Noah Kim was responsible for 18 of Eastern Michigan's 28 points
Nobody had Eastern Michigan circled. The numbers behind a result that flips the division.
Noah Kim scored 18 of Eastern Michigan's points. They shock Sacramento State, 28-17 at Rynearson Stadium. Eastern Michigan was not the side anyone expected to be up 11 at the end of it. Noah Kim threw for 279 yards on 38 attempts with two touchdowns and lost 13 yards on six carries, though one of them reached the end zone.
We had this one the other way
Before kickoff we made Sacramento State the pick by about 3. The model missed the side: it favored Sacramento State by ~3, but Eastern Michigan won by 11 as the underdog.
The turnover battle was the game
Eastern Michigan won the turnover battle 0-2, chiefly Jason Marshall (1 INT). Eastern Michigan produced 10 plays of 15+ yards to Sacramento State's 5, chiefly Noah Kim (involved in 8), Nick Devereaux (involved in 2) and Ben Prosper (involved in 2). That's what carried Eastern Michigan.
How the two sides actually played on the night.
The plays that turned it
Three snaps account for most of the difference. Noah Kim's 40-yard throw to Santonyo Isaac for a touchdown on 2nd-and-4 at Q2 07:50. Then Isaiah Ene's 37-yard run on 3rd-and-2 at Q4 11:40. Later, Carson Conklin's dropback that came up short on 2nd-and-3 at Q4 03:31.
The standouts
Noah Kim threw for 279 yards on 38 attempts with two touchdowns and lost 13 yards on six carries, though one of them reached the end zone — that score from inside the 20, two third-down conversions and a hand in eight plays of 15 yards or more. Nick Devereaux caught six passes for 73 yards, one of them for a touchdown — two third-down conversions. Ben Prosper caught seven passes for 81 yards. For Sacramento State, Isaiah Ene ran three times for 44 yards and one score — that score from inside the 20. Onterrio Smith Jr. caught nine passes for 86 yards. Carson Conklin threw for 222 yards on 46 attempts and lost 13 yards on two carries, including a hand in four plays of 15 yards or more. Jason Marshall was the disruptive one for Eastern Michigan: 1 INT.
How it unfolded
Eastern Michigan struck first through Noah Kim, led 21-10 at the half and the final points came on a late touchdown by Isaiah Ene.
What it means
Historically similar games since 2019 — close margin, both offenses held far below norm — and how often that offense outperformed this level the following week.
Eastern Michigan just rearranged the conversation. Sacramento State has some explaining to do. Isaiah Ene was responsible for 6 of Sacramento State's points; there was not enough behind him.
Discussion
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