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YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University football team capped off a historic regular season with a late come-from-behind victory over Central Michigan, today, Nov. 22, at Rynearson Stadium by a final tally of 26-21. With the victory, the Eagles (7-5, 4-4 MAC) finished a season with seven wins for the first time since 1989.

A number of notable accomplishments came with the game against the Chippewas (6-6, 3-5 MAC). To begin, redshirt freshman Paul Fricano (Rochester, N.Y. – Churchville-Chili) broke the EMU record for successful PAT's in a season, picking up a pair today to bring his season total to 40. Additionally, the Green and White had 538 yards of offense, bringing their season total to 5,447, breaking the old record of 5,010 yards set in 2008. Finally, Head Coach Chris Creighton picked up his 10th win at EMU, becoming the 10th coach in program history to accomplish the feat.

On the offensive end, redshirt junior Brogan Roback (Maumee, Ohio – Toledo St. John's Jesuit) had a strong day, throwing for 355 yards and a pair of touchdowns, one of them coming in the final 30 seconds of the game. Junior Sergio Bailey II (La Mesa, Calif. – Olympian (Grossmont College)) was Roback's top target on the day, as he finished with six receptions for 104 yards and the critical late-game touchdown catch. Redshirt freshman Dieuly Aristilde (Boynton Beach, Fla. – Boynton Beach) had a strong day as well, totaling four catches for 92 yards and a score. On the ground, redshirt sophomore Blake Banham (St. Paul, Minn. – Cretin-Derham Hall) had a career day, totaling a career-high 120 yards on the ground with a touchdown, as well as 53 yards receiving.

The Eagle defense was paced once again by redshirt sophomore Kyle Rachwal (Lapeer, Mich. – Lapeer East), who totaled 13 tackles on the day. Redshirt senior Pat O'Connor (Chicago, Ill. – Saint Rita) tallied his eighth sack of the year in the first quarter, forcing a fumble in the process. The end of the game was sealed when redshirt sophomore Jeremiah Harris (Lambertville, Mich. – Bedford Senior) came up with the first interception of his career on the final play of the game.

The Eagles started the game on defense, as strong special teams play put the Chips at the 16-yard line to start the game. Central began the game with a short pass, which turned into a 35-yard gain after a missed EMU tackle. From there, the EMU defense clamped down, putting a stop to the drive after a big sack from O'Connor. After getting the ball back, the Green and White moved the ball to midfield after a strong rushing attack from Banham. Electing to go for it on fourth down, Banham found a gap in the line and carried the ball all the way to the endzone for a 50-yard touchdown, which was his second of the year. Following the PAT, Eastern opened an early 7-0 lead. With that PAT, Fricano became the all-time EMU leader in PAT's made in a season.

The defense came out strong again on the next drive, forcing a Central three-and-out. The punt was downed at the EMU 18-yard line, and the Eagles would come onto the field looking to repeat their first offensive drive. Facing an early third down, junior Antoine Porter (San Francisco, Calif. – Mission (City College of San Francisco)) caught a short pass and fought for 10-yards to move the Green and White to the 36. On second down, Roback rifled a pass down the sideline and junior Johnnie Niupalau (San Mateo, Calif. – San Mateo (College of San Mateo)) was able to keep a foot inbounds for a gain of 25, moving EMU into Chippewa territory. Eastern then took a shot at the endzone, but it was intercepted by CMU, who then returned it to the 19.

Central quickly picked up a first down, but then faced a third-and-long situation. A long pass over the middle looked to be complete, but junior Juan Giraldo (Gilbert, Ariz. – Mesquite (Mesa C.C.)) was able to break it up, bringing the Central punting unit back on. With the offense back on the field, Roback found Aristilde for a first down, as he picked up 11-yards and moved the chains to the 37. Facing some pressure, Roback was then able to escape the pocket and rumble his way for a first down. The Maumee, Ohio native continued to utilize his legs, as he notched another fresh set of downs after a 15-yard gain. The first quarter then came to a close with Eastern leading 7-0.

The second quarter began with EMU receiving a 15-yard penalty, moving them back to the CMU 42. That proved to be no issue, however, as Roback heaved up a long pass to the endzone, and Aristilde caught it in stride for his second touchdown of the year. After another Fricano PAT, the Eagles extended their lead to 14-0.
The Chippewas returned the favor at the beginning of their next drive, picking up 43 yards on a long pass over the middle. CMU then elected to use the ground game, picking up five yards on two rushes. Facing third-and-five, Central moved back to the air attack and picked up a fresh set of downs, putting them at the EMU 19. Eastern's defense then forced the Chips into another third down, but Cooper Rush again completed a short pass for a first down. Central finally bulldozed their way into the endzone for a touchdown, and made the score 14-7 after the PAT.

Roback began the drive with back-to-back completions, moving the chains to the 39. Facing fourth down, Eastern elected to punt, but the Chips ran into the kicker, giving the Eagles a fresh set of downs. Eastern was then able to pick up nine, but had a penalty on the third down play, bringing up third-and-16. EMU was unable to convert, and the punt team came out to try and pin the Chips deep. Redshirt junior Austin Barnes (Fairview Heights, Ill. – O'Fallon) did just that, as his punt was downed at the CMU 12.

After giving up a long drive last time around, the EMU defense held the Chippewas to a quick three-and-out, taking less than a minute off the clock. The Central punt traveled just 38 yards, and the Green and White would begin their drive with solid field position at the EMU 46. On the second play of the drive, redshirt freshman Nigel Kilby (Fort Wayne, Ind. – Northrop) held onto a tough pass over the middle, giving the Eagles a first down across midfield. A penalty set Eastern back 15 yards, but Kilby responded with a 15-yard reception over the middle to put EMU back where they were to begin with. With just 45 seconds left on the clock, Eastern called a timeout facing third-and-four at the CMU 24. Unable to pick up the first down, the field goal unit came on to attempt a 41-yard kick. Fricano's kick went wide right, and the Eagles came up empty on the drive.

Central took over at their own 24 with 34 seconds to work with. After moving to the 28, a Chippewa receiver found a hole in the defense and picked up 35 yards to move to the EMU 37. A penalty against Central put the Chips back five yards, but also took six seconds off the clock. With just seven ticks remaining in the half, CMU utilized a timeout. Central elected to pick up a couple and attempt the long, 55-yard field goal. The kick had the distance, but was just wide, and the two teams went to the locker rooms with EMU ahead 14-7.

EMU received the ball to start the third quarter, beginning their drive from the 25. After being tackled behind the line on the first play, Roback completed back-to-back passes for gains of seven and 11, respectively, moving the chains to the 42. Roback then was sacked on the next series, setting up a third-and-20. Although he had plenty of time to throw, nobody could get open, and the pass fell incomplete. The EMU punt team came on, and Barnes booted a 43-yarder to pin the Chips at their own 25.

CMU began their drive on the ground with consecutive pickups of five. O'Connor narrowly missed a sack on the following play, after which the Chips then picked up nine and crossed midfield. After bulldozing their way for a first down, Central then faced third-and-seven. Cooper Rush fired a pass over the middle, but Central's receiver was unable to hang on, forcing CMU to punt.

Beginning at their own nine, the Eagles quickly picked up 26 yards on a pass to Bailey II. Following a holding penalty that brought up second-and-18, Banham nabbed 10 on a pass from Roback. The next play was very similar, as Banham reeled in a 27-yarder down the sideline. The aerial assault continued with Bailey II catching a pass for 28 yards down the opposite sideline, setting up first-and-goal from the 10. The Green and White were unable to find the endzone, and Fricano came on to attempt a short 23-yarder. His kick sailed through the uprights, and the Eagles took a 10-point lead, 17-7, with 4:28 remaining in the third quarter.

The EMU defense came on strong again, forcing a quick three-and-out. Central's punt sailed 28 yards, and the Green and White would begin their drive near midfield at their own 47. After only picking up one on the first play of the drive, a nice cut from Banham gave him room to pick up 22, moving the chains to the CMU 30. The drive stalled there, however, and Fricano came on once again to attempt a 41-yard field goal. Like the previous drive, his kick was good, pushing the lead to 20-7 in favor of the Green and White.

The Chips concluded the third quarter with back-to-back gains of 16 and 13, respectively, putting them at the EMU 48 to begin the final quarter. A holding penalty against the Eagles gave the Chips 10 free yards, moving them to the 38. After a gain of 10, another EMU penalty tacked on five more yards. The drive kept moving from there, as CMU nabbed another fresh set of downs following a 10-yard rush. With the ball at the five and Central facing third-and-two, the Chippewas dove into the endzone on an outside rush for their second score of the game. With the PAT going through the uprights, Central cut the EMU lead to 20-14.

With a little trickery on the return, junior Jaron Johnson (Moreno Valley, Calif. – Rancho Verde (Mt. San Jacinto College)) picked up 44 yards to begin their drive across midfield at the CMU 46. EMU couldn't move much further, however, and the squad punted the ball away to the 15. After an incomplete pass downfield, the Eagles broke up a short pass to bring up third-and-long. Central's pass attempt was just high, and the Chippewas would punt the ball away near their own endzone.

With 10:09 remaining in the game, Eastern got the ball back at midfield. Like the previous drive, the Eagles couldn't get anything going on the offensive end, and Barnes once again pinned the Chips deep at their own 14. Facing an early third down, Central was able to convert and move to the 34-yard line. Central continued using the pass, nabbing 14 yards down the sideline to get to midfield. The Green and White held the Chips on third-and-short, bringing up fourth-and-one. CMU decided to go for it, and broke through the line for 41 yards to tie the game at 20. With the successful PAT, the Chippewas had their first lead of the game, 21-20, with 2:34 left in the game.

With this likely being their last drive of the game, Eastern began from the 28, picking up five on a short pass to Banham. The next play saw Aristilde bring down a tough, acrobatic catch near the sideline for a gain of 30 to move the chains to the CMU 37. Eastern then advanced the ball five more yards on the next three plays, bringing up fourth-and-six from the Central 33-yard line. EMU called a timeout with 37 seconds left to decide what to do, ultimately bringing the offense back onto the field to try and pick up six more yards. Aristilde hung on to a tough pass over the middle to secure a first down for EMU as the clock continued to tick down.

On the very next play, Roback connected with Bailey II in the corner of the endzone for an incredibly clutch touchdown with 19 seconds left in the game. Being up five, Eastern went for two to try and make it a seven-point game. The two-point attempt fell incomplete, however, and the Eagles held onto a five-point lead, 26-21, with 21 seconds remaining.

After the kick, just 17 ticks of the clock remained for the Chips. Although Central gained 16 yards down the middle on a short pass, the play took 11 seconds off the clock. The game would end with a CMU pass attempt to the end zone being intercepted by Harris, securing the victory for EMU by a final tally of 26-21.

The win marked the end of the regular season for the Eagles, and the squad will now wait upon bowl selection, which will take place, Sunday, Dec. 4. For more information on the possible bowl destinations, please visit www.emueagles.com/bowlbound.