In one of the most dramatic comebacks in Toledo Football history, the Rockets rallied from an 18-point deficit to defeat rival Bowling Green, 32-31, in the Battle of I-75 at Doyt Perry Stadium on Tuesday.
Facing a 4th-and-2 with less than two minutes remaining, junior running back Jacquez Stuart caught a pass from Dequan Finn and scampered 59 yards down the sideline for the game-winning touchdown.
Rockets celebrate their dramatic comeback, rallying from an 18-point deficit to defeat arch-rival Bowling Green, 32-31, in the Battle of I-75 at Doyt Perry Stadium on Tuesday.
Toledo then stopped the Falcons with a sack and three incompletions to take over on downs. After Finn kneeled down on the game’s final play, hundreds of Toledo students stormed the field to celebrate the return of the Battle of I-75 trophy to Toledo and the Rockets’ 12th victory in the past 14 seasons over their rivals.
“I’m proud of our football team,” said Head Coach Jason Candle, who improved his record to 6-2 vs. BGSU. “I’m super excited for that senior class to be able to play and deal with some of the emotions of what a tough, hard-fought college football game can provide. It was an emotional rollercoaster there for a while, but again, I credit our team for when our culture started to hit home. When guys start to repeat what the staff and the coaches and everybody in the locker room say, to not pay attention to the reaction but to the response. And the response has to be an epic one. It was going to take a solid 30 minutes in the second half and all three phases to get a victory. I credit those men in the locker room for making the commitment that we can get a win to one another to get that done.
“Our student section rushed the field at an away game. That tells you everything you need to know about this game. I’m sure the emotion on the other side was the same in our stadium last year. It was a great game for Northwest Ohio, a great game for both communities, a great game for the Mid-American Conference.”
The victory was especially sweet for Toledo’s players, who were motivated by a 42-35 defeat to Bowling Green in the Glass Bowl last season.
“We lost last year, and it was a big thing to take this trophy back,” said senior linebacker Dallas Gant. “This is a good way to send our seniors out right now. A lot of guys have been here longer than me and they wanted to get the trophy back just as bad as me. It was a good win, good to get the trophy back.”
Added Finn, “I was emotional out there tonight. I wasn’t able to play in last year’s game. Seeing the faces in the locker room was a devastating look. And it’s a bittersweet moment now to finally be able to get the trophy back and bring it back to where it belongs, and that’s Toledo.”
Facing a 4th-and-2 with less than two minutes remaining, junior running back Jacquez Stuart caught a pass from Dequan Finn and scampered 59 yards down the sideline for the game-winning touchdown.
The victory was the 10th-straight for Toledo, which improved its record to 10-1 (7-0 MAC) as it makes its case for a berth into a New Year’s 6 bowl game. The Rockets had already clinched a trip to the MAC Championship Game by winning their second consecutive West Division title.
The Rockets, who trailed 28-10 and halftime, outscored the Falcons 22-3 in the second half to complete their largest comeback win of the season and seventh-largest of all time. It’s the second-largest comeback ever against BGSU, second only to the 20-point comeback in a 49-41 victory in 2004.
After being outgained in the first half, Toledo held Bowling Green to just 150 yards and three points after halftime. The starkest difference was the fourth quarter, as UT outscored its rivals 15-3 and gained 158 yards of offense while allowing just 28. Toledo allowed just one first down in the final quarter.
Finn threw for two touchdowns and ran for another, with both of his touchdown tosses coming in the second half. The junior signal caller threw for 279 yards and added 35 yards on the ground. Junior running back Peny Boone rushed for 131 yards on 15 carries and a touchdown, a one-yard plunge in the fourth quarter. Stuart and sophomore wide receiver Junior Vandeross III caught Finn’s touchdowns, and junior Anthony Torres caught three passes for 71 yards and a two-point conversion.
The Rockets’ defense sacked Bowling Green’s quarterbacks five times, with junior outside linebacker Deshawn Holt collecting a career-best two sacks and three QB hurries. Junior safety Maxen Hook was Toledo’s leading tackler, posting 11 stops and recovering a fumble. Gant and junior Daniel Bolden both collected nine tackles.
In addition to the Rockets’ win on the football field, The University of Toledo bested Bowling Green State University in the Battle of I-75 Giving Challenge, a friendly competition to make a direct impact on student scholarships, essential programming and more.
A total of 892 Rocket alumni, students, faculty and staff, supporters and friends participated in the philanthropic initiative to help UToledo win bragging rights as the most generous institution, compared to 833 for BGSU.
“On behalf of the entire UToledo community, thank you to all of those who supported this inaugural effort,” said William Pierce, associate vice president of Alumni Engagement and Annual Giving at UToledo. “I’d also like to thank the UToledo and BGSU teams who made this possible through marketing, web design, event logistics and more. Opportunities like this are a testament to the impact we can make on Northwest Ohio if we work together for a common cause – our students.”
Collectively, both universities raised more than $85,000 for their respective students, athletics and programs. The Battle of I-75 Giving Challenge winner was announced during Tuesday’s football game.
