When you play in the MAC West, serious challenges are there just about every week, and one misstep could be enough to cost a title. If anybody should know that, it is the Toledo Rockets.
Toledo entered 2017 as the preseason favorite to finally bring home another MAC championship. Despite considerable talent flowing through the program, UT’s last title was back in 2004. Since then, it’s often been close ... but not close enough!
After surviving Eastern Michigan 20-15 last Saturday, UT heads north this week to face a Central Michigan team that . . .
Toledo entered 2017 as the preseason favorite to finally bring home another MAC championship. Despite considerable talent flowing through the program, UT’s last title was back in 2004. Since then, it’s often been close ... but not close enough!
After surviving Eastern Michigan 20-15 last Saturday, UT heads north this week to face a Central Michigan team that . . .
. . . may have found some answers. One of those answers is the return of tight end Tyler Conklin, who made an immediate impact with 10 catches and two TDs in the Chippewas 26-23 victory over Ohio last week.
Here’s more on the two teams:
Here’s more on the two teams:
Toledo at Central Michigan
Saturday, Oct. 14 – 3:30 p.m. ET
Kelly Shorts Stadium – Mt. Pleasant, Mich
ESPN3
Saturday, Oct. 14 – 3:30 p.m. ET
Kelly Shorts Stadium – Mt. Pleasant, Mich
ESPN3
THE SERIES
Toledo has a 24-18-3 edge in the series and is riding a seven-game winning streak in the series. CMU’s last victory was a 56-28 home field decision in 2009.
Toledo has a 24-18-3 edge in the series and is riding a seven-game winning streak in the series. CMU’s last victory was a 56-28 home field decision in 2009.
CENTRAL MICHIGAN CHIPPEWAS (3-3, 1-1 MAC)
● The Chips trailed Ohio 14-7 in the second period before scoring the next 21 points across three quarters. Sean Bunting helped turn the tide with a 60-yard blocked field goal return as time expired in the second stanza.
● CMU took the lead for good with a Jonathan Ward 2-yard TD run to cap the opening drive of the third period.
● Conklin scored the Chips first and last TDs.
● After Ohio pulled to within three at 26-23, Central put the game away with a 10-play, 33-yard drive that took the final 5:01 off the clock.
● Ohio committed four turnovers to just one for CMU. Senior Josh Cox provided one of the turnovers with an interception. He was also the leading Chps tackler with 11 stops against Ohio.
● Quarterback Shane Morris completed 25 of 35 attempts for 249 yards with two TDs and one interception against the Bobcats.
● Central Michigan totaled 68 yards and a TD. The longest run was for 12 yards. Freshman Tony Poljan averaged 4.5 ypc with 24 yards on 5 carries.
● Ohio blocked a CMU punt, which rolled out of the end zone for a safety.
● The Chippewas had dropped three straight before defeating Ohio. The middle loss was a 31-14 home field defeat at the hands of the Miami RedHawks.
● CMU is ranked third in pass offense (275.7 ypg) and 11th in rushing (129.2 ypg).
● Morris ranks eighth (MAC) in pass efficiency.
● Mark Chapman tops CMU receivers with 24 catches for 485 yards and three touchdowns. Jonathan Ward is a solid contributor with 30 receptions for 237 yards and a TD.
● The Chips have 11 passing TDs and six rushing scores.
● The Chips trailed Ohio 14-7 in the second period before scoring the next 21 points across three quarters. Sean Bunting helped turn the tide with a 60-yard blocked field goal return as time expired in the second stanza.
● CMU took the lead for good with a Jonathan Ward 2-yard TD run to cap the opening drive of the third period.
● Conklin scored the Chips first and last TDs.
● After Ohio pulled to within three at 26-23, Central put the game away with a 10-play, 33-yard drive that took the final 5:01 off the clock.
● Ohio committed four turnovers to just one for CMU. Senior Josh Cox provided one of the turnovers with an interception. He was also the leading Chps tackler with 11 stops against Ohio.
● Quarterback Shane Morris completed 25 of 35 attempts for 249 yards with two TDs and one interception against the Bobcats.
● Central Michigan totaled 68 yards and a TD. The longest run was for 12 yards. Freshman Tony Poljan averaged 4.5 ypc with 24 yards on 5 carries.
● Ohio blocked a CMU punt, which rolled out of the end zone for a safety.
● The Chippewas had dropped three straight before defeating Ohio. The middle loss was a 31-14 home field defeat at the hands of the Miami RedHawks.
● CMU is ranked third in pass offense (275.7 ypg) and 11th in rushing (129.2 ypg).
● Morris ranks eighth (MAC) in pass efficiency.
● Mark Chapman tops CMU receivers with 24 catches for 485 yards and three touchdowns. Jonathan Ward is a solid contributor with 30 receptions for 237 yards and a TD.
● The Chips have 11 passing TDs and six rushing scores.
TOLEDO ROCKETS (4-1, 1-0 MAC)
● The Rockets only loss of the campaign was two weeks ago against the No. 14 Miami Hurricanes.
● UT’s last two sins were by three and five points.
● Rockets receiver Cody Thompson was injured against Eastern Michigan Saturday and is expected to miss the rest of the season. Thompson was UT’s leading receiver with 28 catches for 536 yards.
● Toledo was without senior RB Terry Swanson (second, MAC, 88.8 ypg) last Saturday. He is questionable for this week. Swanson owns five of UT’s nine rushing touchdowns.
● Sophomore Art Thompkins (5-8, 180) is averaging 5.7 ypc
● The Rockets did not have any passing TDs against Eastern Michigan. Shakif Seymore (1-yard) and Thompkins (18-yards) tallied on the ground, while Jameson Vest connected on a pair of field goals (27, 20)
● Quarterback Logan Woodside ranks first in the MAC in passing yards (327.0 ypg)
● Kicker Jameson Vest has made 13 of 15 field goals attempts. He is averaging 2.60 field goals per game, tops in the MAC and second in the nation.
● Toledo’s running backs have not lost a fumble for 17 consecutive games.
● Jordan Williams has a team-high 28 tackles. Olasunkan Adeniyi tops UT with 7-0 tfl among 22 total stops.
● The Rockets only loss of the campaign was two weeks ago against the No. 14 Miami Hurricanes.
● UT’s last two sins were by three and five points.
● Rockets receiver Cody Thompson was injured against Eastern Michigan Saturday and is expected to miss the rest of the season. Thompson was UT’s leading receiver with 28 catches for 536 yards.
● Toledo was without senior RB Terry Swanson (second, MAC, 88.8 ypg) last Saturday. He is questionable for this week. Swanson owns five of UT’s nine rushing touchdowns.
● Sophomore Art Thompkins (5-8, 180) is averaging 5.7 ypc
● The Rockets did not have any passing TDs against Eastern Michigan. Shakif Seymore (1-yard) and Thompkins (18-yards) tallied on the ground, while Jameson Vest connected on a pair of field goals (27, 20)
● Quarterback Logan Woodside ranks first in the MAC in passing yards (327.0 ypg)
● Kicker Jameson Vest has made 13 of 15 field goals attempts. He is averaging 2.60 field goals per game, tops in the MAC and second in the nation.
● Toledo’s running backs have not lost a fumble for 17 consecutive games.
● Jordan Williams has a team-high 28 tackles. Olasunkan Adeniyi tops UT with 7-0 tfl among 22 total stops.
RSS Feed