Rockets Ruin Roback's Return to the Glass City

Rob and Matt Recap the Game.

TOLEDO, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) – Eastern Michigan University freshman quarterback Brogan Roback's (Maumee, Ohio-St. John's Jesuit) return to the Glass City was ruined as the EMU football team fell, 55-16, to the University of Toledo Saturday night, Nov. 2, in a Mid-American Conference contest at the Glass Bowl.

With the setback, the Green and White drop to 1-8, 0-5 MAC on the 2013 campaign as Toledo improves to 6-3, 4-1 MAC.

After coming in off the bench in place of redshirt junior Tyler Benz (Park Ridge, Ill.-Maine Township South), Roback threw for 209 yards and two touchdowns on 11-of-22 passing. Roback's favorite receiver was sophomore Dustin Creel (Industry, Pa.-Western Beaver), who tallied career highs with six catches for 115 yards. Creel's 100+ yard receiving game marked the first time an Eastern receiver went over the century mark in yards since Garrett Hoskins hauled in 158 receiving yards against Army, Oct. 20, 2012. For the EMU rushing attack, Ryan Brumfield (Chester Springs, Pa.-Owen J. Robert) carried the ball 17 times for 67 yards in his first career start donning the Green and White.

For Toledo, starting quarterback Terrance Owens completed 18-of-24 passes for 375 yards and three touchdowns. Out of the 729 total yards of offense for the Rockets, 334 came on the ground, led by 168 rushing yards and two touchdowns from tailback Kareem Rush.

Out of the gate EMU won the toss and elected to receive, as Benz led the offense out on to the field. On the first play from scrimmage, the redshirt junior quarterback found his favorite receiver, Tyreese Russell (Chicago, Ill.-Walther Lutheran), on a play-action rollout for an 18-yard play and an Eastern first down. However, the drive stalled near midfield, and freshman Austin Barnes (Fairview Heights, Ill.-O'Fallon) was called upon to pin the Rockets back at their own nine-yard line.

The poor field position did not phase Toledo as the Rockets marched 91 yards down the field in nine plays to score on their opening drive. Owens completed all three passes on the drive, the final throw a seven-yard connection to Alex Zmolik. Following an EMU three-and-out, Owens found Dwight Macon for a 47-yard touchdown pass, giving Toledo the early 14-0 lead with 7:46 remaining in the first quarter.

After another Toledo touchdown, "true" freshman quarterback and area native Roback came in off the bench, throwing a 25-yard strike to Creel to begin the drive. Although, on the very next play, Roback's deep pass down the sideline was intercepted by the Rockets.

Two drives later, the Maumee, Ohio native directed the Green and White down the field for its first scoring drive of the night. Starting at their own 37-yard line, the Eagles used eight plays to go 39 yards, setting up a 41-yard field goal by Dylan Mulder (Saline, Mich.-Saline). The big play of the drive was another Roback connection to Creel, good for 27 yards. With 7:43 left in the opening half, Toledo held a 28-3 advantage.

Following another UT score, Eastern responded with a score of its own as Roback and Creel led the EMU offense on back-to-back scoring drives. The dynamic duo hooked up twice for 28 yards on the 76-yard touchdown drive, including a 16-yard touchdown pass-and-catch in the corner of the endzone. However, with just 1:11 remaining in the half, the Rockets would strike again with a 20-yard field goal to take a 38-10 score into the locker room at the half.

Roback was 6-of-12 for 101 yards in the first half, finding Creel on five of those six completions for 88 yards, a career-high for the sophomore wide receiver. Brumfield led the EMU ground attack, rushing for 63 yards on 13 carries in the first 30 minutes of the game. The Rockets totaled 456 yards of offense in the first half, led by 260 passing yards from Owens and 144 on the ground by Kareem Rush.

The tandem of Roback and Creel picked up right where they left off, connecting for 29 yards on EMU's first offensive play of the second half, entering the Eagles into Toledo territory. Nonetheless, the drive would stall, and the punt sailed into the endzone. Rockets would increase their lead to 38, 48-10, on an 80-yard touchdown pass following the touchback.

On the first drive of the final quarter, Roback orchestrated another EMU touchdown drive. A career-long 45-yard pass to Jay Jones (Palm Coast, Fla.-Matanzas) by Roback put the Eagles in UT territory. On third-and-goal from the three-yard line, the freshman quarterback rolled out to find a wide open Brumfield in the endzone, making the score, 48-16. The eight play, 80-yard drive took 3:33 off the clock.

The Eagles return home to face in-state rival Western Michigan University, Nov. 9. Kickoff from Rynearson Stadium is scheduled for 1 p.m. as EMU takes its first step in trying to retain the Michigan MAC Trophy for the third consecutive year.

Next Event

Team Stats

Brogan Roback

Tyler Benz

Players Mentioned

Austin Barnes

Tyler Benz

Ryan Brumfield

Dustin Creel

Garrett Hoskins

Jay Jones

Dylan Mulder

Brogan Roback

Tyreese Russell

Players Mentioned

Austin Barnes

Tyler Benz

Ryan Brumfield

Dustin Creel

Garrett Hoskins

Jay Jones

Dylan Mulder

Brogan Roback

Tyreese Russell

Eastern Michigan Athletics