Football: Eagles, Broncos Still Playing Hard
November 14, 2009
A late season rivalry game still has something on the line.
By Kevin Pool
kpool@themacdaily.com
YPSILANTI — Both the Eastern Michigan and Western Michigan football teams have something to play for this weekend.
For the Broncos (4-6, 3-3 MAC), it’s a chance for an outside shot at a bowl game with two winnable games with this week’s matchup and next week’s against Ball State. For the Eagles (0-9, it’s a chance to earn their first victory of the season against an instate rival.
This year has been a challenging experience for first year EMU head coach Ron English, whose team has been torched in the run game allowing 1,173 yards and 11 touchdowns in its last three games against Ball State, Arkansas and Northern Illinois.
Meanwhile, the Eagles offense has been outscored 142-60 in those three contests. Last week against NIU, the Eagles had the ball in the red zone three times to start the game and came away with just two field goals and missed another.
“We’re losing opportunities to gain a lot of momentum by kicking field goals instead of scoring touchdowns,” English said.
The Broncos are coming off of a 49-14 loss to Michigan State which gives them a 0-3 record against teams from Michigan with only EMU left.
WMU may change its game plan to attack the weak Eagle’s run defense. The Broncos average just 107.5 yards a game on the ground, which is 10th in the MAC. Quarterback Tim Hiller’s 262 yards passing a game is second only to Bowling Green’s Tyler Sheehan.
“I think right now our job is to not give up big plays,” English said.
The biggest problem for the Eagles could be the overall health of the team. Last week the Eagles had two lineman miss large portions of the game due to injury, but English said he is waiting until the game starts before he diagnoses the health of his team.
Since the loss of Andy Schmitt in the third game the offensive rhythm has been lacking and teams have stacked up against the run slowing down a hot Dwayne Priest. Priest started the first three games with 301 yards and three TD’s and had since been held to 260 and one TD in the last six.
This Saturday’s matchup is also the final home game for the EMU seniors. This bunch of seniors has just one lone win against WMU and that came at home two years ago when the Eagles took a 19-2 victory.
“We’re going to do everything we can to win this last home game for our seniors,” English said.
The game starts at 1 p.m. in Ypsilanti.
kpool@themacdaily.com
YPSILANTI — Both the Eastern Michigan and Western Michigan football teams have something to play for this weekend.
For the Broncos (4-6, 3-3 MAC), it’s a chance for an outside shot at a bowl game with two winnable games with this week’s matchup and next week’s against Ball State. For the Eagles (0-9, it’s a chance to earn their first victory of the season against an instate rival.
This year has been a challenging experience for first year EMU head coach Ron English, whose team has been torched in the run game allowing 1,173 yards and 11 touchdowns in its last three games against Ball State, Arkansas and Northern Illinois.
Meanwhile, the Eagles offense has been outscored 142-60 in those three contests. Last week against NIU, the Eagles had the ball in the red zone three times to start the game and came away with just two field goals and missed another.
“We’re losing opportunities to gain a lot of momentum by kicking field goals instead of scoring touchdowns,” English said.
The Broncos are coming off of a 49-14 loss to Michigan State which gives them a 0-3 record against teams from Michigan with only EMU left.
WMU may change its game plan to attack the weak Eagle’s run defense. The Broncos average just 107.5 yards a game on the ground, which is 10th in the MAC. Quarterback Tim Hiller’s 262 yards passing a game is second only to Bowling Green’s Tyler Sheehan.
“I think right now our job is to not give up big plays,” English said.
The biggest problem for the Eagles could be the overall health of the team. Last week the Eagles had two lineman miss large portions of the game due to injury, but English said he is waiting until the game starts before he diagnoses the health of his team.
Since the loss of Andy Schmitt in the third game the offensive rhythm has been lacking and teams have stacked up against the run slowing down a hot Dwayne Priest. Priest started the first three games with 301 yards and three TD’s and had since been held to 260 and one TD in the last six.
This Saturday’s matchup is also the final home game for the EMU seniors. This bunch of seniors has just one lone win against WMU and that came at home two years ago when the Eagles took a 19-2 victory.
“We’re going to do everything we can to win this last home game for our seniors,” English said.
The game starts at 1 p.m. in Ypsilanti.