INSIDE SLANT

In their most recent game, the Eagles gave themselves little chance to snap their lengthy losing streak and stun host Toledo. Eastern Michigan buried itself with four turnovers and several penalties that came at crucial junctures of the game.

What resulted was a 47-21 loss that exhibited many of the same characteristics as the string of defeats the Eagles have endured this season. Eastern Michigan plunged into a 16-0 hole early in the game, and never recovered. The Eagles fall to 0-11 overall and 0-7 in the league.

Toledo took significant advantage of Eastern Michigan’s well-documented inability to hinder the running attack as the Rockets had two backs rush for more than 100 yards as they piled up 330 yards on the ground. The Eagles did little to hurt their standing as the nation’s worst defense against the run.

Eastern Michigan’s futility on defense had even more frustration added to it when early in the second half DB Tim Fort stepped in and picked off a Toledo pass and took it back for a touchdown. A roughing the passer penalty nullified the play, and Toledo quickly extended its lead.

All that remains for the Eagles is a final road trip to Akron. That game is also all that separates Eastern Michigan from the ignominy of a 12-loss season and a winless Mid-American Conference experience.

NOTES, QUOTES

• Eastern Michigan allowed Toledo to put together a 98-yard scoring drive after P Zach Johnson pinned the Rockets back at the two yardline.

• Combined with the four turnovers the Eagles made in the loss to Toledo, and the half dozen from the previous loss to Western Michigan, Eastern has 10 in two games.

• Eastern Michigan RB Dwayne Priest scored a touchdown against Toledo, but finished the game with zero net yards on eight carries.

Game Ball Goes To:   QB Alex Gillett—The true freshman took his second starting assignment and went 13-of-25 passing for 195 yards and a pair of touchdowns, with an interception. Gillett was also Eastern Michigan’s leading rusher in the game with 78 yards on 15 carries.

Keep An Eye On:   DE Devon Davis—The freshman from Indiana got a hand on a Toledo punt late in the third quarter, and set the Eagles up with great field possession at the Rockets’ 31 yard line. The big play led to an Eastern Michigan touchdown.

Quote To Note:   “We didn’t win and that is the bottom line. Our kids are trying—there is no doubt in my mind. The culture of losing is you make errors. We have to learn that we can’t make errors and win football games.”—Eastern Michigan head coach Ron English after the loss to Toledo

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

Looking Good:   The youth movement taking place at Eastern Michigan is an investment in the near future of the program, and true freshman QB Alex Gillett looks like he might pay off in the days ahead. Gillett passed for 195 yards and a pair of touchdowns against Toledo, and led the team in rushing with 78 yards.

Still Needs Work:   The porous Eastern Michigan run defense was not up to the challenge against the Rockets, and the Eagles fell well short of the necessary effort to keep themselves in the game. The Rockets racked up 452 yards of total offense on Eastern, and had 330 of that on the ground.

Roster Report:  

• DL Brandon Slater blocked an extra point in the second quarter against Toledo to keep the Eagles close.

• WR Tyrone Burke grabbed his first touchdown reception of the season in the loss to Toledo, and finished the game with five catches for 79 yards.

• P Zach Johnson nailed a punt in the Toledo game that pinned the Rockets back at their own two-yard line.

• QB Andy Schmitt, a fifth-year senior and returning starter, was lost for the 2009 season with a torn ACL in the loss at Michigan in September.

• DB Ryan Downard suffered a season-ending broken arm in practice earlier this season.