Rockets Win the Battle of I-75, 42-35

October 15, 2016 | Athletics, News
By Paul Helgren



Senior running back Kareem Hunt scored on a three-yard run with 18 seconds left to give Toledo a thrilling 42-35 victory over archrival Bowling Green before a capacity Homecoming crowd of 30,147 in the Glass Bowl Saturday.

The victory gives Toledo (5-1, 2-0 Mid-American Conference) the Battle of I-75 Trophy for the seventh consecutive season.

Michael Roberts caught a career-high three touchdowns in Toledo's 42-35 win over Bowling Green.

Michael Roberts caught a career-high three touchdowns in Toledo’s 42-35 win over Bowling Green.

Junior quarterback Logan Woodside led the Rocket offense with 322 yards passing and four touchdown tosses, three of them to senior tight end Michael Roberts, who set his career high for TD receptions. Roberts had six catches for 94 yards, while junior Cody Thompson had six grabs for 74 yards, and senior Corey Jones added five receptions for 90 yards and one score.

Junior Terry Swanson led the ground attack with a season-high 112 yards on 12 carries, including a 63-yard TD run in the fourth quarter that put Toledo up, 35-21. Hunt had 99 yards on 25 attempts.

Bowling Green (1-6, 0-3 MAC) answered with a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns that tied the score, 35-35, setting the stage for Toledo’s game-winning drive in the final three minutes. Woodside completed three passes in the drive, and Hunt carried the ball four times, leaving Bowling Green just 18 seconds to try to tie the game. Morgan completed one pass to the BGSU 32-yard line as time ran out.

The Falcons got on the scoreboard first on an eight-play, 70-yard drive that was finished off by a 10-yard pass by Scott Miller to James Morgan with 8:59 left in the first quarter. Toledo struck back when Woodside hit Michael Roberts for a 41-yard TD down the left sideline to tie the score, 7-7.

Logan Woodside led the Rocket offense with 322 yards passing and four touchdown tosses.

Logan Woodside led the Rocket offense with 322 yards passing and four touchdown tosses.

The Rockets took the lead on another Roberts’ touchdown, this time a 22-yard catch in the end zone from Woodside with just 36 seconds left in the half. The Falcons were able to attempt a Hail Mary pass at the end of the half, but Morgan’s 42-yard attempt was knocked down by Trevon Mathis.

BGSU opened the second half by stopping UT on a three-and-out, then put together a seven-play, 69-yard drive to tie the score, 14-14. Morgan connected with Scott Miller from 15 yards out for the score.

The Rockets rallied back on the arm of Woodside, who threw touchdown passes to Roberts and Corey Jones in the third quarter. Jones’ TD was a 64-yarder down the middle of the field that made the score 27-14 with two seconds left in the third quarter.

But the Falcons struck back almost immediately, as Miller hit Morgan for his third TD catch two plays into the fourth quarter, a 57-yarder that pulled BG to within six, 27-21.

Moments later, Swanson came up with a big run, bolting 63 yards into the end zone. Woodside hit Roberts for the two-point conversion to put Toledo up 35-21 with 10:25 left.

Bowling Green would not quit, however. Morgan threw his fourth and fifth TD passes of the game to Marquis Zimmerman and Teo Redding, the latter with 3:07 remaining to tie the score at 35-35.

The final drive of the day belonged to Toledo, as Woodside marched the Rockets 66 yards in seven plays for the decisive score. Hunt sealed the win with his three-yard run.

The Rockets will face Central Michigan in a MAC West Division matchup in the Glass Bowl Saturday, Oct. 22. Kickoff time is set for noon.

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