Image via Eastern Michigan Athletics
FINAL SCORE: EMU 38, UMASS 14
It’s not every week a Mid-American Conference team sells all of its tickets for a league game. Especially if that league game is Eastern Michigan at UMass.
But in front of 17,000 fans, EMU spoiled the biggest live event in modern UMass football history. By the third quarter, EMU convinced those fans to leave and find something better to do with their time,.
Eastern Michigan (3-3, 2-0 MAC) ripped the beating heart right out of UMass’ body and won the football game 38-14.
The 24-point victory is EMU’s biggest league victory since 2024, when it took down Kent State by 19 (52-33), and is the team’s fifth-straight win in the series.
UMass (4-1, 1-1 MAC), which entered the game undefeated through four games, was handed its first loss of the season by EMU. The last time EMU handed a MAC team its first loss of the season this deep into the season was 1988, when EMU beat 5-0 Ball State.
For the first time since 2005, EMU has a 2-0 start in MAC play.
Here’s how Saturday’s action unfolded:
SCORING SUMMARIES
7-0, EMU (1Q, 9:58) — Kozy Isaac grabs 27-yarder from Noah Kim
Eastern Michigan scored three touchdowns on its opening drive, but only the third one counted.
First, Braydon Bennett ripped off a 56-yard run through the middle of UMass’s defense, but a holding call against wide receiver Kozy Isaac wiped the monster score away.
Later, Amareon Blue had a 20-yard run, untouched, be called back due to a holding call against tight end Joshua Long.
The third was so close to being taken away, too. Two plays after Blue’s run was reversed, Noah Kim faked a run to his right and lofted a pass over the heads of UMass defenders to Isaac, who slipped up the right sideline and made the catch and score. The game officials double-checked to see if Isaac’s right foot stepped out of bounds before he made the catch, but there wasn’t enough clear video proof to overturn his score.
14-0, EMU (1Q, 1:55) — Braydon Bennett forces his way in
A very chippy drive put EMU in an early hole, but UMass responded with a pair of beneficial penalties to help put EMU in the end zone again.
Benson Prosper was flagged for an unsportsmanlike penalty after he came through with a contested catch for a first down.
The next play: Prosper’s targeted pass was knocked incomplete on third down, but an unsportsmanlike call against the defender guarding him gave EMU a new set of downs.
Then EMU had another set of downs with a holding call against the cornerback who covered Isaac. Helpful!
A Blue run set up EMU near the goal line, which was stonewalled three times by the UMass defense before Bennett wiggled his way through the trenches for his second score of the season.
On first and goal, Bennett was stopped after he took a direct snap from the Wildcat package.
Second down, Kim was sent back on a QB sneak try.
Third down, Bennett took a handoff from a Pistol formation and was stuffed again by the UMass front.
After a break at the 2:00 timeout, Bennett took another handoff, but was able to wiggle his way behind the rear of left guard Guzzy Kayed for a score, his second of the year.
14-7, EMU (2Q, 0:28) — UMass catches a break, Pop Watson connects with TE
Big response by UMass, but not without some help from dirty laundry.
A penalty against EMU defensive lineman Warren-Stevens Tayou for continuing to play after his helmet was knocked off (but no penalty against UMass for the helmet being knocked off) gave UMass a fresh set of downs and moved the home team up from its own 46 to EMU’s 39-yard line.
Two plays later, getting away from the pressure from Quincy Byas again, Watson rolled to his right until he found tight end Max Dowling open for a completed pass, and he scampered through the EMU defense and fought his way into the goal line for a score before halftime.
21-7, EMU (3Q, 10:10) — Joshua Long wide open on third and goal
Thanks to a pair of big catches from Harold Mack (29 yards) and Joey Mattord (21 yards) and a defensive pass interference on a throw to Dalin Wilkins (additional 15), EMU got to the goal line and finished with a pass to its tight end.
Mattord was stuffed on a pair of run calls, then EMU went to the air on third down.
Long was wide open after he faked as a run blocker and crossed over the middle
28-7, EMU (3Q, 9:46) — Amareon Blue TD, from 8 yards out, is good this time
Unlike the run called back on EMU’s opening possession, Blue’s touchdown run in the third quarter stood out.
EMU’s offense took the field nine yards away from the end zone thanks to a long interception return by Caleb Dobbs.
35-7, EMU (4Q, 14:13) — Joey Mattord scores his first TD of season
It was a meatgrinder of a drive until Mattord ran away from UMass defenders for 25 yards and a score.
EMU’s drive started on its own 39-yard line after its defense wiped UMass off the field with a turnover on downs. Dobbs, who intercepted a pass from Watson earlier in the drive, had the drive-ending pass breakup.
38-7, EMU (4Q, 4:07) — Kessinger sinks 28-yard putt
With the game already way out of reach, EMU’s 13-play, 64-yard drive finished in the red zone with a 3-pointer from its kicker.
Rudy Kessinger, who wasn’t able to try a field goal from 50-some yards out before the first half’s end, got to try a 28-yarder inside the right hash mark.
Kessinger’s kick was good and was his fifth make of the year.
38-7, EMU (4Q, 4:07) — UMass’ RB Curtis Kimmons IV from 3 yards out
A late touchdown avoided EMU’s first 31-point victory in five years. EMU beat Bowling Green by 31 that year, and UMass cut into EMU’s lead with one minute left in the game to lose by 24 instead.
The 75-yard drive was largely aided by a 27-yard throw from Watson and a 21-yard run by Curtis Kimmons IV. Kimmons chased that with a short score on the next play.
KEY PLAYS, MOMENTS, TURNOVERS
DEFENSE, YET AGAIN, STARTS STRONG
EMU’s defense continues to be a tone-setter at the very beginning of games. UMass’s offense gained one first down on the opening possession of the game, then Davion Williams, making his second straight start in front of an injured Jason Marshall, broke up a Pop Watson pass on third down to force UMass into an early punt.
Through the first six games of the year, EMU’s defense has limited opposing offenses to zero points and only two first downs on opening drives.
Opposing offenses’ opening drives:
Sacramento State: 3 plays, 6 yards, punt
San Jose State: 3 plays, 4 yards, punt
Michigan State: 3 plays, 9 yards, punt
Wisconsin: 7 plays, 42 yards, 2 first downs, turnover on downs
Lindenwood: 3 plays, 3 yards, punt
UMass: 4 plays, 21 yards, 1 first down, punt
DAVION WILLIAMS FORCES FIRST QUARTER FUMBLE
Davion Williams ended UMass’ first two drives with a third-down pass breakup two minutes into the game, then he punched the ball free for a fumble late in the first quarter.
UMass’ offense drove 73 yards into the red zone, but the Minutemen burned a second timeout when the offense had some confusion with its personnel. UMass running back Elijah Faulkner ran the ball up the middle and was met by Williams and Elgin McDuffey; Williams punched the ball free, and Hector Gonzalez was able to fall on the ball.
NO FIELD GOAL TRY BEFORE HALF
EMU wanted to give Kessinger a last-second try at a career-long field goal, but a 10-second runoff put both teams into the locker room for a halftime break instead.
After UMass scored, EMU tried to move the ball downfield in under 30 seconds.
After a first down throw, an EMU timeout was called with eight seconds remaining. Kim connected with Long to the right sideline with four seconds left, but the officials reviewed the spot of the play and determined that Long’s knee was down in bounds before he got his body out of bounds, which forced a 10-second runoff on the clock.
So, no 55-yard field goal try for the kicker, nor a 10-point lead at the break. EMU was to receive the second-half kickoff.
BENSON PROSPER EJECTED
An unsportsmanlike penalty in the first half, plus a second just two minutes into the next, and EMU’s stud slot receiver had to watch the rest of the game from the sideline.
CALEB DOBBS SECOND INT OF YEAR
EMU feared UMass’ quarterback would be at his best on broken pass plays, but Caleb Dobbs made him pay on an off-script play in the third quarter.
Down by 14, Watson scrambled on a first-down pass play and threw across his body in the middle of the field, but it was a very poor choice. Dobbs was there to steal the pass and returned it 31 yards to the UMass 9-yard line. EMU’s offense got into the end zone just two plays later to take a 21-point lead.
INJURIES
Ruled out, of note: WR Nick Devereaux, LB Barry Manning, DB Jaivian Norman, DB Jason Marshall, DB Caleb Coley, OL Richardo Wourman, OL Joshua Anderson, OL Samuel Adjin, OL Cole Dellinger
Questionable, played: OL Elijha Payne
Nick Devereaux, as expected, was out with an injury for his second week, but Isaac returned to action this week.
Up front at offensive line, right guard Cole Dellinger missed his third straight game and freshman right tackle Samuel Adjin missed his second game. Elijha Payne, listed as questionable before the game, made his first start at right tackle.
At defensive back, Daivion Williams made his second straight start of the year with Jason Marshall still out with injury.
NEXT GAME
Next week, EMU has another road MAC contest as it heads to Akron (1-4, 0-1 MAC), which lost at Central Michigan (3-2, 1-0 MAC) today, 41-17.
