Eastern Michigan 28, Sacramento State 17
YPSILANTI, Mich. - Jason Marshall intercepted Carson Conklin at the Eastern Michigan 22-yard line with 3:28 remaining, ending Sacramento State's final threat and sealing the Eagles' 28-17 season-opening victory Saturday at Rynearson Stadium. Eastern Michigan led by as many as 18 points and finished with a 348-270 advantage in total offense before a crowd of 9,401.
The game was the first at the FBS level and the first as a Mid-American Conference member for the Hornets. After a scoreless first quarter, Benson Prosper's 25-yard reception moved the Eagles to the Sacramento State 6. Noah Kim completed the nine-play, 79-yard drive with a 5-yard touchdown run 40 seconds into the second quarter.
Sacramento State answered after blocking an Eastern Michigan punt, with Grant Meadors making a 40-yard field goal to cut the lead to 7-3. The Eagles responded in three plays, as Noah Kim connected with Kozy Isaac for a 40-yard touchdown. Eastern Michigan then recovered a Hornets fumble at the Sacramento State 15, and Braydon Bennett scored on a 7-yard run for a 21-3 advantage. Xavier Williams returned an Eagles fumble 29 yards for a touchdown with 54 seconds left, trimming the halftime margin to 21-10.
Neither team scored in the third quarter, but Eastern Michigan's defense delivered a key stop when Sacramento State reached the Eagles' 39. The Hornets went for it on fourth-and-5, and Eastern Michigan turned them away to preserve its 11-point lead. Zach Mowchan led the defense with 14 tackles, including two tackles for loss, while the Eagles held Sacramento State to 49 rushing yards and a 3-for-14 showing on third down.
Eastern Michigan stretched the lead to 28-10 with 13:31 remaining when Noah Kim found Nick Devereaux for a 31-yard touchdown. Sacramento State answered with a 10-play, 74-yard drive capped by Isaiah Ene's 1-yard run, making it 28-17 with 8:23 to play. The Hornets advanced to the Eastern Michigan 38 on their next possession before Jason Marshall's interception allowed the Eagles to run out the clock.
Noah Kim completed 27 of 38 passes for 279 yards and two touchdowns without an interception while adding a rushing score. Prosper caught seven passes for 81 yards, and Nick Devereaux had six receptions for 73 yards and a touchdown in addition to 81 yards on three Kick returns. Amareon Blue paced the rushing attack with 55 yards on 12 carries, while Braydon Bennett added 27 yards and a touchdown. Eastern Michigan also committed only three penalties for 29 yards, compared with 10 penalties for 85 yards by Sacramento State.
