Saturday’s Eastern Michigan Eagles – Rutgers Scarlet Knights clash saw a couple of firsts. It saw the Eagles come away with their first-ever win against a Big Ten opponent, and it saw Rutgers lose a game in remarkably stupid fashion, getting knocked out of range for a game-tying field goal thanks to a personal foul. Eastern Michigan won 16-13, but that only happened because Rutgers shot themselves in the foot:
That might've been the most Rutgers ending possible. They knocked themselves out of FG range with a personal foul while trailing EMU by 3.
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) September 9, 2017
Before that, Rutgers had third and three on the Eastern Michigan 27, but Kyle Bolin’s pass was intercepted by Brody Hoying, and returned 71 yards to the Scarlet Knights’ five. Amazingly enough, though, Rutgers held firm from there and made their own impressive play, blocking the Eagles’ eventual field goal:
Big block by @RFootball!
Now let's win this thing! pic.twitter.com/p0rosh7BAE
— Rutgers On BTN (@RutgersOnBTN) September 9, 2017
But that wasn’t enough. Bolin managed to march his team down the field again, and had them facing third and eight at the EMU 25 with eight seconds left, well inside of field goal range. However, his pass for Bo Melton there fell incomplete, and Dorian Miller was penalized 15 yards for illegal use of hands, knocking the Scarlet Knights back to the Eagles’ 40 and out of field goal range. Bolin was then sacked on the final play, giving EMU the win.. And that sparked plenty of jokes, especially considering that Rutgers paid Eastern Michigan almost a million to come play them:
Middle Tennessee State beats Syracuse, who is paying them $950,000. Eastern Michigan beats Rutgers, who is paying them $860,000.
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) September 9, 2017
me: technology is amazing, I can even watch Rutgers/Eastern Michigan
also me: technology has gone too far, i am watching Rutgers/Eastern Mi— ¡BUM CHILLUPS AKA SPENCER HALL! (@edsbs) September 9, 2017
RELEGATE RUTGERS
— mgoblog (@mgoblog) September 9, 2017
https://twitter.com/MattSBN/status/906654520029184001
It's official: Eastern Michigan has broken its 38 game losing streak to the Big Ten with a 16-13 over Rutgers. A thriller, of sorts.
— John U. Bacon (@Johnubacon) September 9, 2017
So, yeah, that’s not great, Rutgers. Oh well, at least they have a hot tub.
The losing team usually shoots itself in the foot. Today, Eastern was the better team.