Toledo 41, EMU 17

 

Post-Game Quotes

 

Head Coach Tom Amstutz

 

“This was a very important road win, a very important conference win. We wanted to go into October being 1-0 in the conference. We achieved our goal. I'm proud of our team, especially winning on the road. It's always tough to win on the road.”

 

(Weather effects)

“We probably ran the ball a little more but it's football. Both teams had to play in the same conditions. You just have to perform.”

 

“Aaron (Opelt) had a nice game. His receivers came up with some nice catches. That's part of our plan. We have to be able to run the ball and throw it, no matter what the weather.”

 

“DaJuane Collins ran the ball very hard. He had a lot of broken tackles, got extra yards on his own. He's a strong runner and had a very solid game.”

 

(three consecutive turnovers in first quarter)

“I was thinking we should all go home and go duck hunting. But that happens in those kind of conditions.”

 

“I thought the defense ran hard. We have better team speed this year. Eastern has a difficult scheme when they run the different option plays. It's an offense that puts the defense one-on-one a lot.”

 

“I think the offensive line is still coming together. It was another pretty solid day. We gave Aaron time to throw it. We gave our running backs a little room. They're continuing to grow together and improving all the time.”

 

QB Aaron Opelt

 

“We executed our game plan. The first half was a little slower than we were hoping. We made some changes and picked it up in the second half. We ran the ball well, we threw the ball well at times. We made a few mistakes but it didn't really bother us. We just rolled with it.”

 

“I know I can throw the ball in the rain. We took some shots in the air right away. It showed the weather didn't affect our game plan. I've played in weather like this before. The turf definitely helps, keeps the mud off the ball.”

 

(On fire in third quarter?)

“I felt good last night so I've been on fire for two days.”

 

RB DaJuane Collins

 

“It was a little wet out there so securing the ball was a bit of a challenge. It was bad at first but as the game wore on you got used to it.”

 

“With the rain we knew we were going to have to run the ball to be successful. I thought we came out and did a pretty good job.”

 

“At halftime we came in and said we need to come out and explode. In the third quarter, everything seemed to click for us, offense and defense. Everything we did worked.”

 

“We don't have another MAC game for three weeks so we're going to be sitting on top of the MAC for three weeks. It's better than sitting on the bottom of the MAC for three weeks.”

 

LB Archie Donald

 

“I love playing in the rain. I'm a linebacker so I love it. I've always been like that.”

 

“We respected them. They're a really good team. This win let us know we're looking at a good year this season.”

 

“Our defense is fast this year and we play so hard.”

 

On Derrick Summers' interception return

“I guess he tripped on the one but that was a really big play.”