Terrence Blevins scampers 61-yards for a TD / Photo: Randy Mascharka
Ypsilanti, MI - Eastern Michigan opened its 40th season of football at Rynearson Stadium in record-shattering fashion, overwhelming an overmatched Indiana State squad 52-0 Thursday night.
Paced by a career high 176-yard rushing effort by senior tailback Terrence Blevins, the Eagles scored on four of their first five possessions and never looked back, building up a 28-0 lead by halftime. Blevins crossed the goal line on each of the Eagles' first two possessions, including a 61-yard touchdown run that put EMU up 14-0 halfway through the first quarter.
"It's all about the little things, it's not about the stats," said Blevins who had rushed for 190 yards in his career before his 176-yard, two-touchdown performance against the Sycamores. When asked whether his and the Eagles success in running the ball was more a result of dominance by EMU or Indiana State's defensive deficiencies, Blevins left no doubt on the matter. "It was nothing they (Indiana State) did, it was all us."
"He has the unique ability, because he is 238 pounds, of really discouraging people from putting their head in front of them when they try to tackle him," noted Eastern Michigan head coach Jeff Genyk of the rugged tailback. "We thought in spring we had something special in him."
Blevins was one of five players to score for Eastern Michigan Thursday night as the Eagles set new team records with 637 total offensive yards and 413 yards rushing. Their fifty-two point effort represented the most points scored by EMU since defeating Central Michigan 61-58 in four overtimes in 2004.
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EMU QB Andy Schmitt had a pair of TD's.
Photo: Deb Ruthenberg |
Junior quarterback Andy Schmitt also scored a pair of touchdowns for the Eagles, including a tackle-breaking sixteen-yard run that opened the scoring in the second half, putting EMU up 35-0 early in the third quarter.
For the night Schmitt was 15-20 with 160 yards and a touchdown passing to go along with his rushing score before giving way to Kyle McMahon with third-string quarterback Jason Williams capping the scoring for the night with a 19-yard rushing touchdown with 2:37 remaining in the game as the Eagles were able to rest most of their starters by early in the second half.
Tailback Dwayne Priest also added a pair of rushing touchdowns for the Eagles.
But it wasn't all about the offense for the Eagles who held Indiana State to 132 total yards and recorded their first shutout since defeating Akron 45-0 in 1997.
"I felt like our defense really showed up and did a great job," noted Eastern Michigan head coach Jeff Genyk of his defense which recorded four sacks and picked off three passes. "We have a lot more (depth) with our defensive line and were able to keep guys fresher late in the game. We are really on a mission to make sure that we play a number of guys on defense to ensure that we still have energy in the fourth quarter."
There was nothing fresh about the outcome however for the Sycamores, who compete in the FCS, as they dropped their fifteenth straight contest and have now lost 33 of their last 34 games but first-year head coach Trent Miles managed to find one silver lining.
"Well, we punted the ball well," joked Miles afterward.
"It's a growing process for our team. Our kids didn't quit and it was a new experience for many of them. We had 42 new guys who were at this time last year playing high school football. I had to tell some of these young men how to put the belt on in their pants."
"Eastern Michigan has good speed and you can't simulate that in practice. It was an eye-opener for some of (the players), continued Miles. "Obviously the score isn't what we wanted but just to get out there and compete at this level is good for them and will make them better. Our goal is to continue to compete each week and get this thing to where it is supposed to be."
For the Eagles they will now have to make the transition from playing a struggling lower-division squad to hitting the road for a contest at Michigan State next week and tailback Terrence Blevins is already getting focused on the next challenge.
"We'll enjoy this tonight and watch the films in the morning and then it's over," said Blevins. "We got our first taste, now let's keep it going and get ready for Michigan State."
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