 ANN ARBOR, Mich. ¬ (EMUEagles.com) — The Eastern Michigan University football team suffered its first loss of the season with a 31-3 setback to the University of Michigan Saturday afternoon, Sept. 17, before 110,343 fans in Michigan Stadium.
Head coach Ron English's Eagles, now 2-1 on the season, took an early 3-0 lead before Michigan came back to score 31 unanswered points in the win. Michigan improved to 3-0.
Sophomore tailback Javonti Greene rushed for 75 yards in the first half, but had just five on limited carries in the second half to finish with 80 yards on 21 rushes. Junior quarterback Alex Gillett added 61 yards on 11 carries, but was held to 29 yards passing, completing 3-of-5 passes.
Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson proved too much for the Eagles to handle as the 6-foot junior ran for 198 yards on 26 carries with one rushing touchdown. He also completed 7-of-18 passes for 95 yards and one score.
Eastern had 207 yards rushing with just 29 passing while the Wolverines rolled up 471 yards in total offense, with 376 on the ground and 95 through the air.
After a scoreless first quarter, the Eagles put the game's first points on the board with a 21-yard field goal by Kody Fulkerson on the first play of the second quarter.
The home squad went on top 7-3 with 9:28 left in the second quarter when Robinson connected on a 9-yard pass to tight end Kevin Koger. Brendan Gibbons added the PAT kick. That drive was set up by a 52-yard run from scrimmage by Robinson after the Eagles turned it over on an interception at the Michigan three-yard line.
The Wolverines closed out the first-half by driving 87 yards on six plays, with Robinson running 11 yards untouched up the middle for a touchdown. Gibbons added the PAT for the 14-3 advantage.
Greene led the Eagles in rushing in the first half, gaining 75 yards on 20 rushes, while Gillett added 61 yards on eight carries.
Robinson ran 14 times for 131 yards and one score in the first half for the Wolverines.
Michigan opened the second half scoring on a one-yard run by Fitzgerald Touissant, with Gibbons adding the PAT for a 21-3 lead with 9:17 remaining in the third quarter.
Michigan increased its lead to 28-3 when Robinson found Drew Dileo for a 19-yard touchdown pass with 1:05 left in the third quarter.
Gibbons hit a 21-yard field goal with 4:32 remaining in the fourth quarter to make the final, 31-3.
Senior linebacker Marcus English led the Eagles with 10 tackles, including 3.5 TFLs for six yards. Senior defensive end Brad Ohrman had 2.5 sacks for 20 yards.
The Eagles will continue their Big Ten road swing next weekend, Sept. 24, when the they travel to State College, Pa. to square off with the Nittany Lions of Penn State University.
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