Toledo used two pick-sixes in the fourth quarter to beat Central Michigan, 50-35. The win came because of, and also in spite of, an uneven day by Bernard Reedy, who blamed his pink attire for early miscues. To cap off our coverage, check out Dave Zapotosky's photo gallery.
Some additional thoughts/notes/observations
-The Northern Illinois game is five weeks away, but a sense is building that it will be for the West division title. Ball State and Central Michigan, each with two league losses, are in trouble. As is Western Michigan until Alex Carder returns. Winless Eastern Michigan was never a factor. That leaves MAC unbeatens NIU and UT left to sort out the division hiearchy once again.
-UT should get bowl eligible Saturday against a terrible Eastern Michigan game. Quite honestly, a poor performance similar to the one the Rockets gave against Coastal Carolina might be enough to get the job done.
-If you missed it in the notes section of the Reedy story, defensive end Christian Smith (knee) is out for the season. MRI results are misleading, Campbell said, so the prognosis has not been determined. But whatever the images revealed wasn't good. This leaves Toledo without three starting defensive linemen until Danny Farr returns in the next week or so.
-Toledo's special teams continue to excel. Detmer converted three more field goals, upping his season mark to 12 of 17 (70 percent), and Reedy scored Toledo's first touchdown on a punt return since Eric Page did it last year against Eastern Michigan. The coverage units were stout as well. CMU's longest kick return was 27 yards, and its longest punt return was nine yards. Campbell is putting his biggest hitters on the coverage units, guys like Molls, Voss, Haden, and Pasquale, and it's producing great results.
-Speaking of Pasquale, he has made several unsung plays this year. His block early in the play sprung a 53-yard Reedy punt return in the first quarter. Also, his stubborness to go down on a third-down goalline play gave Toledo the yard it had lost on the previous play by David Fluellen. Pasquale's tough yards late against Coastal Carolina, with Fluellen out with a head injury, were of importance. This is a fifth-year senior who has quietly contributed to his team's success.
-I forgot to ask Campbell about the injury Justin Olack suffered to his arm. The sure-handed receiver did not return. Will get an update on his health Monday.
-Campbell was not pleased with several calls or non calls. His reaction to pass interference not being called in the end zone against Alonzo Russell was as heated as I've seen him. He also had some words with officials after Reedy's second lost fumble (not sure why) and on a play he thought warranted an offensive pass interference against the Chips.
-Campbell wasn't perfect, either. His burning of his team's final timeout after Singer's interception return could have been regrettable. After summoning the extra point unit onto the field, Campbell realized that with his team up by 12 he had made a mistake and called timeout.That can't happen.
-This from UT's sports information department: We had an issue in the third quarter where we got behind and a play and penalty was omitted. As a result, CMU's Titus Davis has 10 more receiving yards, Toledo's David Fluellen has 1 more carry and four more rushing yards, Toledo's Terrance Owens has one fewer completion, Toledo's James Green has 1 fewer reception and four less receiving yards. I just wanted you to know so if you see later that Fluellen had 104 yards you would know why. Also TO was 22-of-33 instead of 23-of-33.
-Some stats: The Rockets rank third in the MAC with 15 sacks after posting two more on Saturday ... They have given up 11 sacks (fourth most in the MAC) which is one more than they allowed all of last season. ... With nine interceptions, Toledo ranks seventh nationally and first in the MAC. ...The No. 1 red zone defense in the MAC struggled Saturday, letting CMU score a touchdown on all four of its visits inside the 20.
Comments