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Page sets career high as Rockets down BSU |
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 TOLEDO 45, BALL STATE 28 Senior Eric Page caught a career-high 16 passes for 145 yards and set the UT record for receptions in a season (112) to lead a Rocket team that arrived at Scheumann Stadium not knowing if their battle with Ball State would be for a shot at the league title.
However, just about as the UT-BSU game got underway, the NIU-Eastern Michigan ended with the Huskies holding on for an 18-12 victory. That clinched a share of the division title and a trip to the MAC Championship Game vs. Ohio on Dec. 2. NIU secured the nod over UT thanks to its 63-60 win over the Rockets on Nov. 1.
EIGHTH WIN GOOD FOR RESUME
Toledo (8-4, 7-1 MAC) still had a lot to play for, though, as the Rockets look ahead to bowl season. The MAC has three automatic bowl tie-ins and a couple of other back-up possibilities, so an eighth win was important to the Rockets to help their chances for post-season play.
The Rockets dominated most of the action, outgaining Ball State in total yardage, 507-395. Sophomore Terrance Owens completed his first 14 passes of the game and ended up 27-of-32 for 267 yards and a career-high tying four TDs.
Senior Adonis Thomas led the ground attack with 141 yards on 25 carries. Senior Morgan Williams added 61 yards on 15 attempts.
MOLLS LEADS ROCKETS 'D'
Junior Dan Molls led the defense with nine tackles and a fumble recovery. Safety Jermaine Robinson added eight tackles and an interception, while senior CB Desmond Marrow added seven tackles and broke up two passes.
Toledo jumped out to a 14-0 lead on a pair of long drives. Thomas scored on a four-yarder with 8:31 to play in the first quarter to cap a 15-play, 80-yard drive. Early in the second quarter, Owens hit senior RB Morgan Williams for an 11-yard reception to put UT up, 14-0.
NEW SEASON RECEPTION MARK
During the drive, Page caught his eighth pass of the game to break the UT season reception mark of 103 set by Lance Moore in 2003.
Ball State cut the lead in half on its next possession on a 10-play, 80-yard drive that was finished off on a one-yard scoring run by Jahwan Edwards.
Toledo closed out the scoring in the first half when Owens hit sophomore WR Bernard Reedy on a crossing route for a 30-yard touchdown that put the Rockets up 21-7 at halftime.
TRADING TOUCHDOWNS
The two sides traded touchdowns throughout the rest of the game. The Rockets made it 28-7 early in the third quarter on a three-yard pass from Owens to redshirt freshman Cassius McDowell, the first TD of his career.
Ball State cut the lead to 14 early in the fourth quarter on a five-yard TD pass from Zach Wenning to Zane Fakes.
Toledo’s next score was a 14-yard TD pass from Owens to Page to make the score an insurmountable 35-14. It was the 25th TD reception of Page’s career, tying him with Lance Moore for the most in Toledo history.
The Rockets added a Ryan Casano field goal and a 58-yard interception return by Robinson in the fourth quarter to counter a couple of late TDs by the Cardinals.
The Rockets will now wait for a possible bowl invitation. Bowl invitations must be extended by Sunday, Dec. 4.
Courtesy of Toledo Athletics
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