Ypsilanti, MI (Sports Network) - Tyler Benz threw a career-high five
touchdowns as the Eastern Michigan Eagles get their first win of the season,
defeating the Army Black Knights, 48-38, at Rynearson Stadium.
On top of the five scores, which went to five different receivers, Benz was
19-for-31 for 369 yards and a pick. Bronson Hill, who rushed for an Eastern
Michigan (1-6) record 283 yards last week in a loss versus Toledo, ran for 185
yards and a score on 26 carries and caught three passes for 67 yards and a
touchdown. Garrett Hoskins led the Eagles with seven receptions for 158 yards
and a touchdown.
Army (1-6) quarterback Trent Steelman attempted just five passes, completing
one for 19 yards. He did however run for a career-high 212 yards and two scores
on 16 carries. Backup quarterback A.J. Schurr replaced Steelman in the fourth
quarter and threw a late touchdown. Brandon Fusilier-Jeffries paced Army with
14 tackles.
Benz got off to a terrific start, throwing touchdown passes on his first two
throws of the game. The first was a 39-yard bomb to Javonti Greene, followed
by a one-yard touchdown to Hoskins.
Army scored the next 10 points on a Daniel Grochowski field goal and Malcolm
Brown 55-yard touchdown run before Benz struck again. This time the EMU
quarterback found Hill on third and 14 for a 41-yard score.
Steelman cut into the Eagles' lead early in the second quarter, scrambling for
a 74-yard touchdown run. Eastern Michigan marched back down the field hoping
to add to their lead, but Benz made his only mistake of the afternoon, throwing
an interception to Alex Meier, who returned it 66 yards.
Army was unable to take advantage of the turnover, and the ball went back to
the Eagles with four minutes left in the half. Despite starting inside
their own 10-yard line, Benz marched his offense down the field in 11
plays, scoring a touchdown with 13 seconds left. Christian Menet was on the
receiving end of Benz' fourth touchdown pass of the half, and EMU led 28-17 at
the break.
Dylan Mulder kicked a 34-yard field goal to give Eastern Michigan a 14-point
advantage midway through the third quarter, but Army responded. On the
Black Knights' first play of their next possession, Steelman evaded tacklers
and took it 75 yards to the end zone to cut the deficit in half.
Benz provided EMU some insurance points early in the fourth quarter with his
fifth and final touchdown pass of the game, which was reeled in by Ryan
Brumfield for his first career touchdown. Hill's only touchdown run of the day
on the following drive put the game away.
After dropping their first four meetings, EMU improves to 1-4 all-time against
Army.
GAME NOTES:
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