After a devastating 41-2 loss at home to Arizona last Friday, the Rockets enter Mid-American Conference play in the season’s second week against the defending MAC East Division Champions as they travel to Athens to face Ohio on Saturday night. Toledo has won 11 consecutive games against the Bobcats while OU is looking for their 500th win in team history.
“Being in a conference game this early is tough,” UT head coach Tim Beckman said. “It’s on the road, they’re a bowl team and they won the conference championship, but it’s a challenge we’ve talked about since the schedule came out. These players understand that the ambition is to get to Ford Field [for the MAC Title Game] on Dec. 3 and this is the first road block we have to pass.
“I don’t make the schedules, you just go with them. It was given to me and we have to perform. We’re excited it’s a conference game and we know that’s the first hurdle we must defeat.”
The Rockets struggled to get on the scoreboard against Arizona, earning their only points on a safety after the Wildcats were called for a holding penalty in their own end zone. Toledo gained just 183 yards of offense, four less yards than UA wide receiver Juron Criner totaled himself.
“I think we are going to be able to move the ball pretty well against them,” said sophomore quarterback Austin Dantin, who completed 14-of-23 passes for 104 yards and one interception against Arizona. “They have certain tendencies. I know they run a lot of man, which we will be able to exploit a little bit, but it really comes down to just executing on a consistent basis.
“We have something to prove against OU, and we’re going to try and go out there and exploit some things that they do and hopefully come out on top.”
To improve that offense, Toledo will look to get Eric Page more involved in the offense. The sophomore wide receiver led the nation in receptions (82) and yards (1,159) for a freshman last year but grabbed just four balls for 43 yards against the Wildcats in his first game without Arizona Cardinals receiver Stephen Williams alongside him. Julian Bellinger (2 rec, 22 yds), Kenny Stafford (1 rec, 12 yds), Bernard Reedy (1 rec, 4 yds) and Tim Cortazzo (1 rec, -3 yds) had limited success at receiver and junior tight end Danny Noble was held without a catch.
“We’re trying to get the playmakers the ball as much as we can,” Beckman said. “In Eric’s situation, he’s getting double covered quite a bit—having four eyes on him instead of two. That’s going to be the situation for Eric until Julian and Kenny and the rest of those guys step up, which they are and they will.”
The Rockets defense will be without senior defensive end Douglas Westbrook for the second-straight game. Beckman revealed that Westbrook’s mysterious fall on the depth chart was due to a suspension. The second-year head coach had previously explained his low position on the depth chart was due to the play of some of his other teammates.
“Doug broke a team policy,” Beckman said. “Our policy is to make sure we are all supposed to be obeying what we are all supposed to be obeying. He will have another one-game suspension. He’s got to earn his position back.”
In Westbrook’s place is T.J. Fatinikun, who excelled starting his first game on Friday. The sophomore had three tackles, one sack, one forced fumble and a pass breakup against the Wildcats.
“I respect him, we both work hard,” Fatinikun said. “He pushed me last year, I pushed him last year. Whoever is better at that position will play and we both understand that.
“I’m good friends with Douglas. We work hard together. We are both trying to win, that’s the objective and the goal. Whoever’s getting the job done will be out there.”
Toledo will get a boost from the debut of junior transfer cornerback Taikwon Paige, who was listed as the No. 2 cornerback on the preseason depth chart before suffering a knee injury in training camp.
“Taikwon will be back,” Beckman said on Monday. “We held him back last week. He had a good practice last night. He’s getting better daily. He’s not at 100 percent, but I’d say he’s at 95 percent. He looked good last night.”
Sophomore strong safety Jermaine Robinson injured his thumb against the Wildcats but is probable for the game in Athens.
The Bobcats won their first game last week 33-10 against FCS opponent Wofford. Ohio will be battling injuries as star receiver LaVon Brazill (leg), safety Gerald Moore (foot) and quarterback Phil Bates (thumb) are all questionable against the Rockets.
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