The Toledo Rockets brought home a 30-20 victory over the defending MAC champion Miami in the Glass Bowl on Saturday, Oct. 5.
Junior quarterback Tucker Gleason threw for 318 yards total, including two touchdowns, and freshman placekicker Dylan Cunanan made three field goals.
Toledo scored on their opening drive after redshirt freshman wide receiver Bryson Hammer completed a 32-yard punt return to the Miami 37-yard line. Gleason picked up his own fumble on fourth-and-one and dove into the end zone for the touchdown.
The Rocket’s second touchdown was set up by a blocked punt by junior cornerback Avery Smith on the Miami 18-yard line. Toledo scored three plays later on a six-yard pass touchdown from Gleason to senior wide receiver Jerjuan Newton, giving the Rockets a 14-0 lead with 5:56 left in the first quarter.
The second quarter cemented Toledo’s lead, starting with a 21-yard field goal by Cunanan, which brought the lead to 17-3. Moments later, Miami made a 35-yard field goal, bringing the score to 17-6. Cunanan replied with a season-best 48-yard field goal with only three seconds remaining in the first half, giving Toledo a 20-6 lead heading into the locker room.
Cunanan made a 47-yard field goal on Toledo’s first drive of the second half to extend Toledo’s lead to 23-6.
Gleason found senior tight end Anthony Torres for a one-yard touchdown toss on third-and-goal, restoring the Rocket’s three score lead at 30-13.
Miami reached the Toledo 10-yard line before sophomore safety Braden Awls secured an interception to seal the game.
“I’m really proud of our football team,” said Head Coach Jason Candle, citing defense’s performance in key moments, offense’s use of efficient plays to build an early lead, and “outstanding play” from kicker Cunanan as reasons for the team’s success.
“I’m proud of our guys for playing all 60 minutes and hanging in there, keeping all ten toes down for the entire game, all to beat a good team,” said Candle.
The Rockets travel to Buffalo next Saturday for a noon kickoff vs. The Bulls.
