Sept. 27, 1999

Toledo, OH - The moment the clock ticked down to 0:00 in Toledo's 24-3 victory over Massachusetts at the Glass Bowl on Saturday night (Sept. 25), two simple letters ran through the collective minds of the Rockets: "B" and "G."

That's BG as in Bowling Green, as in the Rockets' closest and most intense rivalry. Toledo makes the 20-minute jaunt down I-75 to Bowling Green this Saturday night (Oct. 2 at 7:00 p.m.).

"It's the best rivalry in the Mid-American Conference," said Toledo Head Coach Gary Pinkel. "Our players were thinking about this game as soon as the UMass game was over."

Toledo trails in the overall series to Bowling Green, 33-26-4, but has won the last four straight in the series. The Falcons enter the game with a 1-3 mark (0-2 MAC), including a 41-27 loss at Kent last week.

Toledo (2-1, 1-0 MAC) heads into the BG game with a two-game winning streak. In the UMass game, junior tailback Chester Taylor ran for 140 yards and one touchdown to lead Toledo to victory.

Despite Taylor's heroics, it was the Rocket defense that carried UT to victory. Toledo held the defending I-AA champions to just 244 yards. UMass quarterback Todd Bankhead was just 13-of-30 with two interceptions. Heralded Minuteman running back Marcel Shipp did gain 111 yards, but it took him 29 carries to get there.

Toledo actually trailed, 3-0, early on, but put the game away in the third quarter on a 39-yard field goal by Todd France and an 18-yard touchdown run by Taylor to make the score, 17-3. The Rockets added an insurance TD with 6:59 to play.

UPCOMING GAME

Toledo vs. Bowling Green

WHEN: Oct. 2, 7:00 p.m.

WHERE: Doyt Perry Stadium

RECORDS: * Toledo (2-1, 1-0 MAC) * Bowling Green (1-3, 0-2 MAC)

SERIES RECORD: BGSU leads, 33-26-4. Toledo has won four straight in the series. COACHES:

* Gary Pinkel, 59-32-3 at Toledo (9th year), same overall. 4-4 vs. BGSU. * Gary Blackney, 54-38-2 at BGSU (9th year), same overall. 4-4 vs. Toledo.

RADIO: WSPD (1370 AM) in Toledo. Mark Beier handles the play-by-play and Sean Baligian serves as color analyst.

TV: WTVG-13 (ABC in Toledo) will carry the game live.

INJURY REPORT (through Saturday, Sept. 25)

* Freshman wide receiver Manny Johnson (collarbone-out). Johnson suffered a broken collarbone vs. Syracuse and will be out until mid to late October.

* Senior tight end Mike Bilik (back) Bilik aggravated his sore back against Ball State and did not play against Massachusetts.

* Sophomore center Nick Otterbacher (broken hand). Otterbacher broke his hand in the BSU game and did not play against Massachusetts.

* Sophomore free safety Andy Boyd (dislocated shoulder). Boyd injured his left shoulder vs. Ball State, and did not play against Massachusetts.. He had dislocated his right shoulder in preseason practice.

* Senior wide receiver Jason Turner (broken ankle). Turner broke his ankle in the Ball State game and is out indefinitely.

* Sophomore defensive lineman Sameer Hamood (sprained left elbow). Hamood hurt his elbow vs. Ball State and did not play against Massachusetts.

ROCKETS NOTES

ROCKET DEFENSE MAKES QUICK WORK OF MINUTEMEN Junior tailback Chester Taylor ran for 140 yards and one touchdown to lead Toledo to a 24-3 victory over Massachusetts at the Glass Bowl on Sept. 25. Despite Taylor's heroics, it was the Rocket defense that carried UT to victory. Toledo held the defending I-AA champions to just 244 yards. UMass quarterback Todd Bankhead was just 13-of-30 with two interceptions. Heralded Minuteman running back Marcel Shipp did gain 111 yards, but it took him 29 carries to get there. UMass (1-2) actually took a 3-0 lead on a 30-yard field goal by Jason Cherry midway through the second quarter. But Toledo countered with a five-yard touchdown run by junior tailback William Bratton to make the score 7-3 at the half. Toledo (2-1, 1-0 MAC) put the game away in the third quarter on a 39-yard field goal by Todd France and an 18-yard touchdown run by Taylor. The Rockets added an insurance TD with 6:59 to play on an 11-yard TD strike from junior quarterback Dan Cole to freshman Carl Ford. UMass came into the game averaging 376 yards and 27.5 points per game, but was unable to move the ball consistently against the Rockets. Redshirt freshman linebacker David Gardner led the Rockets with 14 tackles, including three tackles for loss. Senior linebacker Keith Travis added 11 tackles and an interception.

KEY ROCKETS MISS UMASS GAME Three key Rocket starters missed the UMass games with injuries. They were sophomore free safety Andy Boyd, senior tight end Mike Bilik and sophomore center Nick Otterbacher. The status of all three players for the Bowling Green game was uncertain as on Monday. Boyd (dislocated shoulder) was replaced by junior Ira Singleton, who moved from his normal rover position into Boyd's free safety position. Senior Keith Travis moved from the whip linebacker to the rover position. Senior Antjuan Savage moved into the starting whip position. Bilik (bad back) was replaced by sophomore Jason Spiece. Otterbacher (broken finger) was replaced by redshirt freshman Chris Tuminello. Back-up defensive lineman Sameer Hamood (sprained left elbow) missed the UMass game, as did wide receivers Jason Turner (broken ankle-out) and Manny Johnson (broken collarbone vs. Syracuse.

TAYLOR, GARDNER, FORD NOMINATED FOR MAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK Toledo's nominees for MAC Player of the Week following the UMass game were Chester Taylor (offense), David Gardner (defense) and Carl Ford (special teams). Taylor rushed for 140 yards vs. UMass, his third career 100-yard game. Gardner led the Rockets with 14 tackles, including three tackles for loss. Ford ran back kickoffs of 34 and 33 yards in two attempts.

PINKEL: ROCKETS IMPROVING, BUT PASSING GAME A CONCERN When asked to assess his team's progress through three games this season, Toledo coach Gary Pinkel gave his team a mixed review. "We're making progress," said Pinkel. "But I'm concerned with the passing game. It's simple. We've just got to work hard and get better." Pinkel said he is mostly pleased with the improvement in the running game and the defense, though he added that there is a lot of work still to be done in those areas, as well. "We're improving. We've got to keep improving," said Pinkel.

TAYLOR RUSHES FOR 100 YARDS FOR THIRD TIME IN HIS CAREER Chester Taylor's 140 yards vs. UMass was the third 100-yard game in his career and his second consecutive game over the centry mark. Taylor, a junior from River Rouge, MI, gained 133 yards vs. Ball State on Sept. 18. His career high is 182 vs. Ball State last year.