Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
0-6 , 0-3
Toledo
6-1 , 4-0
Eagles Fall to Rockets in MAC West Division Shootout
10/13/2012 6:10:00 PM | Football, E-Gridiron Group
Eastern Michigan and Toledo combine for 1,279 total offensive yards
| Box score | Photo Gallery. | Coach English Postgame Audio. | Bronson_Hill Postgame Audio. | Re-Watch the Game. | Game Highlights |
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — Eastern Michigan University and the University of Toledo turned on the offensive fireworks here Saturday, Oct. 13, on a cold and rainy day in Rynearson Stadium. By the time the last play was run the visiting Rockets had posted a 52-47 Mid-American Conference West Division football victory.
Trailing by a 52-40 score, the Eagles cut the deficit to five, 52-47, with 1:57 left on a 7-yard touchdown run by sophomore tailback Bronson Hill (Grand Rapids, Mich.-Catholic Central).
Eastern stopped the Rockets on their next possession and the Eagles had one last offensive series to notch the win, but the game ended on a long desperation pass by Tyler Benz (Park Ridge, Ill.-Maine Township South) that was knocked down by the Toledo defense as time expired. Toledo entered the West Division battle with a perfect 3-0 league record and a 5-1 overall mark and now improve to 6-1 and 4-0.
The loss drops EMU to 0-6 overall and 0-3 in league play.
The two teams combined for a whopping eight touchdowns in the third quarter alone, four by each team. Eastern rolled up 624 total offensive yards in the game while Toledo posted 655 total offensive yards.
The loss spoiled one of the all-time great offensive games by EMU as a team, as well as sophomore tailback Hill.
Hill, getting his first starting nod of the season, turned in the best rushing performance in the nation this year with 283 yards gained on 28 rushes to go along with an EMU record-tying four touchdown runs. His rushing effort is the second-best in school history, trailing only Larry Radcliff's 291 rushing yards, Oct. 16, 1971, at home against Eastern Kentucky. Hill's four touchdowns is the 13th time that an EMU player has scored four touchdowns in a game.
Toledo's Bernard Reedy also turned in an outstanding offensive show, catching 11 passes for 237 yards and two scores while also returning six kickoffs for 170 yards and a score.
EMU quarterback Benz completed 18-of-27 passes for 301 yards and two touchdowns and tight end Garrett Hoskins (Grand Rapids, Mich.-Creston) hauled in seven catches for 103 yards.
Toledo quarterback Terrance Owens completed 21-of-32 passes for 401 yards and three touchdowns and tailback David Fluellen carried 24 times for 188 yards and two scores.
Toledo got on the scoreboard early, taking advantage of an interception by linebacker Dan Molls on EMU's first offensive play of the game.
The Rockets made that miscue sting, scoring five plays later on a four-yard touchdown run by Owens. Jeremiah Detmer added the PAT for a quick 7-0 lead at the 13:02 mark of the first quarter.
Eastern came right back to score its initial first-quarter points of the season on a 31-yard field goal by Dylan Mulder (Saline, Mich.-Saline) at the 9:10 mark. That score was set up by an interception from EMU cornerback Marcell Rose (Orlando, Fla.-Cypress Creek).
The Eagles then went up 10-7 with 4:49 left in the first quarter on a 10-yard scoring pass from Benz to tight end Tyreese Russell (Melrose Park, Ill.-Walther Lutheran) with Mulder adding the PAT boot.
After stopping the Eagles' offense on a fourth-and-three play on the Toledo 38-yard line, the Rockets used just two plays to go on top, 14-10, in a career-long 53-yard Fluellen touchdown run. Detmer added the PAT with 10:07 left in the second quarter.
The Rockets closed out the first-half scoring on a 6-yard run by Fluellen and Detmer added the PAT for a 21-10 Toledo advantage.
After turning back Toledo on the first offensive possession of the second half, the Eagles responded with a 80-yard scoring drive, capped off by a career-long 47 yard touchdown run by Hill. Mulder added the PAT and with 10:18 left in the third quarter it was Toledo 21, EMU 17.
That joy would be short lived, however, as Toledo's Reedy returned the ensuing kickoff 89 yards for a touchdown with Detmer adding the PAT for a 28-17 Toledo lead with 10:06 left in the third.
Eastern's Hill would top his previous long touchdown run with a second score of 58 yards on EMU's next offensive series. Mulder added the PAT as EMU cut the deficit to four, 28-24, with 8:59 left in the third.
Toledo would continue to play 'can you top this' with Reedy hauling in an Owens throw for a 65-yard touchdown pass with Detmer adding the PAT for a 35-24 Toledo lead with 8:46 in the third.
Eastern would top that with Hill once again recording a personal-best 70-yard touchdown run at the 8:27 mark of the third. Mulder would miss the PAT to cut Toledo's lead to five, 35-30.
Toledo continued with the offensive fireworks, going up 42-30 just 1:32 later when Owens found a wide open Alonzo Russell for a 60-yard touchdown pass at the 6:55 mark of the third.
That six-touchdown effort by the two teams to start the third quarter were tallied in just three minutes and 23 seconds.
Eastern would make it seven scores in just 6:46 when Benz connected with Russell for a 41-yard touchdown pass with Mulder adding the PAT to make it Toledo 42, EMU 37, with 3:32 left in the third quarter.
Toledo would continue the offensive onslaught with Reedy hauling in a 59-yard pass from Owens with 1:36 left in the third. Detmer added the PAT for a 49-37 Toledo lead.
A 41-yard Mulder field goal with 12:15 left in the fourth quarter cut the Toledo lead to nine, 49-40.
The Rockets would go up by 12, 52-40, with 4:47 left in the game on a 22-yard field goal by Detmer.
Hill closed out the scoring on a 7-yard run with Mulder adding the PAT with 1:57 left to cut Toledo's lead to five, 52-47.
The Eagles, needing a touchdown to win, tried an onside kick that was recovered by the Rockets.
Eastern stopped the Rockets on their next possession and the Eagles had one last offensive series to notch the win, but the game ended on a long desperation pass by Benz that was knocked down by the Toledo defense.
The Eagles will remain at home next weekend, Oct. 20, for a non-conference tilt with the United States Military Academy (Army) at 1 p.m.
Team Stats
TOLEDO 7, EMU 0
TOLEDO - OWENS, Terrance 4 yd run (DETMER,Jeremiah kick), 6 plays, 33 yards, TOP 1:49
TOLEDO 7, EMU 3
EMU - MULDER, Dylan 31 yd field goal 9 plays, 44 yards, TOP 3:45
TOLEDO 7, EMU 10
EMU - RUSSELL, T. 10 yd pass from BENZ, Tyler (MULDER, Dylan kick) 5 plays, 58 yards, TOP 2:42
TOLEDO 14, EMU 10
TOLEDO - FLUELLEN, David 53 yd run (DETMER,Jeremiah kick), 2 plays, 62 yards, TOP 0:31
TOLEDO 21, EMU 10
TOLEDO - FLUELLEN, David 6 yd run (DETMER,Jeremiah kick), 12 plays, 91 yards, TOP 4:20
TOLEDO 21, EMU 17
EMU - HILL, Bronson 47 yd run (MULDER, Dylan kick), 4 plays, 80 yards, TOP 1:35
TOLEDO 28, EMU 17
TOLEDO - REEDY, Bernard 89 yd kickoff return (DETMER,Jeremiah kick)
TOLEDO 28, EMU 24
EMU - HILL, Bronson 58 yd run (MULDER, Dylan kick), 3 plays, 69 yards, TOP 0:58
TOLEDO 35, EMU 24
TOLEDO - REEDY, Bernard 65 yd pass from OWENS, Terrance (DETMER,Jeremiah kick) 1 plays, 65 yards, TOP 0:13
TOLEDO 35, EMU 30
EMU - HILL, Bronson 70 yd run (MULDER, Dylan kickfailed), 1 plays, 70 yards, TOP 0:13
TOLEDO 42, EMU 30
TOLEDO - RUSSELL, Alonzo 60 yd pass from OWENS, Terrance (DETMER,Jeremiah kick) 3 plays, 65 yards, TOP 1:32
TOLEDO 42, EMU 37
EMU - RUSSELL, T. 41 yd pass from BENZ, Tyler (MULDER, Dylan kick) 6 plays, 82 yards, TOP 3:19
TOLEDO 49, EMU 37
TOLEDO - REEDY, Bernard 59 yd pass from OWENS, Terrance (DETMER,Jeremiah kick) 5 plays, 76 yards, TOP 1:49
TOLEDO 49, EMU 40
EMU - MULDER, Dylan 41 yd field goal 8 plays, 59 yards, TOP 4:14
TOLEDO 52, EMU 40
TOLEDO - DETMER,Jeremiah 22 yd field goal 16 plays, 78 yards, TOP 7:21
TOLEDO 52, EMU 47
EMU - HILL, Bronson 7 yd run (MULDER, Dylan kick), 8 plays, 77 yards, TOP 2:43
