Toledo, OH - For the second consecutive week, Toledo defeated a Power Five conference team in a game that went down to the final play. This time it was the Iowa State Cyclones of the Big 12 who fell to the Rockets, 30-23, in double overtime before a crowd of 23,104 at the Glass Bowl Saturday night.
A week earlier, Toledo (2-0) knocked off then-No. 18 Arkansas of the SEC in Little Rock. That game was decided in regulation, with Toledo holding on to a 16-12 decision.
It took two overtimes to settle the issue between the Rockets and Cyclones, with the contest ending on a fourth-down sack of Iowa State quarterback Sam Richardson by senior linebacker Tre James on fourth and nine.
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A week earlier, Toledo (2-0) knocked off then-No. 18 Arkansas of the SEC in Little Rock. That game was decided in regulation, with Toledo holding on to a 16-12 decision.
It took two overtimes to settle the issue between the Rockets and Cyclones, with the contest ending on a fourth-down sack of Iowa State quarterback Sam Richardson by senior linebacker Tre James on fourth and nine.
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The Rockets took the lead in the second overtime on a 10-yard touchdown run by junior Damion Jones-Moore. The teams exchanged field goals in the first overtime, with ISU's Cole Netten connecting from 44 yards and UT's Jameson Vest making good from 42.
Iowa State (1-2) missed a golden opportunity to win the game in regulation, but Netten missed a 32-yard field goal with no time left on the clock, sending the game into OT with the score knotted, 20-20.
Toledo was led by junior running back Kareem Hunt, who gained 129 yards on 24 carries in his first game of the season following a two-game suspension. Senior quarterback Phillip Ely was 11-of-28 for 138 yards and one touchdown.
The Rockets' defense gave up 481 yards of total offense but once again came up with numerous big plays, including four sacks, the biggest coming on the final play of the game. Junior linebacker Jaylen Coleman registered a game-high 16 tackles, while senior defensive end Allen Covington tied a school record with five tackles for loss.
ISU's Richardson was chased throughout the game and scrambled his way to 269 yards passing on 25-of-42 passing.
UT now becomes just the third Mid-American Conference school to beat two Power Five teams in the same season. Ball State did it in 2012 and Northern Illinois turned the track in 2013.
Toledo drew first blood on its opening possession, taking a 3-0 lead on a 30-yard field goal by Vest. The score was set up by a 39-yard run by Hunt on his first carry of the season. The Cyclones answered with a 35-yard field goal by Netten following a 14-play, 66-yard drive.
Toledo came right back with a three-yard TD pass from Ely to senior wide receiver Alonzo Russell on third down. Russell also caught a 29-yarder in the 13-play, 90-yard drive.
The Rockets extended the lead to 13-3 on a 19-yard Vest field goal that was set up by a big play special teams play. Cody Thompson blocked an Iowa State punt and appeared to have recovered the ball in the end zone for a touchdown, but the officials ruled that his knee touched the ground on the two-yard line. Three runs by Hunt moved the ball no closer to the end zone, so Toledo settled for three points and a 10-point lead with 7:17 left in the half.
Moments later Richardson connected with D'Vario Montgomery on third-and-12 for a 59-yard scoring strike to cut the lead to 13-10 with 3:23 remaining in the second quarter. Toledo missed an opportunity to tack on three more points when Vest's 36-yard field goal attempt sailed wide left with three seconds left in the half.
Good fortune smiled on the Rockets on their first drive of the second half. Facing third-and-goal on the ISU two-yard line, Ely tried to run the ball in but fumbled into the end zone. Tight end Alex Zmolik was on the spot to recover the fumble in the end zone and give UT a 20-10 lead.
The Cyclones cut the lead to 20-17 with 11:23 left with a 16-play, 89-yard drive that was finished off by a one-yard plunge by Trever Ryen. Netten tied the game with a 47-yard field goal with 6:27 remaining, but could not connect on the potential game-winner at the end of the contest, setting the stage for the overtime drama.
The Rockets will return home next Saturday to host Arkansas State in a rematch of last year's GoDaddy Bowl. Toledo won that game 63-44.
(Courtesy of UT Athletics)
Iowa State (1-2) missed a golden opportunity to win the game in regulation, but Netten missed a 32-yard field goal with no time left on the clock, sending the game into OT with the score knotted, 20-20.
Toledo was led by junior running back Kareem Hunt, who gained 129 yards on 24 carries in his first game of the season following a two-game suspension. Senior quarterback Phillip Ely was 11-of-28 for 138 yards and one touchdown.
The Rockets' defense gave up 481 yards of total offense but once again came up with numerous big plays, including four sacks, the biggest coming on the final play of the game. Junior linebacker Jaylen Coleman registered a game-high 16 tackles, while senior defensive end Allen Covington tied a school record with five tackles for loss.
ISU's Richardson was chased throughout the game and scrambled his way to 269 yards passing on 25-of-42 passing.
UT now becomes just the third Mid-American Conference school to beat two Power Five teams in the same season. Ball State did it in 2012 and Northern Illinois turned the track in 2013.
Toledo drew first blood on its opening possession, taking a 3-0 lead on a 30-yard field goal by Vest. The score was set up by a 39-yard run by Hunt on his first carry of the season. The Cyclones answered with a 35-yard field goal by Netten following a 14-play, 66-yard drive.
Toledo came right back with a three-yard TD pass from Ely to senior wide receiver Alonzo Russell on third down. Russell also caught a 29-yarder in the 13-play, 90-yard drive.
The Rockets extended the lead to 13-3 on a 19-yard Vest field goal that was set up by a big play special teams play. Cody Thompson blocked an Iowa State punt and appeared to have recovered the ball in the end zone for a touchdown, but the officials ruled that his knee touched the ground on the two-yard line. Three runs by Hunt moved the ball no closer to the end zone, so Toledo settled for three points and a 10-point lead with 7:17 left in the half.
Moments later Richardson connected with D'Vario Montgomery on third-and-12 for a 59-yard scoring strike to cut the lead to 13-10 with 3:23 remaining in the second quarter. Toledo missed an opportunity to tack on three more points when Vest's 36-yard field goal attempt sailed wide left with three seconds left in the half.
Good fortune smiled on the Rockets on their first drive of the second half. Facing third-and-goal on the ISU two-yard line, Ely tried to run the ball in but fumbled into the end zone. Tight end Alex Zmolik was on the spot to recover the fumble in the end zone and give UT a 20-10 lead.
The Cyclones cut the lead to 20-17 with 11:23 left with a 16-play, 89-yard drive that was finished off by a one-yard plunge by Trever Ryen. Netten tied the game with a 47-yard field goal with 6:27 remaining, but could not connect on the potential game-winner at the end of the contest, setting the stage for the overtime drama.
The Rockets will return home next Saturday to host Arkansas State in a rematch of last year's GoDaddy Bowl. Toledo won that game 63-44.
(Courtesy of UT Athletics)
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