Ypsilanti, MI – Junior quarterback Logan Woodside threw for 247 yards and four touchdowns to lead Toledo to a 35-20 victory over a stubborn Eastern Michigan squad in Ypsilanti on Saturday.

The final outcome was not settled until Woodside connected with Corey Jones in the corner of the end zone from 12 yards out with 2:37 to play. A DeJuan Rogers' interception on the ensuing drive eliminated any hopes of an Eagle comeback.

Toledo moves to 4-1, 1-0 in MAC play. Eastern falls to 4-2, 1-1.

Woodside, who leads the NCAA in passing efficiency, completed 25-of-31 passes. Junior Cody Thompson led the way with a career-high seven receptions for 126 yards and one TD. Senior Corey Jones also had seven catches and a score. Senior Kareem Hunt paced the running game with 141 yards and one TD.

Toledo's defense held EMU to 317 yards and forced two turnovers.  The Eagles were just 2-of-10 on third-down conversions while Toledo was 11-of-17.

The first half was a defensive battle, with Toledo taking a 7-3 advantage into the locker room.  Toledo's defense held EMU to just 102 yards on offense and four first downs in the first half, but the Rockets' offense was only able to put one score on the board in the first 30 minutes.

Neither team could break into the scoring column in the first quarter. Toledo had a good chance on its first drive, moving 60 yards in 14 plays, but was stopped on downs at the EMU 15-yard line when Woodside's pass to Corey Jones came up one yard short of the sticks.

The Rockets finally broke through with 8:24 left in the second quarter when Woodside hit Jon'Vea  Johnson for a 17-yard scoring strike to cap off a five-play, 46-yard drive. Eastern countered with a 34-yard field goal from Paul Fricano with eight seconds left in the first half.

EMU cut the lead to one point, 7-6, on a 44-yard field goal by Fricano on the Eagles' opening drive of the second half. Toledo came right back with a big play, a 63-yard touchdown bomb from Woodside to Cody Thompson. On the ensuing kickoff, EMU fumbled and UT's Marcus Whitfield recovered on the Eagle 16-yard line. Three plays later, Hunt plowed in from two yards to make the score 21-6 with 8:24 left in the third quarter.

The Eagles did not quit, however, putting together a seven-play, 72-yard drive to cut the lead to 21-13. Breck Turner scored on a three-yard run to cap the scoring drive.
The teams exchanged punts over the next four possessions until  UT truck again. Woodside hit tight end Michael Roberts in the corner of the end zone from 15 yards out to make the score 28-13 with 10:52 to play. Two minutes later, EMU quarterback Brogan Roback found Antoine Porter on a five-yard pass to cut the lead back to eight, 28-20.

Toledo put the game away with a 14-play, 83-yard drive that ate up over six minutes off the clock before Woodside hit Jones for the final score of the game.

The Rockets return home to face arch-rival Bowling Green in a Homecoming matchup at the Glass Bowl. Kickoff time is set for 3:30 p.m.


Head Coach Jason Candle


Quarterback Logan Woodside


Running Back Kareem Hunt


Safety DeJuan Rogers


Wide Receiver Cody Thompson