Rockets QB could be a handful for Miami if he plays

Aaron Opelt is top 10 in nation in passing yards but he has a shoulder injury.

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By Pete Conrad, Staff Writer 1:28 AM Saturday, October 31, 2009

OXFORD — The painful number for the Toledo Rockets is four.

For the Miami RedHawks it’s 13. Or 378. However you want to look at it.

It has been four years since Toledo appeared in a postseason game, and the 4-4 Rockets are hoping to shore up their bowl-eligibility aspirations with a victory today, Oct. 31, at Yager Stadium.

Miami’s drought is a little more acute.

The RedHawks have lost a program-record 13 consecutive games. It has been 378 days since Miami fans have celebrated a victory. And Michael Haywood continues to wait for his first victory as a collegiate head coach.

One team will feel much better about itself after today’s game, and it all could be determined by the health of Aaron Opelt.

Toledo’s 6-foot-2, 225-pound senior quarterback ranks seventh in the nation in total offense and eighth in passing yards per game, but Opelt has missed the last two games with a shoulder injury.

His status for today’s game is uncertain.

“Their quarterback will be the difference in the game, which quarterback is playing,” Haywood said.

Freshman Austin Dantin replaced Opelt two weeks ago but injured his ankle. Last week the third starter in as many games was junior Alex Pettee, who passed for 265 yards and a touchdown, but also lost a fumble and was intercepted twice in Toledo’s 40-24 loss to Temple.

“Alex came out and had a little bit of the jitters early,” Toledo coach Tim Beckman said. “As the game progressed he got a little bit better.”

Still, when Opelt starts the Rockets average 31.5 points and 470 total yards. When he doesn’t, the Rockets average 22.0 points and 350 total yards.

“He does a really good job of reading coverages and delivering the ball where it’s supposed to go,” Haywood said of Opelt, who led the Rockets to a stunning 54-38 victory over Colorado on Sept. 11. That day Toledo churned 624 yards of total offense. “He shows some presence in the pocket.

“When I watched their game against Colorado early this year, it was, wow, they’re a solid football team,” Haywood said.

If Opelt does play, and if he seems to be favoring his shoulder, look for Haywood to unleash his defense.

“If there is something wrong with his shoulder,” the Miami coach said, “we’re going to put some pressure on him.”

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2197 or pconrad@coxohio.com.