Fantastic, Functional, Forgettable: Eastern Michigan bests BGSU in quiet week

Ypsilanti — Only one team from the state played this week, Eastern Michigan, which won a home game 27-21, outlasting Bowling Green for win No. 3 on the year. 

The result paid off some bye week retooling and refocusing for the Eagles, who have otherwise struggled to put together complete games this season, along with general struggles tackling and defending the run on defense. 

That changed Saturday, as Eastern Michigan played effective, mistake-free football on offense, hemmed in the Falcon offense and delivered as usual — for the most part — on special teams. 

So with #MACtion ahead, it will be an EMU-centric recap of the weekend here. 

And as a note, going forward, the #MACtion games will be included in the following Sunday’s piece, so the Western Michigan and Central Michigan games will get included a week from now. 

Now, to business.

Fantastic

Dontae McMillan: Head coach Chris Creighton said postgame that he thought McMillan looked like his old, pre-injury self throughout the week of practice leading up to Saturday, and that was evident in McMillan’s performance on the field. He took 19 carries for 100 yards and a touchdown, including a 33-yarder that was the longest play of the day for either team. He also caught three passes for 30 yards. 

It’s been a long road for McMillan, who broke his leg early last season, in getting to this point. He’s been one of the most productive backs in the MAC all season, and a major reason the EMU offense has been able to keep the Eagles in games. But he hasn’t looked quite as good as he did on Saturday for quite some time. 

Nick Devereaux: A walk on with the Eagles, Devereaux has taken a long road to where he’s been this year. And that place would be a key receiving option and returner for the Eagles, along with playing as a special teamer, gunning on punts among other duties. But it was his receiving ability that shined on Saturday. 

Along with a first half touchdown, which came on a 3rd and goal play from the 12 where he had to fight from about the 4 yard line to the goal line, Devereaux had a pair of critical third down conversion catches on a drive that the Eagles used to help kill the game. The first, on 3rd and 5, came on a crosser and the next, on 3rd and 12, was maybe the best play of the day, as Devereaux worked the catch point beautifully on a go ball for a chunk gain on the right sideline. He finished with catches for 79 yards and a touchdown, leading the Eagles. 

Eastern Michigan’s defense: A stat that says it all is that the Eagles held the Falcons to 259 total yards, the first time since 2023 that EMU held an opponent under 300 total yards and the first time in a win since November 2022. In a season where the defense has often been the bugaboo, a game like Saturday was more than welcome. The Falcons might be hamstrung at quarterback and did fire the offensive coordinator earlier in the week, but a smothering result is a smothering result. 

And outside of four chunk rushes late in the first half and a few chunk passes from the Falcons as they tried to come back late, the Eagles defense held firm. EMU gave up 3.7 yards per carry against 35 rushing attempts and just 129 receiving yards while coming up with an interception. And the game sealing play was a sack, one of two on the day for EMU. It was an all-around showing on the defensive side of the ball.

Functional

Noah Kim: Kim was not efficient early, missing on some deep passes and burning some other downs throwing the ball away as he evaded pressure. But he started completing more as the game went along and finished with a solid 210 yards and a touchdown while completing 56% of his passes. He added 28 yards on five carries rushing, too. 

It wasn’t his best day, but it’s been the sort of baseline functional quarterback play that Kim has provided all season. He gives his receivers chances, can stay alive when pressure comes and has been deft at avoiding turnovers and putting the ball in harm's way, largely. And Kim has been one of the most productive passers in the MAC this season, because his quieter performances have looked like this, all while avoiding disaster all season long.

Rudy Kessinger and Mitch Tomasek: Kessinger missed a 42-yarder in the first half but hit his other two field goals, including one from 44 yards to push the lead to six points late, which meant the Falcons needed a touchdown to try and tie, or more likely win. He’s been consistent this season for the most part, and more importantly shown an ability to come back from misses and keep making kicks. He’s got range and he’s a weapon that the Eagles have up their sleeve to help make drives end in points.

And Tomasek didn’t have a masterful punting day, largely because he didn’t need to. He averaged 39.3 yards a punt, and placed one inside the 20, with a long of 46. Nothing flashy, nothing remarkable, but reliable and consistent, just what you want out of a punter and just what Tomasek has been in his career for the Eagles — one in which he’s punted for more than five miles worth of yardage.

Forgettable

Eastern Michigan’s kickoff coverage: The Eagles covered four kick returns and gave up an average of 35 yards per return. That is bad. The longest, a 65-yarder by Kaderris Roberts, set up the Falcons’ first touchdown after EMU took a 7-0 lead. In general, it gave BGSU great field position all game, though it didn’t often cash in.

The Eagles also gave up a long return in the final minute of the game with a six point lead, giving Bowling Green solid field position to mount a desperation drive to the end zone. It ultimately fell short, but the Eastern Michigan kickoff coverage team definitely has some tightening up to do.

The timing of Eastern Michigan’s bye: The Eagles looked really good out of the bye, with all three phases working, for the most part, in concert to get EMU closer to a win and BGSU closer to losing. It looked like a team that wouldn’t have lost so many close games along the way. And it’s hard to not wonder if Eastern Michigan could’ve made more out of this season with a chance to rest up and take stock prior to a Week 10 bye. 

It’s not the case, and the schedule is what it is and the Eagles aren’t going to be making excuses. But after playing so well after a week off, it seems EMU is getting the boost it needs just a little too late.