Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
Toledo
Eagles Meet Rockets in Friday Night Contest
11/16/2009 3:54:59 PM | Football, E-Gridiron Group
Game time set for 7 p.m. at the Glass Bowl in Toledo, Ohio
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EASTERN MICHIGAN at TOLEDO: Eastern Michigan University and the University of Toledo will be meeting for the 37th time with Toledo holding a 25-11 advantage in the series. The Rockets have won the last two games, taking a 41-17 victory, Sept. 13, 2008, in Ypsilanti and recording a 52-28 victory, Nov. 3, 2007 in Toledo. Eastern won the 2006 contest, 17-13, Oct. 21, in Ypsilanti. UT has won the last four games played in Toledo's Glass Bowl with the last EMU win in that stadium coming on Oct. 23, 1999, by a 20-13 final.
FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS: The last time an EMU played on Friday night was the 2008 season finale when the Eagles won a 56-52 shootout against Central Michigan University in a game played in Mount Pleasant.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING: The EMU football team has a major presence on the national statistics scene through the first 10 games. As a team the Eagles are the fourth-ranked pass defense in the nation at 156.20 yards per game. Eastern fares even better on the Mid-American Conference front as a team, ranking first in pass defense and fourth in tackles-for-loss. Individually, senior safety Chris May (Jupiter, Fla.-Dwyer) is sixth in interceptions at .56 per game while senior linebacker Andre Hatchett (Indianapolis, Ind.-Warren Central) is tied for 16th in tackles-per-game at 10.00.
TWO IN A ROW FOR DOUBLE DIGITS: For the second game in a row the EMU defense came up with two players recording double-digit tackle totals in a game. In last Saturday's, Nov. 14, EMU-WMU game redshirt sophomore linebacker Marcus English (Dayton, Ohio-Trotwood/Madison) and senior linebacker Andre Hatchett (Indianapolis, Ind.-Warren Central) both turned in 13 total tackles against the Broncos. In the previous game, Nov. 5, at Northern Illinois, redshirt sophomore Martavius Cardwell (Flint, Mich.-Carman Ainsworth) had 17 stops with Hatchett turning in 13. Hatchett also had one tackle-for-loss of one yard and an interception
EAGLES FOURTH IN PASS DEFENSE: The EMU pass defense, ranked first in the nation through most of the first six weeks, has slipped to fourth in the latest national rankings. The Eagles have allowed 156.20 yards per game this season.
MAY MAKES IT FIVE: Senior safety Chris May (Jupiter, Fla.-Dwyer) turned in his fifth interception of the season with a pick against Western Michigan last weekend, Nov. 14. May's interception came on Western's third play from scrimmage and led to an EMU touchdown.
GROUND AND AIR ATTACK: True freshman Alex Gillett (Green Springs, Ohio-Clyde) made his first start as an Eagle an impressive one in last Saturday's, Nov. 14, 2009 home finale against Western Michigan. Gillett led the Eagles in rushing, with 105 yards on 26 carries and also scored on a four-yard run. In addition, Gillett completed 15-of-26 passes for 186 yards and a 12-yard touchdown strike to Kinsman Thomas (Bennettsville, S.C.-Marlboro County). Gillett has completed 39-of-82 passes for 420 yards and one touchdown and has rushed 61 times for 304 yards and one touchdown, while playing in seven games this year.
TWO FOR THOMAS: Freshman wide receiver Kinsman Thomas (Bennettsville, S.C.-Marlboro County) recorded his second receiving touchdown of the year when he made a leaping grab of an Alex Gillett (Green Springs, Ohio-Clyde) pass for a 12-yard score last weekend, Nov. 14, against a visiting Western Michigan squad. Thomas also led the Eagles in receiving against the Broncos with five catches for 47 yards. Thomas' first touchdown reception was a 77-yard pass from quarterback Kyle McMahon (Rochester Hills, Mich.-Pontiac Notre Dame Prep) at Arkansas (Oct. 31).
THE INJURY SITUATION: The Eagles have suffered through some major injuries this season. Prior to the season beginning, starrting offensive tackle Bridger Buche (Portland, Mich.-Portland) was lost for the year with a hip injury. Starting quarterback Andy Schmitt (St. Johns, Mich.-St. Johns) was lost for the year after the Michigan game, Oct. 19. Staring safety Ryan Downard (Lima, Ohio-Shawnee) was injured in practice after the third game of the year and was out for the rest of the season. Starting offensive center Eric Davis (Southgate, Mich.-Anderson) was injured in the Northern Illinois game, Nov. 5, and will miss the final three games of the year while starting cornerback Johnny Sears (Fresno, Calif.-Edison) was also injured in that NIU contest and could be lost for the final three games. Starting punter Zach Johnson (Springboro, Ohio-Springboro) missed two games, Arkansas, Oct. 31, and NIU, but returned for last weekend's, Nov. 14, WMU game. The Eagles have also lost other starters for individual games this year.
