St. John's Dynasty|Week 1 @ Eastern Michigan|CFB 25

e e welcome to ipsilanti and just a few miles away from the big house where this house is home to the Eastern Michigan Eagles and we are anticipating a great turnout and a sensational game in this one maybe you need a little caffeine or maybe the sheer energy of this matchup will keep you wide awake As We Know Anything Can Happen happen when you kick off after dark as we'll see a squad from the sunbell a group with a lot to prove here today we have waited a long time and we're just about to get this season start he'll bring it back looking for help pull down at the 18 and the decision to bring it out of the end zone was not a good one so Eastern Michigan offense is on the field for the first time today and here he is guys anytime he takes the field he is in complete control with this offense and David he gives defensive coordinators nightmares because of his ability they're going to have a hard time slowing him down no they just doesn't have those weaknesses those flaws the whole Playbook available and he is a dude coming out on first down with the play F snagged in the middle H Mitchell that is exactly what you're looking for when you talk explosive plays the defense finally able to make the [Applause] stop from the gun they'll give it on the inside as college football involves guys and players have more rights and they capitalize on name image and likeness and teams are in different conferences maybe the biggest thing and the thing that keeps coaches up at night dealing with the transfer for because they got to make sure that everybody in their locker room is Happy often times you're re recruiting your own players and trying to keep the Wolves at Bay the phone calls that are coming in from other programs trying to steal your guys it is not easy probably as difficult as it's ever been David to be a head coach now with trans it is and think about players man if I'm not happy if I'm not getting the run I want like I can just leave I can go get some go somewhere else I can get paid by another opportunity so I think players always having their having their eyes to that pole they looking at a better destination makes it miserable for coaches and the Eagles go will line it up on First and 10 [Applause] and softened him up with the run now to throw pass rush coming after the quarterback and they get him at the 32 that is the last thing you want on first down as an offensive sack now it's second down a little pre- snap eye candy for the defense grabed behind the line it's McMillan and the defense had that one well covered just a short game there the seventh play of this opening drive will be a third and long looking downfield and he needs a bunch and that one Falls incomplete trying to get a chunk play on that one now on fourth down they'll settle for a field goal try and this field goal attempt will be a 48 Y and not straight on from the left side kick is good the offense has three points to show for the drive and and that'll put the first points of the game on the board it's three to nothing and he takes this from inside the five nice job executing all of the assignments that they put a stop to that return at the 22 as we take a look at our impact players for this one what are you looking for Jesse for a guy to make an impact well these are simply put the leaders of this football team and generally games go how these guys play if they make plays they've got a shot to win this one no doubt they got to show up the these are the team leaders these guys have to play well if they're going to win the football game makes the stop at the 32 but he picks up 10 on that play with a first down they'll snap it from the 32 they'll ride the hot hand they bring him down and he's going to lose a yard on that one listen I know there are a lot of DBS out there that all they want to do is get interceptions and dance in the end zone this dude likes to put his face in the fan get close to the line of scrimmage and tackle and on the opening drive if he's out there he gets a huge tackle for loss early that is a statement play Passing game very effective on second down what about here on third the short hands it's Smith good tackle there to stop him short of the first down and now they have to make a call they told us they were going to be aggressive no matter where they were on the field didn't take long to prove it going for it on fourth down in their first drive and they are showing you their intentions early in the game it's fourth down you're in your own end we're going to be aggressive and we're not just going to do this early we're going to do this all game long awesome execution on a critical and he is swarmed under a host of Defenders there to make the stop yeah and the running back didn't get much here but you know you clearly want to always establish the tempo run the football be consistent make that defense physically meet the challenge he steps out of bounds but it will be enough for a first down fresh set of down after the completion leaves it with the running back they'll pick up four second and Six coming and it's just simple simple first down run showing your physicality setting your offense up in a good spot after the productive first down play it's second and six he's going to take off Nifty little Scamper on this one enough for the first down and he slides in safely nice job by the QB back in the pocket you can tell he wants to throw the football go through his progressions nothing home take off and slide I love the slide at the end don't take a big shot and excellent Vision to find Running Room there and make a really good pick up before the defense put a stop to it on First and 10 trying to strike from the 15 looking to pass inside the Red Zone with the catch it's Harrison that throw and catch gets him down down to the six and the defense is running out of answers operating in the Red Zone here on second down he's looking to throw fires into the end zone and that one's way too far for everybody that last in completion is a good example of why your timing has to be so good as a quarterback because the windows they open and they close so quickly in this part of the field really need to to pick up this conversion and avoid having to settle for the field goal quarterback keeper and he's into the end zone for a touchdown a methodical Drive Soul crushing Spirit breaking and it ends in a touchdown and listen I know everybody wants the big plays the big long touchdowns and all that stuff but putting a drive together like that is very difficult to do time and time again and it's the iing for the defense great drive by the offense and returner will be dragged down Easter Michigan takes over as the offense heads to the field maybe they couldn't pay off that last drive with a touchdown now they moved the ball down the field and executed like they wanted to until they stalled out and had to settle for a field goal I think if you want to take the next step two here and score a touchdown you got to start finding more creative ways to get your best players the ball let's see if they can do that here looking for a man it's Snider quickly to the tight end and he's able to shed one tackle and pick up pretty good yardage if they can convert here that type of play can really give you a shot of [Applause] momentum just threw that one away to avoid disaster well the quarterback in his intended target just simply didn't have the timing there the ball Falls incomplete on third Now setting up fourth down fourth down and the punt team sends it the other way [Applause] and the returner will be knocked down and the will take over first and now this offense is back on the field and David how they would love to stick it in the end zone one more time after that last dve and once you get the defense on their heels and you back them off a little bit you get in a little bit of Rhythm it's really hard to stop Jesse and they're going to try to do it again right here and if you're this play caller you're loving what's happening right now because everything you dial up on that last Drive ended up working out you're just looking at your play sheet everything you're picking is working let's see if they can pull it off again here line getting set on second down after the incompletion back to the passing game just too much of a rush and down goes the quarterback just behind the Midfield stri at the 29 this is a third and long he's looking downfield to throw using the back as a receiver on the screen they play that screen nicely he tried to find his way to the marker but it'll be fourth down and here comes the punt team he ought to be able to use this first punt to pin him deep the punt goes out of bounds and a nice job to get them backed up I think they'll start it right around the 15 this should be the last play of the quarter going to the ground and and with that stop we are headed toward the end of the first quarter both teams wanted to establish the run and they have done exactly that in the first quarter heading in the opposite directions now as we Crank It Up in the second we'll get this quarter going with a second down play the give out of the gun just gets it to the 28 pick up of one and sticking to the run I tell you what a lot of teams that are really good are really stubborn and they continue to run the football even with little success so this offense is going to continue to focus on running the football you can tell good call good execution as they move the chains and they have a first down at the 38 Eastern Michigan has it and a fresh set of downs run the gun the running back has it I'll tell you this is a running back who's very very dangerous and a defense did a good job getting him down there but they got to do a great job game tackling because this is a guy that can break tackles and turn those types of plays into home runs they'll get the first down it's spotted on the 49 the offense is in a really nice Rhythm right now it seems like no matter what they're dialing up they're getting positive yards and it just feels so so good as a play caller when you know on first down you can get yards like that turning around and handing yeah and on the other side he scratching your head going what the heck can I do here you got to find something the defense has got to find a way to create some momentum whatever they're doing right now it's not working so you got to keep going through that play sheet and maybe find something a little bit different and give this offense something to think about and he's almost to that first down marker there saying he's a little bit short they might want to bring out the sticks and measure but it looks as if he'll be just short of the first down on Third and short they keep it on the ground here he's knocked down in the back field he'll lose a couple maybe a tad out of field goal range and way too close to punt it kind of in no man's land so they'll go for it on fourth down he'll try to throw and pick up the first down fires into traffic picked off looking for more room at the 20 and they capitalize not only on the pick but the great return to give the offense tremendous field position and this my friend is what you call advantageous field position starting the drive with a first and goal can the defense stop them again on second and goal out of the gun they'll run it inside he's knocked down in the back field he'll lose a couple man and that's a frustrating play when you go in reverse near the goal line hold of those situations Palmer you got to get those positive yards you can't go backwards if you're trying to get a touchdown you know I'm trusting in my quarterback here to make the right decision looks like we're going to have to throw it right but if it's not open just throw this thing away you don't want to take a sack lose extra yardage here just be smart with the football let's go to the studio now and check in with Kevin Connor Kevin what do you got all right guys what an update you on a game that went final moments ago fres no skate dug down deep and found a way to secure a coveted Road H and who knows how the pundits will view this one but I'll tell you this it's sure beats trying to explain a bad loss 60 Minutes of football and a convincing outcome and certainly a game with implications far beyond just the standards fellas yeah how about that sounds as if they had a good ball game there Kevin thanks for the update a run up the middle is stuck for no game line is set on third down 299 gives it to the back on the draw they'll pick up the first down as he gets it out to the 27 yd line here's this offense with a fresh set of downs first down for the off the G BS his way forward squirts across the 30 to the 32 a pick up of five halfway there on first down it's second and five looking for a gap it's McMillan at the 45 on it way and he's running in the open TouchDown Eagles and once he found open space the fan might as well start playing I love the execution on that play great blocking up front just to get the ball carrier opportunity in the second level of the defense then at that point it was make a guy Miss and use the speed that was a perfectly executed play and we're all square as he's set to kick it away let's see what he can do with the return nice job by the kickoff team everybody stayed in their lanes and they'll stop him at the 16 first down here for the offense they'll run it out of the shotgun and you can forget running in the middle against this defense they got nothing on the last play it second and 10 to the air it's booty he's got his man he will step out of bounds but not before the big pick up and a first down for this offense new set of downs after that completion got it in the middle it's Griffin they make the stop but the sweet throwing catches plenty to give him a first down here's this offense with a fresh set of downs looking for a physical attack from the gun he's knocked down in the back field he'll lose a couple they'll line up for a second down play he's looking to throw it's complete on the right side he's there to make the stop but the damage has been done as they pick up the first down on the throwing catch here's this offense with a fresh set of downs the clock has stopped and we've reached the two-minute warning before halftime they've got it at the 37 it's first and 10 he wants to [Applause] throw and the ball is picked off and they'll drag him down after a good return on the interception looking for a productive play on first down wasting no time throwing on this drive and this senior quarterback a little too bold there and he's lucky didn't get picked off throwing into double coverage no gain on first down after the incompletion now second and 10 from the 40 good job to avoid the negative play and just get rid of that thing they've got some work to do on this third and long from the 40 from the gun wants to pass grabbed in the middle it's Mitchell he's got first downard yardage as they move it to the 44 clock stops momentarily for the first down they'll hurry to the line first looking to throw it again the short hands it's Mitchell and he goes out of bounds after coming up with positive yardage there hold we'll repeat the previous down but this time the offense has 10 more yards it has to cover line gets set first down free- snap Motion in the back field looking downfield it's Snider flips it out in the flat at the 40 there he goes and that's why if you're the offensive coordinator you've got to find as many ways as possible to get this guy going just get him the ball close to the line of scrimmage doesn't need to be a throw deep down the field he's so Dynamic when he has the ball picked off he'll try to take it back and they'll close in on him after a good return on the interception and they'll take this is obviously not a great start for this quarterback here two interceptions already in this game he's got to do a much better job with his decision can't find his man as he took a shot trying to deliver that football and it'll be second down couldn't make the connection last time let's see if they throw it again on second down they'll take to the air they'll run the screen didn't have much room to run and not a whole lot of help short game there and still plenty of ground to cover for the first down timeout is called and it's the defense wanting to make sure that everyone's on the same page for this big down on third down going up top unloads it downfield and that'll be incomplete they certainly weren't afraid to take a shot there and now it's Fourth Down the punt team makes its way onto the field this will be the second time they've had to kick it away makes a move do a good job by the coverage team to make the Stop and that's where they'll put it in play Eastern Michigan has it back as the eagle offense returns to the field that last Drive was promising for a while but you just can't mess it up at the end with the pick Jesse no you got to be able to finish drives especially in this game if you're going to win in David they've got to be able to eliminate the metal mistake yeah and I don't think you get conser it or play it safe you can trust your guy I think you put the ball right back in his hands and let him do his thing offense calls a timeout here critically important to make sure they have the right play called and everyone on the same page here catch in the middle it's wheeler the Eagles pick up the first down here's this offense with a fresh set of [Music] [Applause] downs he'll come out throwing on first down finds a tie end and that was some kind of collision between a couple of big bodies there and he stopped from getting the first down dropping back it's Snider throws to the wide out and the pass is incomplete thanks to a big hit couldn't find his man last time and that leaves him with a third and six from the gun wants to pass caught over the middle it's Smith They'll finally get him on the ground but not before he makes it to the 30 and gets a first down to the line quickly they'll spike it to save some time they're about to snap it for the seventh time on this drive he's looking for a man on second down and his throw is incomplete incomplete well give the defense credit because they're forcing this quarterback to throw into very small Windows under duress on Third and long try to convert through the air makes the grab outside it's wheeler and on that outbreaking route really it's designed for the receiver to make the catch before falling out of bounds nice timing and Anticipation by the quarterback on that throw didn't make him sweat at all it's good and guys after the field goal now they have the lead after putting up a three spot the kickoff unit set to go from inside his own 10 let's see what he gets he was hoping for something a little more Dynamic but they get him on the ground at the 20 just enough time to get off one final play of the half he's going to pass getting some heat pass is incomplete and that's going to do it for the first half that's the end of the second quarter that means it's time to join Kevin in our halftime update thanks phas the end of a very entertaining first two quarters of football in ipsilanti talk about a first half from that dude out of the back field he's been a total Game Changer and how many top plays moments have we seen on Miss tackles Alone video game moves from one of the shiftiest players in all of college football and just like that let's send it back to the guys inside the factory all right Kevin about ready to start the second half here and the Eagles will kick it away to start the second half he'll bring it back from inside his SP nice job executing all of the assignments as they put a stop to that return at the 22 all right guys so here's the offense back on the field again they're going to open this drive with a pass fires to the big fella they make the stop right there good pickup it's still short of the first down I'll tell you I love the play call on first down here you're just trying to find find an easy completion and the shortest throw on the field for the quarterback is finding your biggest Target and that's the tight end nice job they get him on the ground but not before he gets enough for the first down they'll snap it on first down from the 35 looking to move it through the air trying to get to him his speat at the 45 they finally make the stop it he shows why he is dangerous On The Run two and he's got a first down now from the 48 yd line it's first and 10 excellent coverage and good use of the hands to knock it away listen a lot of time tips and deflections are because you got great eyes and vision on the quarterback you see him release the football you break on it you tip that thing and make sure the receiver can't get it they make the stop but this passing game does some damage and they move the sticks with the first down here's this offense with a fresh set of downs from the shotgun they'll run it little too soft in that run defense he picks up four to the 32 and these rpos always put the defense in a buy but listen you give up the Run they get a short little gain no harm no foul that's caught it's Smith makes the grab and it's enough for the first down before he's dragged to the ground here's this offense with a fresh set of downs and that's first off the play fake on first down to throw a shot toward the end zone and the ball is intercepted what a nice play by the DB there when that rain starts coming down the ball gets a little bit heavier the quarterback throws the ball a little bit lighter DBS can take advantage sometimes of some underthrown balls go out and make some big plays not much there picks up a couple to the 22 and the defense doing a great great job committing to the run when you commit to the run like this obviously you can give up some plays in the passing game but you got to stop the run [Applause] first and that one's too high out of bounds incomplete after the second down missfire looking at a third and [Applause] eight dropping back it's Snider and they get to the quarterback and knock him down back at the 16 on the Eastern Michigan will be forced to punt this will be the second time they've had to kick it away and the punt team able to sling him to the ground first snap of this drive comes from their own 44 he leaves it with his back and they picked up nine on first down it'll bring up second and short you want to talk about making it easy for an offensive coordinator you pick up a bunch of yards on first down make that second down really really manageable that's a great job by the offense he stop him almost immediately short gain there still a little ground covered pick up the first that last completion still leaving them with a third down they'll try to power their way ahead now with a great opportunity as they pick up the first down they've got it at the 40 here's this offense with a fresh set of downs from the gun the G looking for room they bring him down and he's going to lose a yard on that one close one on that last one it's second and 11 off the boot looking for his man pressure is effective from the defense they knock him down just behind the Midfield strike at the 48 I'm not positive but that first down marker might be in the next County on Third and long doesn't need to take the check down and he throws another interception his third one of the night and he's wrapped up after a solid return on the pick first down for this offense they'll start this drive with a pass catch in the middle it's wood they'll get him down but not before he crosses the 50 he's down to the 49 a productive play is one that gets you at least halfway to another first first down here on First and 10 fights off a Defender and he won't quite get there but boy after that pick up just a few inches to go for the first an array of possibilities here power football with the Run he's dropped behind the line of scrimmage that'll be a loss of three ready to fire from the [Applause] pistol they're going to try to throw for it on third down fires to the tight end third down conversions are huge and they've got one and they at the 35 Eastern Michigan surgical on offense right now they try to pop a run on the draw he's knocked down in the back field he'll lose a couple offense gets set for second down back to pass it's Snider using the quick game they make the stop but not before he takes a chunk out of what they need to move the sticks they've worked it down to the 30 this defense Standing Tall trying to force a field goal try fires to the wide out got him downfield he is down at the one a terrific run after the throwing catch Eastern Michigan will line up with a first and goal they want to throw it fires to the end zone and it's caught touchdown eagle and how about this play by the offense first and goal from the one yd line everything says it's going to be a run it's going to be a run nice job by the offense a little slight of hand throwing the football getting the touchdown almost ready to kick it away after scoring the touchdown on the run from inside his own five not a lot of space to be found good Hustle by the coverage team and they stop him at the 21 out comes the offense as they get set to take over here's the handoff and they'll finally get him down after a terrific pickup and you're going to hear this guy's name a lot they're going to ride the big fella he's such a stud they're going to build the offense around him this is just game one but you're going to get a lot of big runs from this game not a whole lot of progress made there on the short run got three on first down it's second and seven finds his man it's Griffin and just a short save pass play they pick up a here and this offense is desperate to keep this drive alive trailing by multiple possessions and it's getting late Pockets starts to collapse he took a hit as he threw it and couldn't deliver the football it's incomplete and fourth Down's coming I don't know if this is the time for this type of risk offense going for it inside its own 40 looking to scramble finds his man and they convert and they finally make the tackle but this will be a pretty easy conversion for this offense and talk about spreading the ball around everyone getting a chance to show off the hands based on the number of targets we've seen back at it to open the quarter with this first down play he wants to throw it again hit hard just as he released it on first down and just couldn't get it to the receiver let's see what they've got on second down after the incompletion they go back up top tackles he does this consistently that's why he's hard to stop at the running backs not a lot of ground to cover and not