TOLEDO - The non-conference season now behind them, the Toledo Rockets are now focused on their primary goal for the 2016 season—a Mid-American Conference Championship. The road to that goal begins this Saturday in Ypsilanti where the Rockets will face a vastly improved Eastern Michigan (4-1) squad.

          Toledo (3-1) is coming off a wild 55-53 loss at BYU last Friday. The Rockets went ahead on a Kareem Hunt touchdown and a two-point conversion with 1:11 remaining. But the Cougars won the game on a 19-yard field goal with no time on the clock.

           Junior quarterback Logan Woodside was masterful in the BYU game, connecting on 30-of-38 passes for a school-record 505 yards and five TDs. Woodside's 16 touchdown passes this season rank fourth in the country. He leads the nation in passing efficiency with a 207.6 rating, more than 10 points ahead of any quarterback in the country. Sophomore Jon'Vea Johnson had his coming-out party vs. the Cougars, setting career marks in receptions (9), receiving yards (182) and TD catches (3). Junior Cody Thompson, who leads the nation in yards per catch (32.6), had five catches for 161 yards at BYU.

    Eastern Michigan pulled out a 28-25 road victory at defending MAC champion Bowling Green on Saturday. The Falcons scored with 5:22 left in the game but the Eagles were able to run out the clock for their first win over BGSU since 2008. EMU has won three straight games and is now 4-1 for the first time since 1995. The Eagles' three non-conference wins were against Mississippi Valley, Charlotte and Wyoming, while their only loss was at Missouri.

Rocket Round-Up
• Toledo leads the series with Eastern Michigan, 32-11. Toledo has won nine straight in the series and is 15-1 since 1999.
• The only loss for Toledo in the last 16 meetings vs. EMU was a 17-13 setback in Ypsilanti in 2006, a defeat that ended up giving UT its first losing season in 14 years.
• Toledo is third in the nation in successful third-down attempts, converting 31-of-57 (54.4%). Conversely, Rocket opponents have made just 11-of-57 third-down tries (19.3%), the third-best mark for defenses in the country.
• Through three games this season, Toledo has accumulated 2,383 yards of total offense, while its opposition has mustered only 1,341.
• Toledo surrendered two sacks vs. BYU, the first of the season allowed by the offense. UT has given up at least one sack in just four of its last 16 games.
• Quarterback Logan Woodside leads the nation in passing efficiency (207.6), is fourth in TD passes (16) and fifth in passing yards (361.0). He has completed 12 passes of 40 yards or more this season, already surpassing UT's  total of seven in 12 games last season.
• Junior wide receiver Cody Thompson leads the nation with 32.6 yards per catch. It's no fluke, as Thompson finished third in the country as a sophomore, averaging 22.3 yards per grab.

Toledo vs. EMU

• TEAM RECORDS:
    Toledo (3-1, 0-0 MAC)
    EMU (4-1, 1-0 MAC)

• SERIES RECORD: Toledo leads, 32-11

• THE COACHES:
    Jason Candle, 4-1 (1st full year) at Toledo, same overall. 0-0 vs. EMU.
    Chris Creighton, 7-22 (3rd year) at EMU, same overall. 0-2 vs. Toledo.

• TV/STREAMING: BCSN/TWC/ESPN3.
    Play by Play: Mason Lowry
    Analyst: Mike Robinson

• ROCKET RADIO NETWORK: Pregame begins at 1:30 p.m. ET
    Play by Play: Brent Balbinot
    Analyst: Austin Dantin
    Sidelines: Jim Heller

• WEB-AUDIO: Free live audio streaming of the UT Rocket Radio Network broadcast on UTRockets.com.

• UT COACH'S SHOW: Coach Jason Candle and host Brent Balbinot talk Rocket Football every Monday from 6-7 p.m. at Frickers in Maumee. Carried live on WSPD-AM1370 and online on UTRockets.com.

• TWITTER:
    @UTPaulHelgren: Daily updates on UT Football.
    @ToledoFB: Live updates on Game Day.
    @ToledoRockets: Updates for all Rocket sports.


Head Coach Jason Candle on the EMU game.


Junior quarterback Logan Woodside on the EMU game.


Senior defensive end John Stepec on the EMU game.