Toledo Head Coach Tom Amstutz

 

“I'm really proud of our football team. We've had some adversity this year but with the senior leadership on this team we've been battling and we haven't stopped believing in ourselves. I look at this as a really big win for our team.”

 

(on decision  to start Aaron Opelt at QB)

 

“We watched his progress as the last two weeks went on and looked at his health and how he moved. We decided to go with him on Friday morning.”

 

(on going for field goals in the first half)

 

“Early in the first half we went for points. We needed some timing and Aaron also needed to stay in the game to get some timing. I'm glad we had those points on the board. We needed all those field goals.”

 

(on Steigerwald's game-winning FG)

 

“I was very confident. We ran the ball to put it in the middle of the field. He is a real calm, cool customer. He has a real smooth form. I really believed in him and knew we would have a good snap and good protection. It was just like kicking an extra point for him.”

 

(on Jalen Parmele's performance)

 

“Jalen is the heart and soul for this team. He's battling, doing everything he can to win. I give the offensive line for popping some holes in there, but Jalen is such a hard runner and great competitor. Carrying the ball 38 times for 241 yards, that?s a special performance.”

 

 

Toledo Senior RB Jalen Parmele

 

(on what was going through your head after the turnovers)

 

“I had the ball kind of loose. I knew I should have kept the ball in and play it smart. It was a bad mistake on my part.”

 

(on his career-high 241 rushing yards)

 

“I wasn't really thinking about my individual efforts. I was more concerned about us winning. It is my highest yet, but I can't do anything my offensive line.”

 

 

 

Toledo Sophomore QB Aaron Opelt

 

“I was excited to get out there and play. Being out for two weeks and not getting any action and then getting the green light to go was a good feeling.”

 

(on changing up the offense at halftime)

 

“We made the changes that we needed to make for the second half.”

 

(on what was the difference for you tonight)

 

“I was just excited to be out there with my teammates and to be able to compete. That's what you look for after a hard week of practice.

 

(on the offensive line)

 

“They did a great job for me tonight. I didn't get sacked once and that's a great stat to have when you're a quarterback.”

 

 

Toledo Sophomore S Barry Church

 

(on holding Ohio to 14 points in the first half)

 

“It was a good feeling to have going into halftime. It was a great boost and after that we knew could play with them.”

 

 

Toledo Sophomore PK Alex Steigerwald

 

 (on Ohio calling timeout before the game-winning kick)

 

“It's better for me because it gave me more time to relax and get the spot down for the kick.”

 

“When you're a kicker that's what you look for to win the game in the last seconds of the game. I was glad to have a chance to win. I was making field goals all week in practice and it's great to know the coaches have confidence in me to win the game.”