 "Photo: Zach Davis / IC")
 "Photo: Zach Davis / IC")
 "Photo: Zach Davis / IC")
The Rockets’ offense hit on all cylinders Friday night as senior running back DaJuane Collins and sophomore running back Morgan Williams combined for 299 rushing yards as UT cruised to a 47-21 win over Eastern Michigan on Senior Night in the Glass Bowl.
“It was very important to get the win tonight, because I don’t think we’ve had a win on senior night in three years and its just a great way to go out in the Glass Bowl,” said senior safety Barry Church.
“Preparation this week was the same, but it was a lot more emotional, especially with it being the seniors’ last game,” said senior safety Lester Richmond. “We tried to go a lot harder and explain to the [underclassmen] to let them know how important this game was to us.”
In his final home game, Collins rushed 20 times for 144 yards and two touchdowns. Williams was the leading rusher with 11 carries for 155 yards and two touchdowns.
“The offensive line did a heck of a job opening up holes, and the offense was executing all night,” Williams said.
“We look forward to running the ball like that,” said senior offensive lineman Jared DeWalt. “Any time you run the ball like that, it is a total team effort.”
Freshman quarterback Austin Dantin started the game for Toledo and went 10-of-11 for 155 yards.
“He played real well for us,” said senior quarterback Aaron Opelt. “He stepped up and made plays when he had to, so I’m very impressed with the way he played.”
Opelt and sophomore David Pasquale also played at quarterback for UT. Opelt went 1-of-5 for six yards with eight rushing yards. Pasquale did not attempt a pass but rushed 10 times for 44 yards and two touchdowns.
Senior wide receiver Stephen Williams caught five passes for 45 yards. His 221 career receptions are just one shy of tying former UT wide receiver and current New Orleans Saint Lance Moore’s 222 career catches.
Toledo’s defense chipped in as well, forcing four turnovers, including a fumble that was recovered in the end zone by junior defensive lineman Alex Johnson to give the Rockets (5-6, 3-4 Mid-American Conference) a 16-0 lead in the second quarter.
“In the back of my mind, I was thinking ‘don’t trip on the goal line,’” said Johnson.
Richmond had an interception and led the Rockets with six tackles. Freshman linebacker Robert Bell also had an interception and returned it 67 yards. Freshman defensive lineman T.J. Fatinikun forced two fumbles with three tackles, including a sack.
After EMU (0-11, 0-7 MAC) scored a 48-yard touchdown pass from freshman quarterback Alex Gillett to junior receiver Tyrone Burke, the Rockets quickly struck back on a 55-yard run by Collins. Before the end of the first half, UT added onto their lead with a 32-yard field goal by senior kicker Alex Steigerwald to make the score 26-14.
On Toledo’s first possession in the third quarter, Pasquale scored on a six-yard run. M.Williams scored on a 22-yard run with 13:32 left in the fourth quarter to increase the lead to 40-21. Collins added a touchdown on a four-yard run with 43 seconds left in the game to make the score 47-21.
“Eastern Michigan gave us a great challenge,” said Toledo Head Coach Tim Beckman. “These [seniors] are the 19 reasons why we won the football game. We had great leadership this week and this season. I couldn’t be more proud of these guys.”
On Friday, the Rockets finish the season by traveling to hostile territory to take on Bowling Green (6-5, 5-2) at Doyt L. Perry Stadium. If Toledo wins, the Rockets will finish the season at 6-6 and will become eligible to play in a bowl game.
Six wins would also give UT their best record since 2005 when the Rockets went 9-3 and defeated the University of Texas at El-Paso in the GMAC Bowl.
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