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Posted on Sat, Oct 8, 2011 : 7:02 p.m.

Eastern Michigan football routed at Toledo, 54-16

By AnnArbor.com Staff

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Updated 8:04 p.m.

Michigan Stadium? Beaver Stadium? Pfft.

Playing at college football’s two largest venues was a walk in the park compared to the gauntlet the Eastern Michigan football team faced at the Glass Bowl in Toledo.

Toledo’s quarterback rotation of Austin Dantin and Terrance Owens completed a combined 27 of 30 passes for 302 yards and four touchdowns in a 54-16 win on Saturday.

The Rockets’ junior wide receiver Eric Page caught 11 passes for 109 yards and a touchdown and also returned a punt 85 yards for a score.

Page's effort set a school record for career receptions with 235 and surpassed current Arizona Cardinals receiver Stephen Williams, who had 229 catches from 2005-08.

The win was the fifth in a row and 11th in the past 12 meetings in the series for the Rockets (3-3, 2-0 Mid-American Conference West Division), who piled up 542 yards in total offense.

The Eagles, who played well in the first halves of 28-point losses at Big Ten foes Michigan and Penn State earlier this season, trailed 23-9 at halftime on Saturday.

After a punt on its first possession of the second half, the Rockets scored the next four times they had the ball to pull away.

"We still are trying to teach and learn that regardless of the circumstances, keep playing," Eastern Michigan coach Ron English said. "I think we get distracted enough that we don’t execute with detail and games snowball on us."

Their only first-half touchdown -- a 22-yard pass from Alex Gillett to Kinsman Thomas -- was followed by a blocked point-after kick that the Rockets returned for a two-point conversion.

Eastern Michigan’s MAC-leading rushing game was limited to 89 yards on 32 carries and Gillett was intercepted twice while completing 12 of 23 passes for 122 yards. He was sacked three times. The Eagles (3-3, 1-1 MAC West) came into the game averaging 233 yards rushing.

Dominique White rushed for 52 yards and a touchdown for the Eagles (3-3, 1-1 MAC West).

With another road game at Central Michigan next week, English spoke of making sure the lopsided loss to Toledo doesn't impact the team's attitude.

"There becomes a subtle attitude change and people start to lessen their commitment," he said. "So my words in that locker room, to everybody that has an Eastern Michigan shirt on today, is I will be on the lookout for that and I will not have that."

EMU_Cudworth_Missedtackle.jpg

Eastern Michigan's Justin Cudworth, right, misses a tackle on Toledo's Terrance Owens during the Rockets' 54-16 win at the Glass Bowl on Saturday.

Joseph Tobianski I AnnArbor.com

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Comments

lumberg48108

Mon, Oct 10, 2011 : 2:21 p.m.

I dont want to be dramatic but if EMU lays an egg this saturday at CMU, the season will be lost. They follow with WMU at home and WMU (along with Toledo) are the best teams in the MAC and its obvious EMU is not at that level yet. But CMU is — and this could be the signature win of the season – a road win over an in-state rival. But the penalties need to end and no turnovers — coach please "coach them up" regarding the penalties. This is it – the game of the year — please recognize that and make sure the players do as well.

Ralph

Sun, Oct 9, 2011 : 12:28 p.m.

Toledo always runs up the score. However, there's nothing like sitting on the edge of a crater and falling in!

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