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Posted on Sat, Oct 13, 2012 : 5:30 p.m.

EMU running back Bronson Hill rushes for NCAA best 283 yards, but Toledo wins, 52-47

By Courtney Sacco

Eastern Michigan sophomore running back Bronson Hill ran for a career-high 283 yards on 28 carries and four touchdowns, but it wasn’t enough as the Eagles lost a 52-47 shootout to Toledo at Rynearson Stadium on Thursday.

EMU is now 0-6 (0-3 Mid-American Conference), while Toledo improved to 6-1 (4-0 MAC).

Hill’s total on the ground is the largest single-game rushing total by a running back in college football this season and the second most by a running back in program history. Hill finished eight yards shy from tying Larry Radcliff’s mark of 291 yards rushing that was set in 1971.

bronson-hill-emu-toledo.jpg

Eastern Michigan running back Bronson Hill rushed for 283 yards, the highest single-game total for so far in the NCAA this year, but EMU lost to Toledo 52-47.

Courtney Sacco | AnnArbor.com

After gaining only 398 yards and scoring 21 points in their last two games combined, the Eagles exploded for 624 yards of offense and 47 points.

Hill had touchdown runs of 47, 58, 70 and seven yards on the day. The four touchdowns tied an EMU single-game record for touchdowns in a game.

Quarterback Tyler Benz was 18-of-27 passing for 301 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. Tight end Garrett Hoskins led the Eagles with seven receptions for 103 yards. Tyresse Russell added two receptions, both of which were touchdowns, and 51 yards receiving.

Toledo's Bernard Reedy scored three touchdowns in a wild third quarter in which the team's combined to score eight touchdowns. Toledo led 21-10 at the half and was ahead 49-37 at the end of the third quarter. Toledo (6-1, 4-0 Mid-American) only trailed once, at 10-7 in the first quarter, but got two touchdowns from David Fluellen in the second quarter. Fluellen finished with 188 yards.

In the third quarter, there were eight touchdowns, four by each team. Reedy scored on an 89-yard kickoff return after the Eagles' Bronson Hill ran 47 yards for a TD. Hill ran for another score, for 58 yards but 13 seconds later, Reedy caught a 65-yard TD from Terrance Owens. Hill answered 19 seconds later with a 70-yard run. Reedy later hauled in a 59-yard touchdown pass. He finished with 11 receptions for 237 yards.

The Rockets have won six in a row since losing in overtime at Arizona

The EMU defense surrendered 655 yards to the Rockets, negating the offensive explosion of the Eagles.

Reedy set a school record for all-purpose yards in a game, gaining 407 yards for the Rockets. Reedy scored three touchdowns for the Rockets, including an 89-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.

Toledo quarterback Terrance Owens threw for 401 yards on 21-of-32 passing to go along with three touchdowns and two interceptions.

EMU now turns its attention to next week, as Army will visit Rynearson Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Comments

Paula Gardner

Mon, Oct 15, 2012 : 12:10 a.m.

Courtney Sacco did the photo gallery, and the story was added to the original file for the photo gallery. That's why his name is the author here.

greg, too

Tue, Oct 16, 2012 : 1:37 a.m.

EMU has a football team?

lumberg48108

Mon, Oct 15, 2012 : 4:21 p.m.

Give your staff and resources, I accept your explanation. Perhaps deputizing some readers might be a resolution? annarbor.com is big on "community" writers so offer up the chance at a byline to reporters out there looking for work or just to stay involved with writing, and there are plenty out there, to cover games/events you cannot. Pay or not ... I understand these creates more burdens on you administratively, but I am sure there are people that would like a byline out there who would welcome the chance to cover a D-1 college team. And maybe EMU won't slip through the cracks ...

Paula Gardner

Mon, Oct 15, 2012 : 10:46 a.m.

We did not cover the gave this week with a reporter. Matt Durr was on his way, but I called him back to the office to do additional reporting on the Ann Arbor high school football brawl. Pete Cunningham also did not go to the UM game as planned, instead coming to the office to help with the additional high school coverage. It wasn't a perfect solution, but the brawl was unusual and we knew that we could still deliver our own photos and game results for EMU.

lumberg48108

Mon, Oct 15, 2012 : 5:15 a.m.

so to confirm, you had no sports reporter at the EMU home game?

lumberg48108

Sun, Oct 14, 2012 : 11:41 p.m.

so now staff photographers are sports reporters for AA.com? You already told us you won't cover road games, even though every road game is in Michigan, Ohio, or Indiana But now you dont have a sports writer covering EMU HOME GAMES and need to AP to fill in the blanks? The all to important U-M game needed more than one reporter for the Illinois game??? Que the "we try to cover EMU sports well" reply ... PLEASE, just be honest and tell the readers you have no intention of covering EMU football I can handle honesty, just not the BS

observer

Sun, Oct 14, 2012 : 6:11 p.m.

no more moral victories especially after last years improvement.....

genetracy

Sun, Oct 14, 2012 : 1:40 a.m.

Another moral victory for EMU but the result will still be registered in the loss column.