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YPSILANTI, Mich.—The Eastern Michigan University football team fell, 41-17, to the visiting University of Toledo in a Mid-American Conference West Division football game played in a steady downpour here Saturday, Sept. 13, in Rynearson Stadium.
Toledo, now 1-1 overall and 1-0 in MAC action, broke open a close 14-7 first-half lead by scoring 27 unanswered point in the third quarter and went on to record the 41-17 victory.
With the loss the Eagles fell to 1-2 overall and 0-1 in league play.
Sophomore quarterback Kyle McMahon (Rochester Hills, Mich.-Pontiac Notre Dame Prep) came in to relieve redshirt-junior signal-caller Andy Schmitt (St. Johns, Mich.-St. Johns) to lead the Eagles offensively, going 11-of -18 for 128 yards via the air, while rushing for 59 yards. Sophomore running back Dwayne Priest (Roanoke, Va.-Fleming-Fork Union) led the Eagles' rushing effort, going 80 yards on 13 attempts, while senior tailback Terrence Blevins (Detroit, Mich.-Denby) ran for both of EMU's touchdowns.
Defensively, safety Ryan Downard (Lima, Ohio-Shawnee) had four tackles and an interception.
For the Rockets, Aaron Opelt went 8-of -18 for 114 yards, while DeJuane Collins rushed for 168 yards on 19 attempts.
The Rockets opened the scoring on their first possession, taking advantage of a three-play, 72-yard drive less than four minutes into the game, taking an early 7-0 lead.
Neither team could find its rhythm in the pouring rain, as they combined for three turnovers in three successive plays. After forcing a fumble, Schmitt threw an interception, giving the Rockets the ball right back. His counterpart, Opelt, returned the favor, as Downard picked off his first pass of the year, just seconds after the Rockets took over.
The two teams continued to exchange punts, as neither side could get their offense in gear until 5:47 when the Eagles got their first down of the game, following three consecutive rushes by Blevins.
The Rockets capitalized on a bad snap by the Eagles, carrying the ball 54-yards to the EMU one-yard line. Collins rushed in for the score, putting Toledo up 14-0 after a Steigerwald PAT.
Eastern cut the lead to seven after a nine-play, 47-yard drive that ended on a one-yard Blevins run into the end zone and a Joe Carithers (Dacula, Ga.-Dacula-Palomar (Calif.) J.C.) PAT with 6:00 remaining in the second half. UT went to the locker room with a 14-7 lead.
Toledo found its offensive groove in the third quarter, putting together three scoring drives within the first seven minutes to turn a seven-point game into a 34-7 lead. After finally forcing a Rocket punt, the Eagles fumbled the ball, giving UT the ball at the EMU 17. The Rockets found the end zone in two plays, extending the lead to 41-7.
After being shut out in the third quarter, the Eagles were able to put three points on the board when Carithers nailed a 30-yard field goal with 12:18 remaining in the game.
With 3:44 remaining in the contest, Blevins rushed two yards for his second score of the game, cutting the deficit, 41-17. Eastern Michigan would get no closer though, as the Rockets captured the victory, 41-17.
The Eagles are back in non-conference action next Saturday, Sept. 20, when they travel to College Park, Md. to take on the University of Maryland Terrapins at Chevy Chase Bank Field at Byrd Stadium. Kick-off is set for 1 p.m. The game can be seen on ESPN360.com.
