Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
3-3 , 1-1
Toledo
3-3 , 2-0
Eastern Falls at Toledo, 54-16
10/8/2011 7:02:00 PM | Football, E-Gridiron Group
Eagles even record at 3-3 with road setback
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TOLEDO, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) — The Eastern Michigan University football team saw its season record evened at 3-3 with a 54-16 loss to the University of Toledo here Saturday, Oct. 8, afternoon in the Glass Bowl in a battle of Mid-American Conference West Division teams.
EMU, now 3-3 overall and 1-1 in league play, could not stop a high-powered Toledo offense that recorded 542 yards in total offense.
The Rockets, now 3-3 overall and 2-0 in MAC action, were led by the quarterback tandem of Austin Dantin and Terrance Owens who completed 27-of-30 passes for 302 yards and four touchdown passes.
The Eagles were led by junior quarterback Alex Gillett (Green Springs, Ohio-Clyde) completed 12-of-23 passes for 122 yards while rushing 11 times for 21 yards.
Junior running back Dominique White (Detroit, Mich.-Orchard Lake St. Mary's) paced the EMU rushing attack with 15 carries for 52 yards and one score.
Junior punter Jay Karutz (North Ryde, New South Wales, Australia-Holy Cross College (Australia) turned in an outstanding effort at the Glass Bowl against Toledo, Oct. 8. The 6-foot-2, 198-pound Karutz racked up eight punts for 389 yards and a 48.9 yard average against the Rockets. It was originally thought that he had shattered the EMU single-game mark of 49.5 set by Karutz versus Miami University, Sept. 11, 2010. However, upon later review by Toledo, the statistics crew had incorrectly spotted Karutz's first punt of the second quarter to Toledo's 23-yard line when it should have been to the 33-yard line.
Instead, the 48.6 average ranks fourth best in the EMU record book, and his 389 yards via the punt are 15th best. It still though is the most EMU punting yards by an individual in a single-game since David Rysko tallied 517 at Michigan State, Aug. 31, 2002.
As a team the Eagles totaled 227 yards on 56 offensive plays.
Toledo opened the scoring on a 19-yard pass from Dantin to Williams at the 5:05 mark of the first quarter. Ryan Casano added the PAT boot for a 7-0 Toledo lead.
The Rocket offense made it 14-0 at the 10:00 mark of the second quarter, capping a 57-yard drive in just two plays with Owens finding Bernard Reedy for a 55-yard touchdown pass. Casano added the PAT kick.
The quick-strike Rockets did not take long to add to that advantage with Eric Page racing 85 yards with a punt return on the next Toledo possession after stalling the EMU offense on its next drive. Casano added his third PAT for a 21-0 lead with 8:16 left in the second quarter.
Kody Fulkerson (Zanesville, Ohio-Maysville) posted EMU's first score with a career-best 48-yard field goal with just 3:37 remaining in the first half. Fulkerson's previous best was a 45 yarder earlier this season against Howard University, Sept. 4.
The Eagles came right back to cut Toledo's lead to 21-10 when Gillett found Kinsman Thomas (Bennettsville, S.C.-Marlboro County) for a 22-yard touchdown pass in the left corner of the end zone. That was the eighth career TD pass for Thomas.
The ensuing PAT kick by Fulkerson was blocked and Toledo's Diauntae Morrow ran it all the way back for a two-point defensive touchdown to make it 23-9 Toledo with 1:21 left in the half.
The EMU defense came up with a strong effort in the third quarter, holding Toledo to just a 19-yard field goal by Casano after an 11-play, 60-yard drive was halted at the EMU two-yard line.
The Rockets took advantage of a Gillette interception at the EMU 42-yard line with Owens finding Kenny Stafford for a two-yard touchdown pass with 5:42 left in the third quarter, Casano's PAT made it 33-9 in favor of the Rockets.
Toledo added to its lead with 28 seconds left in the third quarter when Owens found Page for a 24-yard touchdown pass with Casano adding the PAT for a 40-9 Toledo lead.
The Rockets increased their lead to 47-9 just 1:28 later, turning a Gillet interception into a three play, 20-yard drive with Williams powering through the middle for a one-yard run.
The Eagles finally stopped the Toledo offensive surge with a three yard touchdown run by White at the 10:11 mark of the fourth quarter. Fulkerson added the PAT for a 47-16 Toledo advantage.
Toledo put the finishing touches on the scoring for the day with a three-yard run by David Pasquale with 4:40 remaining to make it 54-16.
The Eagles will remain in MAC West Division action next weekend, heading to Mount Pleasant for a 3 p.m. matchup with the Central Michigan University Chippewas.
Team Stats
EMU 0, TOLEDO 7
TOLEDO - WILLIAMS, M. 19 yd pass from DANTIN, Austin (CASANO, Ryan kick) 5 plays, 66 yards, TOP 2:23
EMU 0, TOLEDO 14
TOLEDO - REEDY, Bernard 55 yd pass from OWENS, Terrance (CASANO, Ryan kick) 2 plays, 57 yards, TOP 0:41
EMU 0, TOLEDO 21
TOLEDO - PAGE, Eric 85 yd punt return (CASANO, Ryan kick)
EMU 3, TOLEDO 21
EMU - FULKERSON, Kody 48 yd field goal 9 plays, 42 yards, TOP 4:36
EMU 9, TOLEDO 21
EMU - THOMAS, Kinsman 22 yd pass from GILLETT, Alex (FULKERSON, Kody kickblocked) 3 plays, 65 yards, TOP 0:27
EMU 9, TOLEDO 23
TOLEDO - MARROW, Desmond 98 yd PAT return
EMU 9, TOLEDO 26
TOLEDO - CASANO, Ryan 19 yd field goal 11 plays, 60 yards, TOP 3:39
EMU 9, TOLEDO 33
TOLEDO - STAFFORD, Kenny 2 yd pass from OWENS, Terrance (CASANO, Ryan kick) 5 plays, 42 yards, TOP 1:47
EMU 9, TOLEDO 40
TOLEDO - PAGE, Eric 24 yd pass from DANTIN, Austin (CASANO, Ryan kick) 6 plays, 89 yards, TOP 2:12
EMU 9, TOLEDO 47
TOLEDO - WILLIAMS, M. 1 yd run (CASANO, Ryan kick), 3 plays, 20 yards, TOP 0:46
EMU 16, TOLEDO 47
EMU - WHITE, D. 3 yd run (FULKERSON, Kody kick), 4 plays, 37 yards, TOP 1:16
EMU 16, TOLEDO 54
TOLEDO - PASQUALE, David 3 yd run (CASANO, Ryan kick), 11 plays, 70 yards, TOP 5:24
