TOLEDO, Ohio – Toledo will defend its first-place position in the West Division of the Mid-American Conference when it travels to Eastern Michigan on Saturday, Oct. 29 (Noon/ESPNU).

Toledo (5-3, 3-1 MAC) is one game ahead of three teams in the West Division, including Eastern Michigan (5-3, 2-2 MAC), which holds tie-breakers over the other second-place teams, Ball State and Western Michigan.

The Rockets are coming off a 34-27 loss at Buffalo on Oct. 22. Quarterback Dequan Finn ran for two touchdowns and threw for another but he was unable to rally Toledo into the end zone in its final drive. Buffalo rallied from 17 points down in the third quarter to pull out the victory.

Finn completed 25-of-47 passes for 240 yards, and rushed for 66 yards and one score. With time running out and the Rockets trailing by a touchdown, Finn moved the Rockets to the UB 22-yard line for one final play with three seconds left. Finn's desperation pass toward the end zone was intercepted. Finn threw for one TD and ran for another as Toledo built a 20-7 halftime lead. Buffalo's only score in the first half came on a 72-yard return on a fumble recovery. The Rockets increased the lead to 27-10 in the third quarter before the tide turned in Buffalo's favor in the final 15 minutes.

Eastern Michigan is coming off a 20-16 comeback win at Ball State last Saturday. Sophomore quarterback Austin Smith threw for a career-high 197 yards and scored the game-winner on a two-yard run for a TD midway through the fourth quarter.  The Eagles had a big non-conference win at Arizona State (30-21) on Sept. 17.

Toledo vs. Eastern Michigan

• TEAM RECORDS: 
    Toledo (5-3, 3-1 MAC)
    Eastern Michigan (5-3, 2-2 MAC)

• SERIES RECORD: Toledo leads, 36-13. The Eagles won in Toledo last year, 52-49.

• THE COACHES: 
    Jason Candle, 50-30 (7th year) at Toledo, same overall. 4-2 vs. EMU.
    Chris Creighton, 42-60 (9th year) at EMU, 180-106 overall (26th year). 2-6 vs. Toledo.

• TV/STREAMING: ESPNU
    Play by Play: Jay Alter
    Analyst: Dustin Fox

• ROCKET RADIO NETWORK: Pregame begins at 10:30 a.m.
   Play by Play: Brent Balbinot
    Analyst: Andy Boyd
    Sidelines: Mike Robinson

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

• TWITTER: 
    @ToledoFB: Regular updates on UT Football, live updates on Game Day.

• TICKETS: 
    Online at UTRockets.com/tix, by phone at 419-530-GOLD (4653) or at the Rocket Ticket Office in Savage Arena. Click below for tickets to Toledo's remaining home games.
   Nov. 8 vs. Ball State
   Nov. 15 vs. Bowling Green

Rocket Blasts
    • Toledo's offense ranks first in the MAC in scoring (37.0), and third in rushing (193.9) and passing efficiency (140.34).
    • Toledo's defense ranks second in the MAC in total defense (363.8) and third in points allowed (27.3). The Rockets lead the MAC in passing yards allowed (200.8) and defensive passing efficiency (118.09).
    • Toledo is first in the MAC and 35th in the nation in fewest penalty yards (42.9).
    • Toledo is 36-13 all-time vs. Eastern Michigan and 19-3 vs. the Eagles over the past 22 years.
    • Sophomore quarterback Dequan Finn has completed 60.1 percent of his passes for 1,646 yards and 18 TDs. He is third in the MAC in passing efficiency (142.51). He is also the Rockets' leading rusher with 521 yards and eight scores, and is second in the MAC with 6.13 yards per carry. Sophomore running back Jacquez Stuart is No. 1 in the MAC with 6.14 yards per attempt.
    • Finn ranks third in the country in yards per carry for a QB, trailing Louisville quarterback Malik Cunningham (6.29) and Kansas State's Adrian Martinez (6.14).
    • Junior linebacker Dallas Gant leads the team with 72 tackles, which is tied for sixth among MAC players and 30th in the country.