Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
0-11 , 0-7
Toledo
5-6 , 3-4
Football Falls at Toledo, 47-21
11/20/2009 10:24:00 PM | Football, E-Gridiron Group
Eagles wrap up the 2009 campaign Friday night, Nov. 26, at Akron
Box score.
TOLEDO, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) – Four turnovers and several untimely penalties doomed the Eastern Michigan University football team in a 47-21 setback to the University of Toledo Friday evening, Nov. 20, here at the Glass Bowl. The Rockets tallied 452 yards of total offense, including 330 on the ground, compared to 269 for the Eagles.
Eastern Michigan could never recover from the early 16-0 deficit, falling to 0-11 overall and 0-7 in the league. Meanwhile Toledo ups it MAC mark to 3-4 and 5-6 overall.
True freshman Alex Gillett (Clyde, Ohio-Clyde) was 13-of-25 passing for 195 yards along with two touchdowns and a pair of interceptions. A dual threat, Gillett was the team's leading rusher with 78 yards on 15 attempts via the ground. Dwayne Priest (Roanoke, Va.-William Fleming-Fork Union Academy) finished the game with a touchdown but had zero net yards on eight carries. Tyrone Burke (Syracuse, N.Y.-Corcoran-Milford Academy) also caught his first touchdown of the season to finish the night with five catches for 79 yards.
The Rockets used a two-prong attack on the ground with Morgan Williams and DaJuane Collins each rushing for more than 140 yards. Williams notched 155 yards on 11 carries and a touchdowns, while Collins turned in 144 yards on 20 handoffs with a pair of scores. Austin Dantin was a stellar 10-of-11 passing for 116 despite being sacked three times.
The Rockets jumped out to a quick 3-0 edge on the opening drive on the contest, when Alex Steigerwald split the uprights with 9:10 showing on the clock. Toledo marched 43 yards in 10 plays down to the EMU 23-yard line before a Devon Davis (Columbus, Ind.-East) tackle-for-loss on 3rd-and-5 stalled the drive.
Eastern's offense was unable to get much going on its first possession, with senior punter Zach Johnson (Springboro, Ohio-Springboro) being called on to pin Toledo at the two-yard line. Undaunted by having to go 98 yards for the score, the Midnight Blue and Gold ate up more than seven minutes off the clock before David Pasquale found pay dirt from 15-yards out for the score. The PAT was blocked by Brandon Slater (Southfield, Mich.-Lathrup) to keep the deficit at 9-0 with 14:18 to go in the second quarter.
Turnovers again reared their ugly head for the Eagles deep inside their own territory when Gillett was sacked for a 17 yard loss and in the process on going down lost the football. The Rockets were able to land on the loose ball in the end zone to make it 16-0 with 13:13 to play before the intermission.
Eastern was able to get the offense in gear on the ensuing possession, Gillett found a streaking Burke across the middle for the 48-yard touchdown strike. Joe Carithers' (Dacula, Ga.-Dacula-Palomar J.C.) kick was good to pull EMU back within nine points, 16-7, with 11:47 still remaining in the second quarter.
Toledo would tack on another score to up the advantage to 23-7, but Gillett would again direct the Eagles down the field for an answer. On 4th-and-6 from the Rockets' 26-yard line, Kinsman Thomas (Bennettsville, S.C.-Marlboro County) caught a bullet from the rooking signal caller for the touchdown in the back of the end zone. The extra point followed to make it 23-14 just before the half. A 47-yard rush by Williams set Toledo up for a chip-shot field goal with four ticks left on the clock and the squads headed into the locker rooms with UT up 26-14.
After a stalled drive to open the half the Eagles looked to have pulled within a score as Tim Fort (Southfield, Mich.-Southfield) stepped in front of the Dantin pass and returned it for the score. However, the plays was nullified due to roughing the passer penalty. Five plays later Toledo made a 14-0 swing, when Pasquale rumbled in from six-yards out to increase the Toledo advantage to 33-14 with 10:17 left in the third quarter.
Luck was this time on Eastern's side with 4:38 to go in third, as Davis got a paw on a Rocket punt to setup great field possession at the UT 31-yard line. Priest capped the drive with a one-yard rush around the right side to make it a 12 point contest, 33-21.
Toledo would salt the game away though with two fourth quarter touchdowns to capture the 47-21 decision.
Eastern Michigan closes out the 2009 schedule Friday, Nov. 27, against the University of Akron. Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. at InfoCision Stadium - Summa Field. WEMU (89.1 FM) and WCHB (1200 AM) will carry the game on the radio with All-MACess video streaming the game via MAC-Sports.com.
Team Stats
EMU 0, TOLEDO 3
TOLEDO - STEIGERWALD, A. 33 yd field goal 10 plays, 43 yards, TOP 5:50
EMU 0, TOLEDO 9
TOLEDO - PASQUALE, David 15 yd run (STEIGERWALD, A. kickblocked), 15 plays, 98 yards, TOP 7:41
EMU 0, TOLEDO 16
TOLEDO - JOHNSON, Alex 0 yd fumble recovery (STEIGERWALD, A. kick)
EMU 7, TOLEDO 16
EMU - BURKE, Tyrone 48 yd pass from GILLETT, Alex (CARITHERS, Joe kick) 3 plays, 60 yards, TOP 1:15
EMU 7, TOLEDO 23
TOLEDO - COLLINS, D. 55 yd run (STEIGERWALD, A. kick), 5 plays, 56 yards, TOP 1:57
EMU 14, TOLEDO 23
EMU - THOMAS, Kinsman 29 yd pass from GILLETT, Alex (CARITHERS, Joe kick) 6 plays, 67 yards, TOP 3:29
EMU 14, TOLEDO 26
TOLEDO - STEIGERWALD, A. 32 yd field goal 7 plays, 50 yards, TOP 0:45
EMU 14, TOLEDO 33
TOLEDO - PASQUALE, David 6 yd run (STEIGERWALD, A. kick), 6 plays, 41 yards, TOP 3:23
EMU 21, TOLEDO 33
EMU - PRIEST, Dwayne 1 yd run (CARITHERS, Joe kick), 6 plays, 31 yards, TOP 2:05
EMU 21, TOLEDO 40
TOLEDO - WILLIAMS, M. 15 yd run (STEIGERWALD, A. kick), 8 plays, 68 yards, TOP 3:56
EMU 21, TOLEDO 47
TOLEDO - COLLINS, D. 4 yd run (STEIGERWALD, A. kick), 4 plays, 29 yards, TOP 1:38
