Ypsilanti, MI - Junior Bernard Reedy scored three touchdowns in a breath-defying third quarter as Toledo survived a surprising challenge from Eastern Michigan, 52-47, on a rain-soaked Saturday afternoon at Rynearson Stadium.
Toledo (6-1, 4-0 MAC) held a modest 21-10 halftime lead, but then the contest quickly turned into a wild video game with the two teams combining for five touchdowns in a span of 1:51 of the third quarter, the final three scores coming in 32 seconds. When the drenched artificial dust settled in the third quarter, the Rockets and Eagles had racked up eight touchdowns and 769 all-purpose yards (total offense plus kickoff returns), with Toledo holding leading 49-37 lead going into the final quarter. Reedy scored on an 89-yard kickoff return and receptions of 65 and 59 yards in the third period. EMU's Bronson Hill had three TDs of his own on runs of 47, 58 and 70 yards in the stanza.
The pace slowed down in the final quarter, with the teams exchanging field goals before the Eagles scored on a seven-yard run by Hill to trim the lead to 52-47 with 1:57 to play. Toledo recovered the onside kick, ran out most of the clock, then successfully defended three late passes to claim its sixth straight win.
Reedy racked up some incredible numbers and he wasn't alone. He caught a career-high 11 passes and set a UT record with 237 receiving yards. He also set a school record with 407 all-purpose yards. Junior RB David Fluellen rushed for 188 yards and two TDs on 24 carries, his third consecutive games 100-plus rushing effort. Junior QB Terrance Owens completed 21-of-32 passes for a career-best 401 yards and three touchdowns.
Toledo outpaced the Eagles in total yards, but just barely, 655-624. Hill's 283 rushing yards was the second-highest total in EMU history and the most by a running back in the FBS this season.
Ironically, the game began with a big defensive play by the Rockets as senior LB Dan Molls picked off the first pass on EMU's opening drive, hauling in a deflected toss at the EMU 33-yard line. Six plays later, Owens ran it in from four yards to put the Rockets up, 7-0.
EMU countered with a nine-play drive that ended with a 31-yard field goal by Dylan Mulder to cut the lead to 7-3. The Eagles then converted an interception into a touchdown to take a 10-7 lead with 4:49 left in the first quarter. The five-play drive was highlighted by a 40-yard completion from Tyler Benz to Donald Scott which set up a 10-yard TD pass from Benz to Tyreese Russell.
Fluellen put Toledo back on top, 14-10, with a career-tying long run of 53 yards early in the second quarter. Fluellen scored again with 1:57 to play in the half, this time from six yards out, to give Toledo a 21-10 halftime lead.
The second half began with an explosion of big plays with five touchdowns scored by two players--EMU's Hill and UT's Reedy-- in a span of 1:51of the third quarter, and eight TDs overall. EMU struck first, cutting the lead to 21-17 on a 47-yard scoring dash from Hill at the 10:18 mark. Reedy countered with an 89-yard kickoff return to put Toledo up, 28-17. Three plays later, Hill did it again, bolting 58 yards for the score. Reedy came back on the very next play from scrimmage to score on a 65-yard scoring strike. Hill scored for the third time, this time a 70-yarder, on EMU's next play.
Russell got in the action on the next series, scoring on a 70-yard scoring strike from Owens with 6:55 left in the quarter to put the Rockets up, 42-30. EMU wasn't finished, though, scoring on a 41-yard pass from Benz to Tyreese , cutting the lead to 42-36. Reedy then scored his third TD of the quarter, a 59-yard reception with 1:36 to play to give the Rockets a 49-37 edge going into the final quarter.
The contest returned to the appearance of a normal game in the final quarter. EMU settled for a 41-yard field goal on its first possession to trim the lead to 49-40. Toledo then gobbled up over seven minutes of the clock before Jeremiah Detmer knocked home a 22-yard field goal to make the score 52-40 with 4:47 to play. Hill scored his fourth TD of the game from seven yards out with 1:57 to play to cut the lead to five, 52-47. UT then recovered the onside kick attempt and used up all but 14 seconds of the clock, not enough time for the Eagles to mount a rally.
The Rockets will dry off and return home next with a clash against No. 20 Cincinnati in a 7:00 p.m. contest at the Glass Bowl.
