Overtake Huskies with third quarter rally
TOLEDO, Ohio - Senior quarterback Logan Woodside threw for 361 yards as the Toledo Rockets overcame a determined Northern Illinois squad, 27-17, in a critical Mid-American Conference battle Thursday at the Glass Bowl.
With the victory, Toledo (8-1, 5-0 MAC) claims sole possession of first place in the MAC's West Division, one game ahead of nemesis NIU (6-3, 4-1 MAC), who had knocked UT out of the MAC title race numerous times over the past decade.
Woodside completed 23-of-31 passes on . . .
With the victory, Toledo (8-1, 5-0 MAC) claims sole possession of first place in the MAC's West Division, one game ahead of nemesis NIU (6-3, 4-1 MAC), who had knocked UT out of the MAC title race numerous times over the past decade.
Woodside completed 23-of-31 passes on . . .
. . . his way to setting the Toledo record for career passing yards. He ended the day with 9,288 career passing yards, 62 more than previous record-holder Bruce Gradkowski (9,225 from 2002-05).
Senior Terry Swanson, meanwhile, reached a milestone of his own He became the seventh Rocket to rush for more than 3,000 yards in his career.
Senior Terry Swanson, meanwhile, reached a milestone of his own He became the seventh Rocket to rush for more than 3,000 yards in his career.
Terry Swanson totaled three touchdowns, with two coming during a third quarter Toledo rally. (Photo courtesy UT Athletics)
. . . his way to setting the Toledo record for career passing yards. He ended the day with 9,288 career passing yards, 62 more than previous record-holder Bruce Gradkowski (9,225 from 2002-05).
Senior Terry Swanson, meanwhile, reached a milestone of his own He became the seventh Rocket to rush for more than 3,000 yards in his career.
Swanson was a workhorse, running the ball a career-best 29 times for 116 yards and three touchdowns, also a career high. He now has 3,082 yards in his four-year career.
Toledo trailed early in the third stanza, 14-10, but outscored the Huskies 17-3 the rest of the way. Swanson scored twice in the third quarter to give UT a 24-14 edge heading into the final period.
The Rockets' defense stepped up when it needed to, forcing NIU into a 47-yard field-goal attempt that missed with 3:46 to play. That sealed the Huskies' fate.
Toledo senior cornerback Trevon Mathis snagged a pair of interceptions for the first time in his career, while senior defensive end Olasunkanmi Adeniyi had a career-high 10 tackles and one sack.
Toledo scored on its opening possession of the game with an eight-play, 81-yard drive. Swanson finished it off with a four-yard TD run. The Huskies answered later in the quarter on a one-yard run by Tre Harbison, capping a 70-yard NIU drive.
The Rockets missed an excellent chance to score in the second quarter when a 10-yard TD run by Woodside was reviewed and ruled a fumble before he crossed the goal line. The Rockets began on the drive on their own one-yard line but turned the field around on an 89-yard catch and run by Diontae Johnson. Johnson ended his day with a career-high 10 receptions for 166 yards.
Toledo took a 10-7 lead into the locker room following a 22-yard field goal by Jameson Vest.
The Huskies marched down the field quickly on their first possession of the second half, ignited by chunk runs of 29, 14 and 19 yards before Childers finished off the seven-play, 80-yard drive with a one-yard run to give NIU its first lead, 14-10.
Childers contributed 49 yards rushing on 15 carries with a score as a runner and went 23 for 43 for 235 yards with two interceptions in the Huskies passing game.
The Rockets immediately answered with 13-yard touchdown run by Swanson to re-take the lead with 8:55 left in the third quarter.
Less than four minutes later, Toledo extended the lead to 24-14 on a one-yard dive by Swanson. The big play on the drive was a 31-yard completion from Woodside to senior Darryl Richards that pushed him past Bruce Gradkowski to become Toledo's career passing yardage leader.
Northern came up with a big play on special teams that brought them to within a touchdown. Jackson Abresch blocked Bailey Flint's punt attempt deep in Toledo territory, recovering the ball on the UT 11-yard line. However, Toledo's defense came up big and forced NIU to settle for a 25-yard field goal, making the score 24-17.
Toledo answered once again with a 34-yard field goal by Vest with 8:58 left to play to up the Rocket lead to 27-17. Northern's fate was sealed when its ensuing drive stalled, forcing a 47-yard field-goal attempt that sailed wide right with 3:46 to play. UT ate up most the clock on its final possession before punting it away with 1:28 left. The Huskies advanced to the UT 25-yard line when time ran out.
The Rockets travel to Athens next Wednesday to face East Division co-leader Ohio (7-2, 4-1 MAC). Northern Illinois hosts Ball State next Thursday.
(Courtesy UT Athletics)
Northern came up with a big play on special teams that brought them to within a touchdown. Jackson Abresch blocked Bailey Flint's punt attempt deep in Toledo territory, recovering the ball on the UT 11-yard line. However, Toledo's defense came up big and forced NIU to settle for a 25-yard field goal, making the score 24-17.
Toledo answered once again with a 34-yard field goal by Vest with 8:58 left to play to up the Rocket lead to 27-17. Northern's fate was sealed when its ensuing drive stalled, forcing a 47-yard field-goal attempt that sailed wide right with 3:46 to play. UT ate up most the clock on its final possession before punting it away with 1:28 left. The Huskies advanced to the UT 25-yard line when time ran out.
The Rockets travel to Athens next Wednesday to face East Division co-leader Ohio (7-2, 4-1 MAC). Northern Illinois hosts Ball State next Thursday.
(Courtesy UT Athletics)
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