Image via Eastern Michigan Athletics
FINAL SCORE: TOLEDO 34, EMU 14
Eastern Michigan had no good answer for Toledo’s hot start to Saturday’s game, and lost by 20.
Despite the fact that Toledo (5-2, 2-1 MAC) was penalized 13 times for 103 yards and EMU (4-4, 3-1 MAC) was flagged only once for 10 yards, Toledo’s 480 yards of offense and continuous pressure from its top transfer defender kept EMU at a distance on the scoreboard from the very beginning.
Toledo’s defense had six sacks, nine tackles for loss, and 16 quarterback hurries. Andrew Zock, who followed Toledo head coach Mike Jacobs from Mercer over the offseason and was awarded the top defender in FCS football last year, was responsible for two sacks and nine — yes, nine — hurries.
There are many to pick from, but Zock also came through early with a sack fumble against Noah Kim (16/36 passing, 214 yards, 2 touchdowns, 2 sacks) and put Toledo’s offense back on the field. Toledo settled for just a field goal after its great field position, but it was still a 10-point disadvantage for the home side.
EMU’s offense has prided itself in seeing some improvements in the run game through the middle of the season, but it could only muster up 34 yards on the ground to Toledo’s 192.
By the fourth quarter, Kim was replaced by his backup, Jace Stuckey (and later by Brogan McCaughey). Some of that had to do with his health (entered the game questionable), but some of that also had to do with the flow of the game (or lack thereof).
Here’s how EMU suffered its second home loss of the year:
SCORING SUMMARIES
7-0, TOL (1Q, 7:50) — TOLEDO TD: Richter to Dabbs, wide open, for 28 yards
After a game-opening turnover on downs from Eastern Michigan’s offense, Toledo didn’t need much help getting into the end zone.
To cap a 7-play, 65-yard drive, John Alan Richter found Adjatay Dabbs wide open on a vertical route and an easy score.
10-0, TOL (1Q, 6:21) — TOLEDO FG: 30-yard putt after EMU turnover
Not a great start for EMU’s offense. Its first drive ended on a turnover on downs in Toledo territory, and its next ended before its first play could truly start.
Toledo defensive end Andrew Zock got around EMU’s O-line and laid a big hit on Noah Kim, forcing him to fumble the ball away. Toledo recovered on EMU’s 15-yard line and kicked a field goal after three plays.
17-0, TOL (2Q, 14:13) — TOLEDO TD: Miller scores on short run
Toledo converted on 3rd & 1 (Connor Walendzak run) and 4th & 1 (John Alan Richter pass) to get a new set of downs on EMU’s 7.
Toledo penalized itself twice for 15 yards on the drive (holding, false start), but it didn’t matter.
C.J. Miller finished the drive with a 1-yard run.
17-7, TOL (2Q, 10:46) — EMU TD: Kim to Long finally puts EMU on the board
EMU’s offense had three unsuccessful drives to begin the game, but got on the board with a 30-yard touchdown throw from Kim to his tight end.
A defensive penalty (offsides on Zock) and a couple of first-down passes to Joshua Long and Benson Prosper helped EMU’s cause on the drive.
For Long, it was his second touchdown catch of the season (eighth in EMU career); first since the UMass game.
24-7, TOL (2Q, 7:27) — TOLEDO TD: Toledo pinned back, but big third-down conversion
Toledo had a drop and a false start to force a 3rd & 10 from EMU’s 19.
That didn’t seem to matter, though. Richter stood in the pocket and unloaded to his receiver, who was wide open for a deep, 45-yard gain.
Had that play gone unsuccessful, Toledo would’ve had to bring out its punt team for the first time.
Instead, five plays later, Toledo’s Autavius Ison ran in a 13-yard score to re-extend its early lead.
31-7, TOL (2Q, 1:36) — TOLEDO TD: Richter cruises through the air, Miller scores on the ground
It was all Richter on this drive.
The Toledo quarterback had completions of 19, 18, 14, and 13 to get inside EMU’s 10-yard line.
From second and goal, Miller scored his second touchdown on the day as he bounced the handoff to the right and scored.
34-7, TOL (3Q, 10:46) — TOLEDO FG: Toledo scores 3 after muffed punt
An offensive pass interference on its second-half-opening possession backed Toledo up to a 1st & 20 situation.
Toledo was able to get 19 of those yards back before it was pushed back four yards on a negative run play.
Toledo punted for the first time, and Quinn Fracassi called for a fair catch, but the ball went off his facemask, and Toledo was there to field the loose ball on EMU’s 15.
But wait, there’s more.
A swing pass to Toledo’s running back was incomplete, but the officials initially ruled it a backwards pass that ended up being a fumble returned to the 42-yard line (by Joseph Oluwayemi).
That play was reviewed and reversed to keep Toledo’s offense on the field.
The next play, a pass to Terrell Crosby Jr., was ruled a catch and fumbled out of the end zone. Another official review later, and the pass was ruled incomplete.
After all that, Toledo sent out its field goal unit to make its second 3-pointer of the day.
34-7, TOL (3Q, 10:46) — EMU TD: EMU helped out with Toledo penalties
Nate Lyman made his first career reception in a big way: 26 yards to convert on a 3rd & 20 situation, thanks to a holding call against lineman Guzzy Kayed, to bring the offense to the midfield logo.
A pair of defensive pass interference penalties against Toledo moved EMU up 15 and 12 yards to the Toledo 12-yard line.
Harold Mack caught Kim’s screen pass on third down, shook off a nearby Toledo defender, and crossed the goal line for a score.
That was Mack’s fourth TD grab of the season (ninth in career), and his second game in a row with one.
For Kim, it was his 11th TD throw of the season, and 42nd personally.
KEY PLAYS, MOMENTS, TURNOVERS
PROSPER DROP ENDS OPENING SCORE THREAT
EMU moved the chains the first time it faced a third down (16-yard pass to Long), but failed on its second try (pass breakup, to Prosper) from Toledo’s 35-yard line. Instead of a game-opening field goal try from 50+ yards out, EMU’s offense stayed on the field. Kim’s throw on the run was money, but Prosper dropped the pass in open space.
ZOCK TURNOVER LEADS TO EARLY 3
After some early hurries in the first drive, Zock of Toledo had a tone-setting hit and turnover on EMU’s second drive of the game. Zock got past EMU’s Elijha Payne, who made his second start of the season, and laid a hit on Kim to force a fumble. Toledo recovered on EMU’s 15-yard line and settled for a field goal after two run plays and an incomplete pass.
BENNETT STUFFED TWICE IN A ROW
EMU’s short-yardage running back was stuffed on two important handoffs at the end of the first half.
One, out of the Wildcat package on 3rd & 1 from its own 34-yard line, Braydon Bennett got shoved back for EMU to bring out its punt team for a second time. Then on the next drive, Bennett was able to move forward a yard on a fourth-down handoff in Toledo territory, but the officiating crew brought the chain gang onto the field to see that he was an inch, maybe two, short of the line to gain.
ACCEPTED PENALTY ON PUNT HURTS FIELD POSITION
Toledo’s punt team made no appearances in the first half, but was on the field three times in the third quarter.
Then it was put back on the field for a fourth appearance.
Toledo’s third punt from EMU’s 39-yard line took a high bounce back to the 9-yard line, and the visiting team was penalized for an illegal formation. EMU accepted the 5-yard penalty and had Toledo re-punt the ball. The next punt landed favorably for Toledo as it rolled to the 1-yard line.
NEED A FIRST DOWN, PENALTY FORCES EMU TO PUNT INSTEAD
After a penalty put EMU’s offense in a disadvantageous situation from its own 1-yard line, EMU was able to pick up a couple of first downs (DPI penalty, Bennett run), and eventually ran into another fourth-down spot.
Kim completed his last throw of the day to Prosper for a first-down gain, but an illegal formation penalty moved the offense back five yards and negated the effort. Instead of a late-game conversion to keep the drive moving, EMU’s offense took the field for its fourth time.
TOLEDO FUMBLES IN 4TH
Bryce Eliuk recorded his first career takeaway with a knocked fumble early in the fourth quarter. Davion Williams picked up the loose football and returned it 18 yards to EMU’s 30-yard line.
STUCKEY TAKES OVER AT QB
Down by 20 in the fourth quarter and after Toledo’s fumble put the Eagle offense on the field in good scoring position, the coaching staff put its backup quarterback on the field for his second appearance of the season.
Jace Stuckey, a third-year signee, took the field to replace Kim, who was listed as questionable on the team’s pregame injury report.
In the red zone, Stuckey ran the ball on third and medium for a 5-yard gain, but stopped behind the sticks. On fourth down, he avoided a sack by Zock, but was brought down by Toledo’s Isaac Prince to have the offense’s third turnover on downs.
His second time on the field, he ran a 3rd & 20 ball 10 yards to bring up a 4th & long, and was sacked again for a turnover on downs from midfield.
With under two minutes left in the game, EMU made a second QB change. This time, Brogan McCaughey (Yale transfer) made his first appearance of the season. He had a pair of first-down runs (18, 11 yards) and a 12-yard throw to first-year transfer running back XaVior Tyus.
LATE GOAL LINE STAND BY DEFENSE
A 42-yard Toledo run was stopped just a few feet away from the goal line as Rayquan Adkins chased him a long way from behind to make the stop. Adkins hurt himself on the play and held his arm as he took himself out of the game.
Four plays later, no touchdown. EMU’s defense stood up Toledo’s rush attempts and ended the drive with a turnover on downs inside the 1-yard line.
INJURIES
Ruled out, of note: WR Nick Devereaux, LB Barry Manning, DB Jaivian Norman, DB TE Armaad Sharp, OL Joshua Anderson, OL Cole Powell, WR Kozy Isaac
Returned to action: OL Samuel Adjin, OL Elijha Payne
Questionable, played: QB Noah Kim, LB Zach Mowchan, P Daniel Hull, OL Tyler Brumfield, OL Cole Dellinger
Questionable, did not play: OL Cole Dellinger
In-game exits: QB Noah Kim, LB Zach Mowchan, DB Caleb Coley, DB Rayquan Adkins, DE Carter Evans, OL Tyler Brumfield, OL Samuel Adjin
NEXT GAME
EMU will play its third road MAC game in four weeks with a trip to Athens, Ohio next week to take on the Ohio Bobcats.
Ohio holds a 4-2 overall record (2-0 MAC) and faces Sacramento State (1-5, 0-3 MAC) tonight.
