now won four straight games at home for the second time in the Creighton era. All told, EMU's home winning streak is tied for the 22nd-longest active mark in the FBS.
» Eastern has won or tied (35 wins, 7 ties) the turnover battle in 42 of its last 45 victories.
» Through six games this year, the Eagles are allowing 2.8 points in the first quarter (32nd in the FBS) and 10.0 in the first half (36th nationally). Additionally, Eastern is allowing just 10.3 points in the second-half of play (32nd in the FBS).
» With 42 yards on the ground against Ball State, Oct. 7, Samson Evans drew closer to reaching the 2,000-yard plateau as the back brought his career total to 1,968 yards, leaving him just 32 yards from the milestone.
» EMU is one of six teams nationally that is averaging under 300 yards per contest and is one of three that have a record of .500 or better, joining both Utah (4-1) and Iowa (5-1).
Defensive Coordinator Ben Needham and Defensive Ends Coach Bo Alexander both have ties to the Golden Flashes. Before arriving to Ypsilanti, Needham spent five years (2013-17) on KSU's coaching staff. Meanwhile, Flowers appeared in 40 career games as a linebacker for Kent State (2014-17) with 114 tackles and 19.5 tackles for loss.
» EMU next returns home Saturday, Oct. 28, to host instate rival Western Michigan University. At the game, the football program will  honor those who have and are currently serving in our armed forces both here and abroad. For tickets, call 734.487.3669 or visit EMUEagles.com/tickets.

MITTEN MADE
The game with Kent State, Oct. 14, will be a day designed to showcase the pride of Michigan and its residents as Mitten Made will focus on the best aspects of the state and highlight local businesses and people that make us proud to be from Michigan. BeerFest and FallFest return to Rynearson Stadium this season and fans will be able to join in the fun for both of these events.

PROTECTING 'THE FACTORY'
Following their 24-10 win over Ball State, Oct. 7, and dating back to a Nov. 25, 2022, win over visiting Central Michigan, the Eagles have now won four straight games at home for the second time in the Chris Creighton era.  
The only other four-game home winning streak since the 10th-year head coach took over occurred from Dec. 12, 2020-Oct. 9, 2021. The Eagles will look to make it five in a row when the Golden Flashes of Kent State come to town this week. All told, EMU's home winning streak is tied for the 22nd-longest active mark in the FBS.

PITTANCE OF POINTS
Through six games this season, the Eagles have allowed 122 points to their foes, an average of 20.3 points per game, which ranks 37th nationally and third in the MAC. Since it began play in the MAC in the 1976 season, Eastern has allowed 125 points or fewer through six games just seven times, including the 1977 (45), 1979 (120), 1986 (119), 1987 (122), 1989 (104), and 2017 (119) seasons.

BEND, DON'T BREAK
Through the first half of the season (six games), the Eastern defense has allowed 396.5 yards per game, which ranks 92nd in the FBS and eighth in the MAC. Despite the yardage, opponents have not been able to turn those yards into points as the Eagles rank 37th nationally in both points scored (20.3) and red zone defense (76.2 percent), values that rank the team third and fourth, respectively, in the MAC. Opponents have found their way into the red zone 21 times in 2023 but managed to score just 16 times, including only 10 touchdowns.

TOUGH OUT THE GATE
The Eastern defense stood tall once again as the Eagles held visiting Ball State to just 10 points, Oct. 7, including not allowing a single point to be scored in the second half. The defense, which last pitched a one-half shutout Sept. 10, 2022, at Louisiana with no points allowed in the first half, allowed one field goal in the first quarter and one touchdown in the second for all the Cardinals would accumulate. Through six games this year, the Eagles are allowing 2.8 points in the first quarter (32nd in the FBS)and 10.0 in the first half (36th nationally). Additionally, Eastern is allowing just 10.3 points in the second half of play (32nd in the FBS).

DON'T GO FOR IT
Opponents have gone for it on fourth down against the Eagles' defense 15 times this year and converted just four times, a success rate of 26.7 percent, which ranks eighth nationally and first in the MAC. Eastern, who stopped Ball State on all three of its fourth-down attempts, Oct. 7, is one of 18 teams nationally that have seen its opponents go for it on fourth down 15 or more times in 2023 and holds the best defensive stoppage rate with the three closest teams on the list - Syracuse, Tennessee, and TCU - allowing a 33.3 percent conversion rate.

WIN THE TURNOVER BATTLE
Eastern has won or tied (35 wins, 7 ties) the turnover battle in 42 of its last 45 victories under Head Coach Chris Creighton. The trend held in EMU's latest win, a 24-10 decision over Ball State, Oct. 7. EMU forced two Cardinal turnovers and did not give the ball away.

ALONE AT THE TOP
With 12:57 remaining in the second quarter against Ball State, Oct. 7, Samson Evans pushed his way into the end zone from two-yards out to not only stake the Eagles to a 10-3 lead, but also made history as he scored his program-record 32nd touchdown. Evans, who has scored all 32 of his touchdowns at EMU on the ground, broke a tie with former Huron great Gary Patton (1984-87), who held the all-time scoring mark for nearly 36 years. Evans already owns the all-time rushing touchdowns record after he surpassed the previous mark of 26 held by both Patton and Anthony Sherrell (2002-05) last season.

SAMSON 2K
With 42 yards on the ground against Ball State, Oct. 7, Samson Evans drew closer to reaching the 2,000-yard plateau as the back brought his career total to 1,968 yards, leaving him just 32 yards from the milestone. Currently ranked 14th on the program's all-time rushing ledger, Evans would become just the 12th player in program history to reach 2,000 yards when he accomplishes the feat.

ACTIVELY SCORING
Samson Evans ranks highly among touchdowns scored by active FBS players as the Eastern running back currently fifth nationally for rushing touchdowns (32) and sits seventh for overall touchdowns scored (32). On the ground, Evans is behind Blake Corum of Michigan (41), Garrett Shrader of Syracuse (35), Rasheen Ali of Marshall (33), and Bo Nix of Oregon (33). Evans is currently one of only 11 FBS players with 30+ touchdowns scored on the all-time active list and one of just two in the MAC, joining Marquez Cooper of Ball State, who has 30.

SMALL BUT MIGHTY
Through six games this year, the Eagles' offense is averaging 259.0 yards of total offense. One of six teams nationally that is averaging under 300 yards per contest, Eastern is one of three that have a record of .500 or better, joining both Utah (4-1) and Iowa (5-1). Additionally, of those six teams, EMU joins Iowa and Nevada as the only teams that have not recorded 400+ yards of total offense in a game this season.

DYNAMIC DUO
Joe Sparacio and Chase Kline continue to be one of the best tackling tandems in the nation as the duo rank fifth and sixth, respectively, in tackles per game average nationally. Sparacio ranks fifth in the FBS and first in the MAC with 11.5 tackles per game while Kline's 11.0 average ranks sixth nationally and second in the league. The two are one of three tandems nationally to be ranked in the top 20 in the FBS, including Old Dominion and Mississippi State, while the Eagle and Monarch duos are the only two ranked in the top 10.

ANOTHER NEARING 200
In the game at Central Michigan, Sept. 30, Joe Sparacio surpassed 200 career tackles and now sits at 214, including 157 that he has recorded while playing for the Eagles. His running mate, Chase Kline is nearing the 200-tackle threshold as he needs just one more. Kline has accumulated 199 tackles, including 147 for the Eagles and 52 while playing for Michigan State.

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 35th nationally in turnover margin, which also ranks second in the MAC at 0.5. Eastern added one fumble recovered and one interception against Ball State, Oct. 7, to bring its totals to three and six, respectively. The six picks rank 34th nationally and third in the MAC.

PICKING POCKETS
For the second game in a row, the Eagles' defense recorded an interception and, for the second game in a row, played a form of the tip drill to perfection. After Joe Sparacio tipped a Central Michigan pass into the air, Sept. 30, Quentavius Scandrett plucked the ball out of the air for his second pick of the year. One week later, Oct. 7, the defense recorded another interception, which came on Ball State's final offensive play of the game. Against the Cardinals, the ball was thrown to a BSU receiver who was not able to secure the catch before Justin Jefferson put his hat on the ball and sent it flying toward Tim Grant-Randall, who caught the ball for his first career interception.    The Eagles have six picks on the year with Bennett Walker leading the way with 0.5 interceptions per game (18th nationally) and Scandrett at 0.3 (66th).

T.I.M GETS HIS FIRST I.N.T
With the aid of linebacker Justin Jefferson, defensive lineman Tim Grant-Randall captured the first interception of his career to secure the EMU win. Late in the fourth quarter, a Ball State receiver made a catch, turned, and was greeted by Jefferson, who dislodged the ball for Grant-Randall to pluck from the sky. Grant-Randall's fourth quarter interception marks the first from an EMU defensive lineman since Grant Trueman snagged one on the line last season in Eastern's 38-19 win over Central Michigan, Nov. 25.

JEFFERSON NEARS THE TOP
Justin Jefferson continues to be a disruptive player for the Eagles as his two fumble recoveries in 2023 rank third nationally and first in the MAC. He nearly added another on the final play of the game against Ball State, Oct. 7, when put a big hit on a Cardinal receiver that dislodged the ball and sent it flying toward Tim Grant-Randall, who recorded his first career interception. Through six games, Jefferson is one of just 28 players nationally with multiple fumble recoveries this season.

SPARACIO HONORED BY MAC
Joe Sparacio was named the MAC West Division Defensive Player of the Week, Oct. 9. Against BSU, he had a team-high nine tackles and added a third-down sack to force a punt.

SHINING STAR
Kempton Shine continues his march towards becoming the EMU all-time leader for passes defended in a career.   He added his 22nd all-time PBU against Ball State, Oct. 7.
The school record is 28 held by DaQuan Pace (2013-16).

GOMEZ GOES DEEP... AGAIN
Jesús Gómez continues to hit from long range as the lefty placekicker connected on a 53-yard field goal against Ball State, Oct. 7, marking the second week in a row he has hit from at least 53 yards after banging home a 55-yarder at Central Michigan, Sept. 30. With his scoring kick against the Cardinals, Gómez is now one of five kickers nationally to have recorded two 50+ field goals this year, joining Alex Hale (Oklahoma State), Griffin Kell (TCU), John Hoyland (Wyoming), and Spencer Shrader (Notre Dame) on the ledger. There have been 33 total field goals of 53-yards or further in 2023 with Gomez' kicks of 55 yards and 53 yards ranking tied for 11th and tied for 21st, respectively.

LONG RANGE LEFTY
Jesús Gómez is making 50+ yard field goals a standard occurrence as he connected on a 53-yarder at home against Ball State, Oct. 7. The second time he has connected from 50+ against the Cardinals after tying the school record with a 55-yarder last year in Muncie, Oct. 22, 2022, Gómez now has connected on two, 50-yarders in back-to-back years after also hitting for 55 yards at Central Michigan, Sept. 30. He now sits tied with Chad Ryland (2018-21) for the most 50+ yard field goals in program history as the current New England Patriot hit four during his time in Ypsilanti. Three other EMU kickers rank third with two makes from distance, including Dylan Mulder (2012-15), Don Vesling (1984-85), and Andrew Wellock (2003-06).

TOMASEK TAKING OFF
Mitchell Tomasek continues to boom his punts and added another punt of 70+ yards to his resume as he belted one 70 yards against Ball State, Oct. 7. A two-time MAC West Division Special Teams Player of the Week honoree in 2023, Tomasek is the only player in the FBS with multiple punts of 70 yards or more after he put one out 72 yards at Jacksonville State, Sept. 23. This punt against the Gamecocks ranks as the third-longest in the national this year while his 70-yard boot against Ball State ranks tied for eighth. Overall, Tomasek is averaging 45.8 yards per punt, which ranks 15th nationally and second in the MAC, a mark that would rank second for a single season behind Jake Julien's 45.9 average in 2021. Tomasek currently has amassed 3,533 total yards on 79 career punts for an average of 44.7 per boot. He is currently ranked 17th all-time for career punting yardage in program history and his career average ranks first, just ahead of Julien, who averaged 44.0 per punt (2017-21).

HAPPY RETURNS
In the opening game of the season at home against Howard, Sept. 1, the Eagles returned five kick-offs for 224 yards and two scores, including a 96-yard return from Hamze El-Zayat and an 84-yard run from Jaylon Jackson. In the five games played since, opponents have been trying to keep the ball away from the returners as EMU has just six returns for 75 yards in those five contests. Despite the lack of return chances, Eastern still leads the MAC and ranks third nationally with an average 33.2 yards per return while adding 14.5 yards per punt return, which ranks 17th nationally and first in the league. Individually, El-Zayat and Jackson remain as the only teammates to return kicks for a touchdown this season with only 17 total players running a kick back for a score in 2023.

TRENDING UP
Austin Smith has started to find his groove at quarterback in the last two games as he has connected on 70.4 percent of his passes, going 38-of-54 for 378 yards, three touchdowns, and zero interceptions in games at Central Michigan, Sept. 30, and Ball State, Oct. 7. Averaging 189 passing yards in his last two games, Smith entered the game at CMU connecting on 55.3 percent of passes (47-of-85) for 456 yards (114 per game average) while throwing two touchdowns and being intercepted three times.

DOUBLE UP
Austin Smith finished the game with Ball State, Oct. 7, with two passing touchdowns. It marked the fifth time in his career he has accounted for a pair of scores and his second of the season after throwing for one and running one in last week, Sept. 30, at Central Michigan. His two scores through the air against the Cardinals marked the first time this year and the third time in his career he has thrown for multiple scores in the same game. He accomplished the feat twice last year, including at home against UMass, Oct. 1, 2022, and at Akron, Nov. 8, 2022.

MITCHELL MAKING STRIDES
For the fourth game in a row, JB Mitchell III posted career numbers as he hauled in seven passes for 71 yards with one touchdown. Entering the game, his career best came at Central Michigan, Sept. 30, when he grabbed five passes for 48 yards. At the time, it marked the third game in a row in which the receiver has improved upon his career numbers in receptions. After recording one grab for 16 yards in the opener against Howard, Sept. 1, Mitchell pulled in two passes for 16 yards at home against UMass, Sept. 16. He followed one game later at Jacksonville State, Sept. 23, with three grabs and 23 yards before finishing his most recent game with five catches and 48 yards. Mitchell, who is averaging 29.0 yards per game, ranks second on the team in receptions (18) and yards (174) and is third in scoring with one touchdown.

IRON MAN
Brian Dooley is closing in on the top spot for games started in program history as the offensive lineman has now started 53-of-55 games he has played for the Eagles. Only the second player to reach 50 career starts, Dooley is currently three shy of tying Sidy Sow (2018-22) for the top spot for both starts (55) and games played (57). Should Dooley continue to start in each coming game, he would tie Sow's record at home against Western Michigan, Oct. 28, and break the record one game later, at Toledo, Nov. 8.

TARGETING TANNER
Tanner Knue caught three passes for 23 yards against Ball State, Oct. 7, to run his streak to 30 games in a row with at least one reception. He is one of 15 current active players in the FBS with a streak of at least 30 games in a row with at least one catch and is tied for the 14th-longest active streak. Knue is one of two MAC players on the ledger with Odieu Hiliare of Bowling Green also on the list.

RISING IN THE RANKINGS
With 22 receptions and 210 yards in 2023, Tanner Knue has brought his career totals to 129 grabs and 1,597 yards, respectively, during his time to rise up two more charts in program history. His 129 catches ranks as the eighth-most in program history and is six grabs away from moving into sixth. On the yardage side of things, he currently ranks 10th all-time and is 403 yards shy of becoming the sixth EMU player to reach 2,000 career receiving yards.

CREIGHTON CLOSING IN ON NO. 2
With his third win of the season, Chris Creighton secured his 49th win at Eastern. Currently third in all-time wins, Creighton is just one win away from tying Fred Trosko (1952-64), for the number two spot with 50.

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 9-of-18 (50%) games played donning the block E. 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, where Jackson totaled 127 yards in the tilt against the Gamecocks, Nov. 13, 2021.

IN THE SERIES: KENT STATE
Eastern trails Kent State, 15-19, in the all-time series with the series tied at 8-8 when the Eagles play host to the Golden Flashes. Eastern won the last meeting, a 31-24 decision at Kent State, Nov. 16, 2022, a win that snapped a two-game losing streak to KSU. Although the series is tied in Ypsilanti, EMU will be looking to halt a three-game losing streak when hosting the Golden Flashes with the last home win in the series coming Oct. 1, 2005, in a 27-20 decision. Overall, EMU is 3-7 in the last 10 meetings with Kent State after going 7-3 in the previous 10.

LAST TIME: KENT STATE
The Eagles used a dominant second half to lift itself to a 31-24, Mid-American Conference cross divisional victory over Kent State, Nov. 16, 2022, inside Dix Stadium. Down 17-7 at half, Eastern used a 24-0 second-half spurt to take control of the game and seal the victory. The Eagles were led by an incredible passing effort from senior quarterback Taylor Powell, who tossed for a career-high 315 yards on 30-of-39 passing and three touchdowns. He was aided by a 94-yard rushing effort from Samson Evans.  Defensively, Jose Ramirez finished with a team-high seven tackles, including 3.5 tackles-for-loss.

LAST TIME IN YPSI
Xavier Williams, Dustin Crum and Will Matthews combined to rush for 204 yards and three touchdowns as Kent State held off EMU, 34-26, Nov. 29, 2019.
    Williams ran for 79 yards and a TD on 12 carries, Matthews totaled 74 yards on 14 totes, while Crum had 13 carries for 51 yards and two scores for the Golden Flashes. Crum also completed 17-of-23 passes for 197 yards.
    Kent State took a 24-14 lead into halftime and the Golden Flashes quickly made it a 17-point advantage when Jamal Parker returned the opening kickoff of the second half 96 yards for a score.
    Mike Glass III finished 29-of-37 passing for 386 yards and three touchdowns, but he also threw two interceptions. Glass connected with Line Latu for a 30-yard score in the third quarter and hit Bryson Cannon for a six-yard TD midway through the fourth quarter to get the Eagles within 31-26. Arthur Jackson III had four catches for 129 yards for Eastern Michigan, while Latu caught nine passes for 108 yards.

CLOSE CONNECTIONS
Defensive Coordinator Ben Needham and Defensive Ends Coach Bo Alexander both have ties to the Golden Flashes. Before arriving to Ypsilanti, Needham spent five years (2013-17) on KSU's coaching staff, serving as the team's associate head coach and special teams coordinator in 2017. Meanwhile, Flowers appeared in 40 career games as a linebacker for Kent State (2014-17) with 114 tackles, 19.5 tackles for loss, and 5.5 sacks. As a senior, he paced the team in tackles for loss (10) and finished third with 62 total stops.

ON THE HORIZON
Eastern returns to the road next week as the Eagles will venture to DeKalb, Ill., to take on the Huskies of Northern Illinois University. Game time is set for 3:30 p.m. ET (2:30 p.m. CT) on ESPN+ . Tom Helmer and Rob Rubick will have the call live on WEMU (89.1 FM) and the Varsity Network app.