The word “unpredictable”; Webster’s would describe as something impossible to foretell. The Falcons would use it to describe their 2007 season.
BG has ridden the rollercoaster all season long and the ride will more than likely continue tonight as the Falcons travel to Ypsilanti to take on Eastern Michigan.
The Eagles are a team the Falcons should beat – will they, well that is anyone’s guess. EMU comes into the game with a 3-7 record and are coming off a defeat at the hands of Toledo.
The Falcons expect EMU to play above what their record currently indicates as the game will be the last home game for its seniors.
“I believe they’re 3-7 right now, so really all they have to play for is to be a spoiler now,” said defensive back P.J. Mahone. “With that said I think they’ll come into this game aggressive and playing hard.”
Mahone is coming off of one his better performances in his career at BG during last Friday night’s win against Akron. He recorded two interceptions and also scored his first touchdown for the Falcons.
He also is just one of the many guys who are expected to play big roles in filling in for injured starters the rest of the season.
Anthony Turner, Glen Stanley, Chris Wright and Jermiah Kelley are just some of the back-up players now being counted on to log starter minutes for the Falcons.
“All the kids have been practicing hard all season,” said coach Gregg Brandon. “They have just been waiting for their opportunity. Injuries do occur and those backup kids have to come in and do the job.”
The depth of this team is really being challenged as the training room features about as many players as the offensive huddle does.
Injuries happen to every program and BG is getting their fair share of them late in the season.
“The backup kids were able to step in and do a nice job,” Brandon said. “You just hope when those kids get in and get their opportunities they perform.”
Perform they did last week. The offense cranked out over 500 yards and the defense was able to stifle a potent Akron offense (a group that put up 48 points against Ohio on Wednesday).
Quarterback Tyler Sheehan knows the offense will have to keep up its production because the EMU defense is very formidable.
“They’ve got a very athletic group,” he said. “They’ve got a good defensive lineman and their safety has been MAC Player of the Week one or two times, so they’ve got some playmakers on that unit. We’ll have to have a similar type of offensive game and just continue to execute.”
The defense also may have its hands full this week as Eastern is no slouch.
“They have speed and quickness and anytime you play a team like that you have to have your defenders in position,” Brandon said. “We have to be sound in our assignments defensively.”
If the Falcons want any shot at the MAC Championship they are going to have to win out and that starts with tonight’s contest.
