2021 Eastern Michigan Eagles football team

The 2021 Eastern Michigan Eagles football team represented Eastern Michigan University during the 2021 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Eagles were led by eighth-year head coach Chris Creighton and played their home games at Rynearson Stadium in Ypsilanti, Michigan. They competed as members of the West Division of the Mid-American Conference (MAC). For the third time in the past six seasons (2016, 2018), the Eagles clinched a winning record, becoming the sixth Eagle team to reach seven wins.

2021 Eastern Michigan Eagles football
LendingTree Bowl, L 20–56 vs. Liberty
Conference	Mid-American Conference
Division	West Division
Record	7–6 (4–4 MAC)
Head coach	Chris Creighton (8th season)
Offensive scheme	Multiple
Defensive coordinator	Neal Neathery (6th season)
Base defense	4–2–5
Home stadium	Rynearson Stadium
Seasons ← 2020 2022 →

2021 Mid-American Conference football standings

v t e	Conf.							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
East Division
Kent State xy		6	–	2					7	–	7
Miami (OH)		5	–	3					7	–	6
Ohio		3	–	5					3	–	9
Bowling Green		2	–	6					4	–	8
Buffalo		2	–	6					4	–	8
Akron		1	–	7					2	–	10
West Division
Northern Illinois xy$		6	–	2					9	–	5
Central Michigan x		6	–	2					9	–	4
Toledo		5	–	3					7	–	6
Ball State		4	–	4					6	–	7
Eastern Michigan		4	–	4					7	–	6
Western Michigan		4	–	4					8	–	5
Championship: Northern Illinois 41, Kent State 23
$ – Conference champion x – Division champion/co-champions y – Championship game participant

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
September 3	7:00 p.m.	Saint Francis (PA)*	Rynearson Stadium Ypsilanti, MI	ESPN3	W 35–15	16,461
September 11	7:00 p.m.	at No. 18 Wisconsin*	Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI	FS1	L 7–34	70,967
September 18	3:30 p.m.	at UMass*	Warren McGuirk Alumni Stadium Hadley, MA	NESN+	W 42–28	7,012
September 25	2:00 p.m.	Texas State*	Rynearson Stadium Ypsilanti, MI	ESPN+	W 59–21	14,253
October 2	2:00 p.m.	at Northern Illinois	Huskie Stadium DeKalb, IL	ESPN+	L 20–27	10,034
October 9	3:30 p.m.	Miami (OH)	Rynearson Stadium Ypsilanti, MI	ESPN+	W 13–12	15,664
October 16	2:00 p.m.	Ball State	Rynearson Stadium Ypsilanti, MI	ESPN+	L 31–38	15,258
October 23	12:00 p.m.	at Bowling Green	Doyt Perry Stadium Bowling Green, OH	ESPN+	W 55–24	10,875
November 2	7:30 p.m.	at Toledo	Glass Bowl Toledo, OH	ESPN2	W 52–49	14,997
November 9	8:00 p.m.	Ohio	Rynearson Stadium Ypsilanti, MI	ESPN2	L 26–34	13,636
November 16	7:30 p.m.	Western Michigan	Rynearson Stadium Ypsilanti, MI (Michigan MAC Trophy)	ESPN2	W 22–21	15,272
November 26	12:00 p.m.	at Central Michigan	Kelly/Shorts Stadium Mount Pleasant, MI (rivalry, Michigan MAC Trophy)	ESPNU	L 10–31	7,708
December 18	5:45 p.m.	vs. Liberty*	Hancock Whitney Stadium Mobile, AL (LendingTree Bowl)	ESPN	L 20–56	15,186
*Non-conference game Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game All times are in Eastern time

^[1]

Game summaries

Saint Francis (PA)

See also: 2021 Saint Francis Red Flash football team

at No. 18 (FBS) Wisconsin

See also: 2021 Wisconsin Badgers football team

Eastern Michigan vs. Wisconsin – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Eagles	0	0	0	7	7
No. 18 Badgers	7	17	3	7	34

at Camp Randall Stadium, Madison, Wisconsin

• Date: September 11, 2021
• Game time: 7:00 p.m. EST
• Game weather: 82 °F (28 °C); Sunny; Wind at SW3 MPH
• Game attendance: 70,967
• Referee: Reggie Smith
• TV announcers (FS1): Dan Hellie (play-by-play) and Robert Smith (analyst)

Game information

First quarter WISC – Chez Mellusi 6-yard TD run, Collin Larsh kick, 4:39 (Wisconsin, 7–0) Second quarter WISC – Collin Larsh 33-yard field goal, 13:39 (Wisconsin, 10–0) WISC – Jalen Berger 6-yard TD run, Collin Larsh kick, 7:02 (Wisconsin, 17–0) WISC – Isaac Guerendo 82-yard TD run, Collin Larsh kick, 4:40 (Wisconsin, 24–0) Third quarter WISC – Larsh, 39-yard field goal, 8:02 (Wisconsin, 27–0) Fourth quarter EMU – Chase Wolf pass intercepted for a TD, Chad Ryland kick, 9:38 (Wisconsin, 27–7) WISC – Braelon Allen 1-yard TD run, Collin Larsh kick, 4:16 (Wisconsin, 34–7) Top passers EMU – Preston Hutchinson – 6/13, 53 yards, INT WISC – Graham Mertz – 14/17, 141 yards Top rushers EMU – Preston Hutchinson – 3 rushes, 12 yards WISC – Chez Mellusi – 20 rushes, 144 yards, TD Top receivers EMU – Zach Westmoreland – 2 receptions, 35 yards WISC – Kendric Pryor – 4 receptions, 54 yards Top defenders EMU – Scott Woo – 3 tackles, 2 TFL, sack WISC – John Torchio – 3 tackles, TFL, 0.5 sack

at UMass

See also: 2021 UMass Minutemen football team

	1	2	3	4	Total
Eagles	14	7	7	14	42
Minutemen	0	7	7	14	28

Statistics	EMU	MASS
First downs	26	30
Total yards	507	519
Rushing yards	184	209
Passing yards	323	310
Turnovers	1	2
Time of possession	29:29	30:31

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Eastern Michigan	Passing	Ben Bryant	14/21, 298 yards, TD
	Rushing	Jawon Hamilton	16 rushes, 122 yards, TD
	Receiving	Hassan Beydoun	6 receptions, 101 yards
UMass	Passing	Brady Olson	22/38, 285 yards, 2 TD, INT
	Rushing	Ellis Merriweather	23 rushes, 144 yards
	Receiving	Melvin Hill	4 receptions, 82 yards, TD

Texas State

Texas State at Eastern Michigan

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
Bobcats	7	7	7	0	21
• Eagles	14	14	10	21	59

• Date: September 25, 2021
• Location: Rynearson Stadium
  Ypsilanti, MI
• Game start: 1:05 p.m. CDT
• Elapsed time: 3 hours and 21 minutes
• Game attendance: 14,253
• Game weather: 64 °F (18 °C) • Weather: Sunny • Wind: NW 7 MPH
• Referee: Jeremy Valentine
• TV announcers (ESPN+): Anthony Lima (play–by–play) and Marcus Ray (analyst)

        

Scoring summary

1	08:06	EMU	Samson Evans 4-yard rush (Chad Ryland kick) (10 plays, 66 yards, 4:47)	EMU 7–0
	03:23	EMU	Ben Bryant 39-yard rush (Chad Ryland kick) (6 plays, 85 yards, 2:12)	EMU 14–0
	01:36	TXST	Javen Banks 5-yard pass from Brady McBride (Seth Keller kick) (5 plays, 38 yards, 1:37)	EMU 14–7
2	13:30	EMU	Dylan Drummond 12-yard pass from Ben Bryant (Chad Ryland kick) (8 plays, 74 yards, 2:49)	EMU 21–7
	03:21	EMU	Thomas Odukoya 13-yard pass from Dylan Drummond (Chad Ryland kick) (7 plays, 55 yards, 2:32)	EMU 28–7
	01:24	TXST	Trevis Graham Jr. 29-yard pass from Brady McBride (Seth Keller kick) (8 plays, 75 yards, 1:50)	EMU 28–14
3	10:56	TXST	Javen Banks 29-yard pass from Brady McBride (Seth Keller kick) (6 plays, 77 yards, 2:42)	EMU 28–21
	08:14	EMU	Jawon Hamilton 22-yard rush (Chad Ryland kick) (6 plays, 57 yards, 2:35)	EMU 35–21
	02:43	EMU	Chad Ryland 36-yard field goal (5 plays, 12 yards, 2:32)	EMU 38–21
4	12:16	EMU	Latrell Fordham 24-yard pass from Ben Bryant (Chad Ryland kick) (7 plays, 66 yards, 3:01)	EMU 45–21
	08:08	EMU	Hassan Beydoun 4-yard pass from Ben Bryant (Chad Ryland kick) (5 plays, 27 yards, 2:19)	EMU 52–21
	01:09	EMU	Samson Evans 2-yard rush (Chad Ryland kick) (9 plays, 54 yards, 5:44)	EMU 59–21

See also: 2021 Texas State Bobcats football team

Pregame line	Over/under
EMU –7.5	63

Statistics	Texas State	Eastern Michigan
First downs	18	33
Total yards	299	499
Rushing yards	112	242
Passing yards	187	257
Turnovers	1	0
Time of possession	25:52	34:08

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Texas State	Passing	Brady McBride	16/25, 187 yards, 3 TDs
	Rushing	Brock Sturges	14 carries, 68 yards
	Receiving	Trevis Graham Jr.	4 receptions, 69 yards, 1 TD
Eastern Michigan	Passing	Ben Bryant	20/33, 228 yards, 3 TDs
	Rushing	Darius Boone Jr.	13 carries, 86 yards
	Receiving	Dylan Drummond	5 receptions, 59 yards, 1 TD

at Northern Illinois

See also: 2021 Northern Illinois Huskies football team

Miami (OH)

See also: 2021 Miami RedHawks football team

	1	2	3	4	Total
RedHawks	6	0	3	3	12
Eagles	0	10	3	0	13

Statistics	MIA	EMU
First downs	19	16
Total yards	385	257
Rushing yards	126	31
Passing yards	259	206
Turnovers	1	1
Time of possession	25:52	34:08

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Miami	Passing	A. J. Mayer	16/39, 259 yards
	Rushing	Tyre Shelton	9 rushes, 41 yards
	Receiving	Jack Sorenson	7 receptions, 123 yards
Eastern Michigan	Passing	Ben Bryant	21/31, 206 yards, TD, INT
	Rushing	Darius Boone Jr.	9 rushes, 36 yards
	Receiving	Dylan Drummond	7 receptions, 93 yards

Ball State

Ball State at Eastern Michigan

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
• Ball State	14	3	7	14	38
Eastern Michigan	0	14	3	14	31

• Date: October 16. 2021
• Location: Rynearson Stadium
  Ypsilanti, MI
• Game start: 2:00 p.m. EST
• Game attendance: 15,258
• Television network: ESPN+

See also: 2021 Ball State Cardinals football team

Pregame line	Over/under
BALL –1.0	55.5

Statistics	Ball State	Eastern Michigan
First downs	29	27
Total yards	433	385
Rushing yards	200	46
Passing yards	233	339
Turnovers	0	2
Time of possession	32:43	27:17

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Ball State	Passing	Drew Plitt	27/35, 207 yards, 1 TD
	Rushing	Carson Steele	18 carries, 138 yards, 1 TD
	Receiving	Justin Hall	10 receptions, 58 yards
Eastern Michigan	Passing	Ben Bryant	35/48, 331 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs
	Rushing	Jawon Hamilton	8 carries, 40 yards
	Receiving	Dylan Drummond	7 receptions, 105 yards, 1 TD

at Central Michigan (Michigan MAC Trophy)

Michigan MAC Trophy

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
Eastern Michigan	0	3	7	0	10
• Central Michigan	7	3	7	14	31

• Date: November 26, 2021
• Location: Kelly/Shorts Stadium
  Mount Pleasant, MI
• Game start: 12:00 p.m. EST
• Game attendance: 7,708
• Television network: ESPNU

See also: 2021 Central Michigan Chippewas football team, Central Michigan–Eastern Michigan football rivalry, and Michigan MAC Trophy

Pregame line	Over/under
CMU –8.5	63.5

Statistics	Eastern Michigan	Central Michigan
First downs	15	22
Total yards	226	366
Rushing yards	5	236
Passing yards	221	130
Turnovers	1	1
Time of possession	27:17	32:43

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Eastern Michigan	Passing	Ben Bryant	24/35, 221 yards
	Rushing	Bryson Moss	5 carries, 26 yards
	Receiving	Tanner Knue	7 receptions, 70 yards
Central Michigan	Passing	Daniel Richardson	12/24, 130 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT
	Rushing	Lew Nichols III	44 carries, 194 yards, 1 TD
	Receiving	JaCorey Sullivan	4 receptions, 46 yards, 2 TDs

vs. Liberty (LendingTree Bowl)

Main article: 2021 LendingTree Bowl

See also: 2021 Liberty Flames football team

Eastern Michigan Eagles vs. Liberty Flames (2021 LendingTree Bowl)  – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Eagles	3	7	0	10	20
Flames	13	20	16	7	56

at Hancock Whitney Stadium, Mobile, Alabama

• Date: December 18
• Game time: 5:45 p.m. EST / 4:45 p.m. CST
• Game weather: Temperature: 71 °F (22 °C) • Weather: overcast, humid • Wind: N 7 MPH
• Game attendance: 15,186
• Referee: Trennis Livingston
• TV announcers (ESPN): Chris Cotter, Mark Herzlich and Jalyn Johnson

Game information

First quarter EMU – Chad Ryland 27-yard field goal, 7:48. Eagles 3–0. Drive: 14 plays, 66 yards, 7:12. LIB – D. J. Stubbs 54-yard pass from Malik Willis (Brayden Beck kick), 3:08. Flames 7–3. Drive: 5 plays, 85 yards, 1:32. LIB – Skyler Thomas 27-yard interception return (kick failed), 2:27. Flames 13–3. Second quarter EMU – Samson Evans 2-yard run (Chad Ryland kick), 13:01. Flames 13–10. Drive: 10 plays, 75 yards, 4:26. LIB – T. J. Green 24-yard run (kick failed), 12:07. Flames 19–10. Drive: 3 plays, 75 yards, 0:54. LIB – Johnny Huntley 20-yard pass from Malik Willis (Brayden Beck kick), 6:22. Flames 26–10. Drive: 12 plays, 88 yards, 3:32. LIB – Malik Willis 2-yard run (Brayden Beck kick), 0:16. Flames 33–10. Drive: 6 plays, 63 yards, 1:56. Third quarter LIB – Malik Willis 35-yard run (run failed), 11:02. Flames 39–10. Drive: 2 plays, 52 yards, 0:34. LIB – Brayden Beck 43-yard field goal, 7:08. Flames 42–10. Drive: 5 plays, 19 yards, 1:32. LIB – Demario Douglas 2-yard pass from Malik Willis (Brayden Beck kick), 2:44. Flames 49–10. Drive: 9 plays, 73 yards, 3:22. Fourth quarter LIB – Kevin Shaa 64-yard pass from Johnathan Bennett (Brayden Beck kick), 10:58. Flames 56–10. Drive: 1 play, 64 yards, 0:08. EMU – Chad Ryland 43-yard field goal, 5:26. Flames 56–13. Drive: 12 plays, 58 yards, 5:32. EMU – Jeff Hubbard 34-yard interception return (Chad Ryland kick), 4:29. Flames 56–20. Top passers EMU – Ben Bryant – 23/36, 200 yards, INT LIB – Malik Willis – 13/24, 231 yards, 3 TD Top rushers EMU – Samson Evans – 13 rushes, 52 yards, TD LIB – T. J. Green – 8 rushes, 88 yards, TD Top receivers EMU – Hassan Beydoun – 11 receptions, 83 yards LIB – Kevin Shaa – 3 receptions, 94 yards, TD