Rynearson Stadium -- Ypsilanti, Mich
Could this week’s match-up of Toledo at Eastern Michigan be considered a “trap” game on the Rockets schedule?
Toledo is coming off a rivalry win over Bowling Green and will face some talent-laden teams -- Buffalo and Western Michigan -- in Weeks Eight and Nine.
First, however, they need to get by an Eastern Michigan team that may have slipped just under the radar after upsetting Purdue 20-19 back in early September.That was actually the Eagles last win, as they have dropped four straight since then. Three of those losses wee Mid-American Conference foes.
Even a cursory look at the scores, however, shows EMU is plenty competitive. The Eagles lost by seven at Buffalo (35-28) and dropped the next three by three points each. Two of those games went into overtime.
Toledo leads the series with EMU 34-11, taking the last 11 games and 17 of the last 18. The most recent Eastern Michigan victory in the series was back in 2006.
TOLEDO ROCKETS (3-2, 1-0 MAC)
>>>> The Rockets two losses were at home to Miami (Fla) (49-24) and at Fresno State (49-27).
>>>> Toledo celebrated homecoming last week with a 52-36 win over Bowling Green. It was UT’s ninth straight victory over its area rival, moving the Rockets ahead in the all-time series, 40-39-4.
>>>> Toledo jumped out to a 17-0 lead in the first quarter, but Bowling Green trailed by just three 24-21) at intermission and again (31-28) after three quarters. BG had a slight edge in total yards (481-472)
>>>> Redshirt freshman Bryant Koback registered three TDs and 90 yards against Bowling Green. Shakif Seymore had a team-high 101 yards on 18 carries.
>>>> Junior QB Mitchell Guadagni missed the BG game with an injury, but he is expected back this week. Sophomore Eli Peters filled in, compleing 17 of 35 passes for 184 yards and three scores. He was aided by a running game that provided 288 yards on 44 carries.
>>>> The Rockets are second among MAC teams in rushing with an average of 196.0 ypg. They are fifth in pass offense 252.2 ypg and first in pass efficiency.
>>>> Toledo’s 46.4 ppg tops the conference. It is surrendering 36.2 ppg (10th MAC).
EASTERN MICHIGAN (2-4, 0-3 MAC)
>>>> The Eagles have been in plenty of tight games over the last three seasons. In fact, 21 of the last 31 contests have been decided by seven points or less.
>>>> EMU is ranked fourth nationally in the fewest second half points allowed (6.0 per second half). Toledo, on the other hand, is sixth nationally in points after halftime (21.8 ppg).
>>>> Eastern Michigan held the lead once against Western Michigan, pulling in front 17-14 midway through the third quarter on a Mike Glass III 4-yard run. The Broncos, however, tallied two touchdowns early in the fourth period, and EMU could only make up seven of those points in the 27-24 loss.
>>>> Eastern Michigan passed for 206 yards and two TDs. Glass got the bulk of the work at quarterback, completing 15 of 24 for 155 yards and a TD. He also ran 17 times for 101 yards and another score.
>>>> Tyler Wiegers completed three of seven for 155 yards and a TD in his time at quarterback.
>>>> Senior Shaq Vann leads the Eagles ground game with 83 carries for 318 yards (3.8 ypc). He has reached the end zone twice, while Glass has four rushing scores to his credit.
>>>> Jeremiah Harris’ blocked kick on a Bronco PAT attempt was the first Eagles kick block in 346 days. It kept EMU within two scores (27-17). Harris has three of Eastern’s 10 blocked kicks since Chris Creighton became head coach.
>>>> Sophomore Jake Julien was named the MAC West Division Special Teams Player of the Week for the third time this season after he registered five punts in EMU’s tilt at Western Michigan, Oct. 6. The Barrie, Ontario native tallied 294 yards by punt, with four of his kicks pinning the Broncos inside their 20-yard-line. Julien’s longest punt of the day went a career-best 73 yards. Overall, Julien ranks second in the MAC and 13th nationally in punting at 45.2 yards per kick.
>>>> Blake Banham leads EMU receivers with 31 catches for 444 yards and three touchdowns.