The final home game of the season is Wednesday. This year Toledo wants to go out the right way.

In 2022, the Rockets lost to archrival Bowling Green in the final game at the Glass Bowl, sending the seniors out with a bad taste in their mouths. UT has Eastern Michigan in 2023, perhaps not a rival but a team that’s not beloved in the halls of the Larimer Athletic Complex.

Two years ago, after Eastern beat Toledo in the Glass Bowl for the first time since 1989, the Eagles shattered a glass bowl in the locker room.

It has not been forgotten. Neither has the competitiveness of the series since Chris Creighton arrived at Eastern.

The Eagles have beaten Toledo twice since Crieghton became head coach in 2014. Five of the past six games between the schools have been decided by a touchdown or less.

“Eastern Michigan is a great opponent, a team that’s very well-coached,” Toledo coach Jason Candle said. “They’ve played us really well the last three, four, five, six years. Quality opponent. We need a great night in the Glass Bowl.”

WHEN TOLEDO HAS THE BALL

Aside from Peny Boone’s 71-yard touchdown run against Buffalo, it’s been six consecutive mediocre quarters for the Rockets. Some of that can be attributed to the weather against the Bulls and a large halftime lead at Miami. But Toledo can’t have any excuses against Eastern Michigan.

Quarterback Dequan Finn leads the MAC in touchdown passes (15) and completion percentage (63.3). His 1,601 passing yards are fifth-most but just 82 behind the leader, Cole Snyder of Buffalo. Finn has 489 rushing yards, ranking eighth in the MAC and by far the most by a quarterback.

Peny Boone is No. 8 nationally in rushing yards with 990. Oklahoma State’s Ollie Gordon II, the nation’s leader, has 1,225 yards. Boone is averaging 110.0 yards per game (eighth) and 7.2 yards per carry (eighth). He does, however, have a severe case of fumble-itis.

Wide receiver Jerjuan Newton is ninth nationally with nine touchdown receptions, and he and Junior Vandeross III rank in the top 10 in the MAC in receiving yards.

Toledo ranks fifth in FBS rushing offense, totaling nearly 230 rushing yards per game. That could be a problem for Eastern Michigan, which is allowing just shy of 200 rushing yards per game to rank last in the MAC and 125th nationally. In conference games only, the Eagles still rank 10th (174.4 yards).

Eastern ranks sixth in scoring defense against MAC foes (22.6 points), eighth in passing defense (179.4 yards), and 11th in total defense (353.8 yards).

The Eagles have two linebackers who rank in the top 10 nationally in tackles — Joe Sparacio is fourth with 106 and Chase Kline is eighth with 94. Kline has also forced two fumbles.

Defensive back Bennett Walker’s three interceptions are tied for 25th nationally. Fellow DB Daiquan White, a freshman, has the third-most pass breakups (11). Kempton Shine is tied for 23rd with eight pass breakups. The Eagles have 39 pass breakups, 14th-most in the country.

Defensive lineman Mikah Coleman has 4.0 sacks, ranking in the top 10 of the MAC.

WHEN EASTERN MICHIGAN HAS THE BALL

In MAC games, Eastern ranks sixth in scoring offense (21.8 points), seventh in passing (187.2 yards), 10th in total offense (273.8 yards), and 12th in rushing (86.6 yards). It’s been a disappointing season for the 4-5 Eagles, who have lost their last two games.

Quarterback Austin Smith has completed 57.2 percent of his passes for 1,334 yards, seven touchdowns, and six interceptions. His most popular target is Tanner Knue, who has 37 receptions for 371 yards and three touchdowns.

JB Mitchell III, Hamze El-Zayat, Jaylon Jackson, Blake Daniels, and Jere Getzinger each have double-digit catches. Jackson, a tailback, is the team’s second-leading rusher with 382 yards on 81 carries.

Samson Evans has 425 yards and eight touchdowns, but he hasn’t eclipsed the 100-yard barrier all season.

Toledo has regained its defensive mojo in recent weeks, with 13 out of 14 excellent quarters. Nationally, the Rockets rank 25th in scoring defense (18.7 points) and 16th in pass defense (179.4 yards)

Toledo is limiting opposing quarterbacks to the fourth-worst completion percentage in the country: 52 percent. The Rockets have allowed the ninth-fewest TD passes (seven) and they rank 21st with 10 interceptions.

Toledo ranks fifth in passes defended (54) and sixth in pass breakups (44). All-American cornerback Quinyon Mitchell is second in the country with 13 pass breakups.

The one weakness is rush defense, as the Rockets are allowing 172 rushing yards per game against MAC opponents.

SPECIAL TEAMS

The Rockets are coming off their finest special teams performance of the season in which all facets performed to exemplary levels. Luke Pawlak continues to be a weapon kicking field goals, punter Emilio Duran is improving, and Jacquez Stuart has to be taken seriously on kick returns.

Eastern Michigan ranks among the best teams in the country at kickoff and punt returns. The Eagles lead the nation with three kick returns for touchdowns this season, and they’ve been returned by three different players — Kendric Nowling, El-Zayat, and Jackson.

Placekicker Jesus Gomez is 8 of 10 on field goals, with one miss coming from beyond 50 yards. His long is a 56-yarder. Punter Mitchell Tomasek ranks 18th with an average of 45.2 yards per punt.

TOLEDO WILL WIN IF ...

Games often come down to defense. But if Toledo’s offense can run the football — and there’s no reason to think it won’t be able to — the pathways to victory for Eastern are greatly diminished. Finn, Boone, and Stuart can make quick work of the Eagles.

EASTERN MICHIGAN WILL WIN IF ...

It will start with defense for the Eagles, namely their secondary. If they can create turnovers, there’s always a chance of an upset. It’s hard to imagine Eastern significantly impeding Toledo’s rushing offense. When Eastern has the ball, it will need to get creative in trying to attack Toledo’s sometimes weak rush defense which could help in the passing game. The problem is UT expertly defends the pass and the Eagles have trouble running the ball.

VIEW FROM THE OTHER SIDE

Tony Paul, sports reporter at the Detroit News: The records say this one’s going to be all Toledo, but Eastern Michigan has a knack for giving the Rockets fits — barely losing last year in Ypsilanti, and barely winning two years ago in Toledo. Eastern Michigan is coming off a pretty stunning pounding by Western Michigan, but Toledo, for all its successes this season, has had a relatively tough time stopping the run. Eastern Michigan has one of the top backs in the Mid-American Conference, in Samson Evans, who had two touchdowns a week ago and now has 37 for his career, fifth among active FBS players. EMU, for what its worth, also has shined in midweek MACtion under head coach Chris Creighton, going 11-5 since the start of the 2020 season. Buckle up, Buckeye State. Toledo 42, Eastern Michigan 41.

First Published November 6, 2023, 6:10 p.m.