 TOLEDO 44, CENTRAL MICHIGAN 17 Toledo (7-4, 6-1 MAC) moved into a tie for first in the MAC West with Northern Illinois. Because NIU holds the tie-breaker over UT, the Rockets will need a victory at Ball State next week, coupled with a Huskie loss at home to Eastern Michigan, to gain access to the title game at Ford Field in Detroit on Dec. 2. CMU ended its season with a 3-9 record, 2-6 in MAC play.
Toledo dominated the game statistically, outgaining the Chippewas in total offense yards, 511-346. Sophomore quarterback Terrance Owens, starting in place of the injured Austin Dantin, completed 24-of-32 passes for 275 yards and two touchdowns. Junior WR Eric Page caught 11 passes for 96 yards, while senior Adonis Thomas led the rushing attack with 131 yards and two scores.
The game was a vindication for Toledo's defense, which had allowed 63 points in each of the Rockets' last two games. UT had three sacks and held CMU to just 113 yards rushing.
The two teams traded scores early, with Toledo drawing first blood when Thomas capped an 80-yard drive with a 26-yard touchdown burst. CMU answered with a 56-yard drive following a short punt to knot the score at 7-7.
Thomas scored again on Toledo's next possession, this time a one-yard plunge that finished off a 13-play, 65-yard drive.
CMU answered with a 21-yard field goal by David Harman to cut the lead to 14-10. But Toledo pushed the lead out to 20-10 at halftime on a pair of field goals by Jeremiah Detmer, the last one a 50-yarder at the gun.
Toledo extended the lead to 27-10 at the start of the third quarter on a 39-yard TD strike from Owens to James Green. It was the first touchdown of Green's career. A 27-yard field goal by Ryan Casano gave Toledo a comfortable 30-10 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
Toledo made it 37-10 with a 51-yard bullet from Owens to Bernard Reedy with 11:09 to play, CMU finished off its scoring with a 14-yard TD pass from Ryan Radcliff to Titus Davis. Toledo's last score came on a five-yard run by Owens with 1:17 left.
The Rockets finish the regular season next Friday, Nov. 25 at Ball State.
Courtesy of Toledo Athletics
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