Post-Game Quotes vs. Western MIchigan
Toledo Head Coach Jason Candle
(opening comments)
"It was a solid team win over a really good team. They were the best team we've played so far in a lot of ways. They gave us a hell of a fight today and had a good plan defensively. I thought our guys did a good job of hanging in there and fighting in tough situations and picking up some tough yards when we needed it. We also got some key stops on defense. There were a lot of ebbs and flows in the game with turnovers and a lot of ups and downs. We just found a way to keep playing and answering the bell when we need to.”
(on if there was a letdown for the offense in the third quarter)
“I often talk about how critical the first possession of the third quarter is. We knew it was going to be a slugfest in that quarter because they were going to be playing with the wind. We figured that was going to be a tough quarter because we were going to have to grind it out and then take advantage of the win in the fourth quarter.”
(on the 13-play drive to go ahead 31-17 in the fourth quarter)
“That was really the drive that made the difference. There was a lot of tough yards on the ground and our offensive line really opened up some holes and helped our running backs come up with some big yards.”
(on the BG game next week)
“I’m looking forward to it. It’s a big game for our program, the city and all of Northwest Ohio. This is my 11th year as part of this rivalry and I can’t wait to start preparing for it.”
Senior QB Mitchell Guadagni
(on the offense struggling some in the third quarter after a strong first half)
“We didn’t execute like we needed to in the third quarter, but I don’t think the offense really ever flinched. I think we get that from a lot of the guys up front on the O-line just reiterating on the sideline ‘just don’t flinch, let’s go, this is our time.’”
(on what’s the level of confidence the team has in the defense)
“This week you saw it again, hats off to the defense. I think there are some plays that Western Michigan made, there’s some times that we weren’t doing what we needed to do on offense, but I don’t think anybody lost faith. When you saw the defense come in, the big stops in the end again, hats off to them.”
(on how confident were you on the long drive in the 4th quarter)
“I don’t think we were clicking like we needed to be in the third quarter. And then to come out the gate in the fourth and have that long drive was really huge for our confidence.”
(on Bryce Mitchell having a career-high 119 yards receiving)
“His confidence is growing every week. I think you’re going to see him just keep making explosive plays. I think he’s learning a lot as he goes. I think he is a special talent that once everything clicks, he’s going to be very dangerous.”
Sophomore RB Bryant Koback
“It’s a huge win. It was good to see the team stick together, grind and continue to push. All you can really ask for a team is continue to work hard and stay together.
(on the difference from the third quarter to the fourth quarter for the offense)
“We just need to switch some things up and figure out what was going to work. Once we did that we just need to keep executing. Our big boys up front are always moving the defensive line opening up holes. That’s the key to our success and that’s what they did tonight.”
Junior CB Samuel Womack
“We knew that their offense was going to take shots down the field. We just needed to keep staying together and fighting through adversity.
“We never got down on each other. We have a lot of confidence in each other so that when something does go wrong we’re there to pick each other up and go onto the next play.”
Senior DE Nate Childress
“Every day we just have to come in and get better and keep fighting. We have to keep moving because we have a big game coming up and we have to stay focused on that. Our offense and defense are really complimenting each other and that’s how we have to play around here.”
WMU Head Coach Tim Lester
I’m proud of how we fought after getting behind early. Toledo got going in the first half and our offense never found a rhythm but then in the second half we came out and played. The defense woke up and played their hearts out and the offense found a way to get us in the game. We were in a really good position to beat a really good team at their place and we didn’t finish the job. The good thing is I know we can did ourselves out of a hole but we can’t do that against a really good team.”
