Homecoming Heartbreak

Two weeks ago, the Eastern Michigan Eagles defied all odds and expectations when they defeated the UMass Minutemen, and this week would be no different.

With less than a 25% chance to win, the Eastern Michigan Eagles were once again on the outside looking in as they welcomed their out-of-state foes, the Toledo Rockets, for a homecoming matchup that had plenty of implications on both sides.

For the Eagles, a chance to stay undefeated in the Mid-American Conference and conquer the Rockets for the first time since 2021 and the first time at home since 2018.

On the opposite sideline, Toledo looked to get back on track after a shocking 23-8 loss to Buffalo at home in the Glass Bowl in Week Six. The Rockets were also attempting to put themselves back at the top of the MAC conference and prove that they were still the team to beat.

This time, however, the ESPN analytics and predictions would be correct. As much history as Eastern Michigan had been rewriting over the past two weeks while on the road, this homecoming would be nothing short of a disaster for the Eagles.

The Eagles ended up losing 34-14, giving up 31 points in the first half while inventing new ways to turn the ball over. The loss snapped the Eastern Michigan three-game win streak and their undefeated record in the MAC.

How It Happened

Noah Kim and the Eastern Michigan offense would receive the ball first and manage to drive the ball down the field into Rockets territory, but a dropped pass on fourth-and-four resulted in the turnover on downs, and all Toledo needed was an opportunity.

In just seven plays, the Rockets would go 65 yards, capped off by a 28-yard touchdown pass, giving Toledo the lead in the first quarter.

The Eagles' bad start would continue during the first play of their second drive, when an unblocked Toledo player came around the offensive line and hit Kim hard enough to force the fumble, which was quickly recovered by a Rockets defender at the Eagles' 15-yard line.

Eastern Michigan's defense would hold the Rockets out of the end zone, but a made field goal increased the Toledo lead to 10.

It would only go from bad to worse for Eastern Michigan, as a three-and-out would give the ball right back to the away team, who marched another 65 yards for their second touchdown of the game, making the game 17-0 with just a minute played in the second quarter.

After going down 17, the Eagles' offense would finally respond with a 73-yard touchdown drive, thanks to a 30-yard catch-and-run from Kim to tight end Joshua Long.

The Eagles' scoring drive would only add more fuel to Toledo's fire. It only took seven plays for the Rockets to go 81 yards to the end zone, thanks to Toledo quarterback John Alan passing for almost 70 yards during the drive, which included a 45-yard passing play.

The drive was finished by Rockets running back Autavius Ison on a 13-yard run that found him in the back of the end zone.

The Rockets would add another touchdown to their total with 1:35 left in the first half, pushing their lead to 24.

Eastern attempted to cut into the lead before halftime, but a turnover on downs would see Toledo kneel out the rest of the clock and take the game to the break up 31-7.

At the half, the Rockets had 326 yards of total offense compared to the 141 yards from Eastern Michigan. The Eagles had more rush attempts than rush yards, three turnovers, and a 24-point deficit. Going into halftime might've been the best thing that could've happened to the hometown team.

The break wouldn't help Eastern Michigan, as a quick stop on defense and a chance to get off the field would be quickly snuffed out when a muffed punt at the Eagles' 13-yard line would gift the ball back to Toledo.

After the muffed punt, the Eagles would force two supposed fumbles, but both plays would be ruled incomplete, allowing Toledo to add onto their lead with their third field goal of the game and pushing the Rockets' lead to 27.

Utilizing a couple of pass interference penalties, the Eastern Michigan offense made its way into the end zone to cut into the deficit with just under four minutes left in the third quarter.

A 26-yard catch from Nate Lyman allowed the Eagles to pick up a first down on third-and-20 and keep the drive alive. After two straight incompletions in the red zone, Harold Mack made a catch at the five-yard line before juking out two defenders on his way to the end zone.

Kessinger would add the extra point onto the total, bringing Toledo's lead to 20.

After punting the ball back and forth between the two teams, the Eagles' defense managed to force another fumble. This time, the referees sided in their favor, and the Eastern Michigan defense finally got the turnover they had been needing and the opportunity to get off the field.

Backup quarterback Jace Stuckey would enter the game for the Eagles due to Kim suffering an injury, but Stuckey could not provide any spark to the stagnant offense and was once again unable to make their way into the end zone after going for it on fourth down from the Toledo 10-yard line.

Just after the two-minute warning, Toledo would attempt to punch it in one last time and complete their domination, but a goal-line stand by the Eagles' defense prevented the touchdown and forced the turnover on downs inside the Eastern Michigan one-yard line.

Other Eagles backup quarterback Brogan McCaughey would also have an opportunity to play as he attempted to lead a 99-yard touchdown drive, but a holding penalty, a false start, and a sack would quickly end the game and the Eagles' hopes of remaining undefeated in conference play.

After the game, Eagles head coach Chris Creighton discussed the loss.

“It was a bad day for us. Yeah, really, really hard to not play like we're capable. Hats off to Toledo. You know, they got stung pretty good last week and decided that they were going to play up to their ability level this week,” he said.

“And they did that, and we didn't. And so it sucks to lose, man, but hats off to them because they outplayed us and out-coached us because we're responsible for making the players play,” he said.

Creighton was also asked about the status of Noah Kim, who left the game early due to an injury.

“He's banged up and got more banged up. Probably could have been able to go. But you saw both Jace and Rogan with their feet, you know, and, you know, so knew that would be helpful, you know, at that point and gave those guys, you know, a chance to get some reps,” he said.

Creighton understood the importance of a quick attitude adjustment and the need to get back to playing Eastern Michigan football.

“We're going to take 24 hours to let this sting. Got a great environment out there today. Really appreciate everybody who came to support us and all of that was awesome… These guys put a lot into it and we just didn't have it today. But it's one day. And so for the next 24 hours it's going to sting and it should,” he said.

“And then we'll come back together and, you know, whether we've had a three-game win streak, three-game win streak or a three-loss streak, whatever it is, it just, you gotta come back, we've gotta watch the tape and figure out what went wrong, figure out how we're gonna fix it, right? Commit to that and then move on. We've gotta be able to do that. And I think we've shown that we've been able to do that. It's a sign of good maturity. But in the next 24 hours it's going to sting,” he said.

The Eagles will need to burn the game tapes and get back to square one quickly as they get back on the road for a matchup with another powerful MAC opponent in the Ohio Bobcats. Eastern Michigan will have another shot to test themselves against one of the conference's best teams as they look to stay within reach of the MAC title game and get closer to becoming bowl eligible.

But for now, the Eastern Michigan Eagles will have to wait at least another year to take down the pesky Toledo Rockets and get back to playing winning football.