2011 Eastern Michigan Eagles football team
The 2011 Eastern Michigan Eagles football team represented Eastern Michigan University during the 2011 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Eastern Michigan competed as a member of the Mid-American Conference West Division, were coached by Ron English, and played their homes game at Rynearson Stadium. They finished the season 6–6, 4–4 in MAC play to finish in a tie for fourth place in the West Division. Despite being 6–6, the Eagles were not bowl eligible because two of their wins came against FCS teams. The 6 wins were the most wins the school had since 1995 when they also had 6 wins.
Before the season
Previous season
The Eagles posted a 2–10 record in 2010, Ron English's second season as head coach, losing all four non-conference games and stretching their losing streak to 18 games before winning an overtime game at Ball State and another game at Buffalo in the latter part of the season.Personnel
Pre-season expectations
In the 2011 Mid-American Conference media poll, the Eagles were picked to finish in last place in the West Division, where they finished the past two seasons.Post-season honors
Following the 2011 Mid-American Conference football season, five players were named to All-MAC teams, the most for EMU since 1996, though none were named to the first team. Senior defensive lineman Brad Ohrman was named to the second team, while sixth-year senior defensive back Latarrius Thomas, junior tight end Garrett Hoskins, junior linebacker Justin Cudworth, and sophomore defensive back Marlon Pollard were all named to the third team. After leading the Eagles to their winningest season in 15 years, Ron English was named the MAC Coach of the Year.Senior offensive lineman Bridger Buche and senior defensive lineman Brad Ohrman are considered the top pro prospects from the team.
Schedule
Game summaries
Howard
EMU's opening game was originally scheduled for 7 pm on Saturday, September 3. Due to severe storms in the area, which caused problems at football games throughout the Midwest, including the cancellation of the Western Michigan at University of Michigan game near the end of the third quarter, the kickoff was first postponed until 8:30 PM, then to 9:30 PM, and finally to noon on Sunday, with free admission offered. After a slow start by the EMU offense, which saw junior quarterback Alex Gillett throw an interception returned for a touchdown on the Eagles' first offensive play, EMU took charge of the game in the second quarter, scoring touchdowns on four of their next five drives while holding Howard to just 13 net yards on their next six possessions. EMU's offense was led by running backs Dominique Sherrer and Javonti Greene, each gained 120 yards and a touchdown in 14 carries, while Justin Cudworth led EMU's defense with 13 tackles, a sack, and a forced fumble.Scoring Summary
1st Quarter
- 10:54 Howard – Julien David 29-yard interception return 0–6 Howard
- 7:43 EMU – Kody Fulkerson 45-yard field goal 3–6 Howard
- 2:23 Howard – Parker Munoz 39-yard field goal 3–9 Howard
- 14:53 EMU – Kody Fulkerson 31-yard field goal 6–9 Howard
- 11:31 EMU – Garrett Hoskins 25-yard pass from Alex Gillett 13–9 EMU
- 1:31 EMU – Javonti Greene 1-yard run 20–9 EMU
- 0:56 EMU – Alex Gillett 14-yard run 27–9 EMU
- 14:05 EMU – Dominique Sherrer 77-yard run 34–9 EMU
- 3:13 EMU – Joe Fleming 9-yard pass from Alex Gillett 41–9 EMU
Alabama State
1st quarter
- 2:47 EMU – Nick Olds 13-yard pass from Alex Gillett 7–0 EMU
None
3rd quarter
- 11:42 EMU – Dominique Sherrer 6-yard run 14–0 EMU
- 5:18 Alabama State – T.C. McWilliams 22-yard pass from Devin Dominguez 14–7 EMU
None
at Michigan
Scoring summary1st quarter
None
2nd quarter
- 14:55 EMU – Kody Fulkerson 21-yard field goal 3–0 EMU
- 9:28 Michigan – Kevin Koger 9-yard pass from Denard Robinson 3–7 Michigan
- 0:39 Michigan – Denard Robinson 11-yard run 3–14 Michigan
- 9:17 Michigan – Fitzgerald Toussaint 1-yard run 3–21 Michigan
- 1:05 Michigan – Drew Dileo 19-yard pass from Denard Robinson 3–28 Michigan
- 4:32 Michigan – Brendan Gibbons 21-yard field goal 3–31 Michigan
at Penn State
1st quarter
- 4:18 Penn State – Anthony Fera 29-yard field goal 0–3 Penn State
- 8:19 Penn State – Joe Suhey 27-yard pass from Matt McGloin 0–10 Penn State
- 0:56 Penn State – Derek Moye 5-yard pass from Matt McGloin 0–17 Penn State
- 13:59 Penn State – Devon Smith 71-yard pass from Rob Bolden 0–24 Penn State
- 2:27 Penn State – Derek Moye 20-yard pass from Matt McGloin 0–31 Penn State
- 11:50 EMU – Kody Fulkerson 21-yard field goal 3–31 Penn State
- 8:32 Penn State – Sam Ficken 43-yard field goal 3–34 Penn State
- 3:04 EMU – Kody Fulkerson 22-yard field goal 6–34 Penn State
Akron
Scoring summary
1st quarter
- 4:56 – Dominque White 14-yard run 7–0 EMU
- 13:41 – Dominque White 1-yard run 14–0 EMU
- 5:24 – Keith Sconiers 36-yard pass from Clayton Moore 14–7 EMU
- 1:57 – T.J. Marchese 29-yard field goal 14–10 EMU
- 0:00 – Kody Fulkerson 26-yard field goal 17–10 EMU
- 12:45 – Dominque White 2-yard run 24–10 EMU
- 3:09 – Clayton Moore 8-yard pass from Jawon Chisholm 24–16 EMU
- 12:43 – Alex Gillett 4-yard run 31–16 EMU
- 3:18 – Jawon Chisholm 1-yard run 31–24 EMU
at Toledo
1st quarter
- 5:05 – Morgan Williams 19-yard pass from Austin Dantin 0–7 Toledo
- 10:00 – Bernard Reedy 55-yard pass from Terrance Owens 0–14 Toledo
- 8:16 – Eric Page 85-yard punt return 0–21 Toledo
- 3:37 – Kody Fulkerson 48-yard field goal 3–21 Toledo
- 1:22 – Kinsman Thomas 22-yard pass from Alex Gillett 9–21 Toledo
- 1:22 – Desmond Marrow off a blocked extra point kick 9–23 Toledo
- 6:44 – Ryan Casano 19-yard field goal 9–26 Toledo
- 4:13 – Kenny Stafford 2-yard pass from Terrance Owens 9–33 Toledo
- 0:28 – Eric Page 24-yard pass from Austin Dantin 9–40 Toledo
- 13:59 – Morgan Williams 1-yard run 9–47 Toledo
- 10:11 – Dominque White 3-yard run 16–47 Toledo
- 4:40 – David Pasquale 3-yard run 16–54 Toledo
at Central Michigan
1st quarter
- 5:18 David Harman 28-yard field goal 0–3 Central Michigan
- 0:30 Dominque White 1-yard run 7–3 EMU
- 5:26 David Harman 40-yard field goal 7–6 EMU
- 11:13 Javonti Greene 36-yard run 14–6 EMU
- 6:33 David Blackburn 8-yard pass from Ryan Radcliff 14–13 EMU
- 14:27 Javonti Greene 2-yard run 21–13 EMU
- 12:34 Javonti Greene 5-yard run 28–13 EMU
- 3:36 Titus Davis 11-yard pass from Ryan Radcliff 28–20
- 1:09 Jerry Harris 2-yard pass from Ryan Radcliff 28–28
- 0:37 Alex Gillett 30-yard run 35–28
Western Michigan
1st quarter
None
2nd quarter
- 11:13 – Javonti Greene 50-yard pass from Alex Gillett 7–0 EMU
- 12:25 – Tevin Drake 46-yard run 7–7
- 10:59 – John Potter 37-yard field goal 7–10 Western Michigan
- 7:46 – Javonti Greene 50-yard run 14–10 EMU
Ball State
1st quarter
- 9:38 Torieal Gibson 94-yard pass from Keith Wenning 0–7 Ball State
- 6:46 Trey Hunter 32-yard pass from Alex Gillett 7–7
- 4:50 Barrington Scott 8-yard pass from Keith Wenning 7–14 Ball State
- 0:39 Nick Olds 42-yard pass from Alex Gillett 14–14
- 13:23 Steven Schott 31-yard field goal 14–17 Ball State
- 1:47 Tyreese Russell 14-yard pass from Alex Gillett 21–17 EMU
- 1:08 Steven Schott 29-yard field goal 21–20 EMU
- 9:39 Jahwan Edwards 15-yard run 21–27 Ball State
- 0:04 Tyreese Russell 16-yard pass from Alex Gillett 28–27 EMU
- 6:52 Steven Schott 23-yard field goal 28–30 Ball State
- 1:18 Kody Fulkerson 20-yard field goal 31–30 EMU
- 0:09 Steven Schott 44-yard field goal 31–33 Ball State
Buffalo
1st quarter
- 7:04 Kody Fulkerson 39-yard field goal 3–0 EMU
- 11:50 Garrett Hoskins 2-yard pass from Alex Gillett 9–0 EMU
- 0:04 Patrick Clarke 43-yard field goal 9–3 EMU
- 8:59 Branden Oliver 3-yard run 9–10 Buffalo
- 8:00 Demarius Reed 67-yard pass from Alex Gillett 16–10 EMU
- 6:35 Branden Oliver 68-yard run 16–17 Buffalo
- 2:24 Demarius Reed 11-yard pass from Alex Gillett 23–17 EMU
- 14:11 Garrett Hoskins 34-yard pass from Alex Gillett 30–17 EMU
at Kent State
1st quarter
- 12:33 Kody Fulkerson 27-yard field goal 3–0 EMU
- 6:10 Kody Fulkerson 44-yard field goal 6–0 EMU
- 1:50 Javonti Greene 32-yard run 13–0 EMU
- 7:49 Trayion Durham 1-yard run 13–7 EMU
- 1:23 Spencer Keith 3-yard run 13–14 Kent State
- 10:49 Demarius Reed 83-yard punt return 19–14 EMU
- 7:35 Freddy Cortez 35-yard field goal 19–17 EMU
- 2:27 Freddy Cortez 49-yard field goal 19–20 Kent State
- 12:59 Kody Fulkerson 40-yard field goal 22–20 EMU
- 6:40 Tyshon Goode 70-yard pass from Spencer Keith 22–28 Kent State
at Northern Illinois
1st quarter
- 10:17 Willie Clark 54-yard pass from Chandler Harnish 0–7 Northern Illinois
- 0:11 Kody Fulkerson 20-yard field goal 3–7 Northern Illinois
- 8:44 Dominique Sherrer tackled Sean Progar in end zone for a safety 3–9 Northern Illinois
- 4:44 Mathew Sims 39-yard field goal 3–12 Northern Illinois
- 1:43 Kody Fulkerson 23-yard field goal 6–12 Northern Illinois
- 0:12 Chandler Harnish 68-yard run 6–18 Northern Illinois
- 6:19 Nick Olds 24-yard pass from Alex Gillett 12–18 Northern Illinois