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Strong second half keys Toledo win over KSU |
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 TOLEDO, OH - Just one week removed from a loss at Boise State in which he was carried off the field with a concussion, sophomore quarterback Austin Dantin led the Toledo Rockets to a dramatic 34-21 comeback victory over Kent State in a crucial Mid-American Conference contest at the Glass Bowl Saturday night.
The win moves the Rockets to 3-0 in MAC play (4-3 overall) and helps them keep pace with Northern Illinois (3-0) in the race for the MAC West Division title.
Toledo trailed the Golden Flashes at halftime, 21-7, but dominated the second half, outscoring KSU 27-0 in the final 30 minutes. After rolling up 233 yards of total offense in the first half, Kent State was held to -17 yards in the second half until its final drive of the game. KSU's comeback hopes, however, ended when junior Isaiah Ballard picked off a pass at the UT three-yard line with 3:11 to play.
“Coach told me in the locker room at half that I needed to perform better,” Ballard said. “Our defense relies on my position, and if I’m doing well, the whole defense usually does well. I felt that I needed to step up and make some plays.”
Dantin had arguably the best game of his young career, completing 30-of-47 passes (both career highs) for 229 yards and one touchdown. He also ran for a career-best 72 yards and one score, including one run of 40 yards.
”The big question coming into tonight’s game was (whether or not) Austin (was) healthy enough after last week’s contest,” Toledo head coach Tim Beckman said. “He proved he was on Tuesday and Wednesday in practice, so we went with him tonight, because we thought he deserved the opportunity.”
Sophomore wide receiver Eric Page set his career high in receptions with 14 for 109 yards, while junior running back Adonis Thomas rushed for 47 yards and one TD and caught a career-best five passes for 54 yards and a score.
Kent State (2-4, 1-2 MAC) got off to a hot start, scoring on long drives in its first two possessions to grab a 14-0 lead. Junior Jacquise Terry capped an eight-play drive following the opening kickoff with a one-yard touchdown run. The Golden Flashes' followed that up with a 12-play 80-yard drive on their next possession, with Terry scoring from five yards this time.
Toledo countered with a 12-play drive early in the second half to cut the lead in half, 14-7. Junior Adonis Thomas scored on a 22-yard pass play from Dantin.
Kent State took advantage of a short field to move the lead back to two touchdowns. Terry scored for the third time, capping a four-play, 41-yard drive with a two-yard run.
Toledo's big comeback started on the Rockets' second possession of the second half. Freshman wide receiver Bernard Reedy’s 11-yard run capped an eight-play, 66-yard drive. A short time later, Toledo tied the score at 21-21 on a 22-yard scamper by Thomas.
Toledo next two scores came off the foot of junior placekicker Bill Claus, who connected on field goals of 38 and 32 yards, the first two makes for the punter who only recently was pressed into action as the team's kicker.
UT's final score came gift-wrapped, as sophomore linebacker Dan Molls recovered a fumble on the KSU nine-yard line. Three plays later Dantin dove into the end zone from six yards out on a third-down play with 5:18 to play.
“Hats off to Toledo. They came out and played much better in the second half than we did,” Kent State head coach Doug Martin said. “It is unfortunate that we didn’t compete offensively in the second half. We definitely had things going our way.”
“I thought our coaches and players did a good job of making some minor adjustments at the half,” Beckman said. “That first half was nothing (like) what Rocket football needs to be. I thought our seniors and the rest of the team stepped up and did an outstanding job of finishing the football game. That’s why they play four quarters of football.”
The Rockets host Ball State next Saturday at the Glass Bowl. Kent State is at Bowling Green.
Courtesy of Toledo Athletics
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