Oct 6, 2001

Final Stats| Quotes| Notes

By CASEY LAUGHMAN
Associated Press Writer

ATHENS, Ohio - Ohio was focused on stopping Toledo's Chester Taylor.

Maybe the Bobcats should have been more concerned about Tavares Bolden. And Antwon McCray. And Carl Ford.

Taylor, the nation's leading scorer and third-leading rusher coming into the game, was a non-factor Saturday night after injuring his ankle in the second quarter.

But Bolden completed 31 of 39 passes for a career-high 387 yards and two touchdowns, McCray rushed for 72 yards and three touchdowns and Ford caught eight passes for 117 yards and a touchdown as the No. 23 Rockets pulled out a wild 48-41 victory.

"It was making completions, our receivers were making yards after the catch," Bolden said.

But was Bolden nervous after the Bobcats scored 24 unanswered points and took a 41-34 lead with 10 minutes to play?

"Not at all," he said. "You're looking for chances to be in situations like this and come away with a victory."

Bolden moved the Rockets down the field twice after the Bobcats took the lead, with McCray scoring both times - first from 11 yards out, then from 1 yard out - to give the Rockets (4-0, 3-0 Mid-American) the victory.

Taylor sprained his ankle after picking up a fourth and four on a 10-yard swing pass that led to Toledo's second touchdown. Taylor did score the game's first touchdown, capping off a a nine-play, 80-yard drive with a 7-yard scoring run to put Toledo up 10-0 in the first quarter. Taylor returned in the second half, but fumbled on the first series and didn't return.

"We knew Chester wasn't feeling 100 percent," said Toledo coach Tom Amstutz, "so we had to go with McCray.

"We're fortunate to have two great running backs."

Ohio coach Brian Knorr agreed.

"If you're not good against the run, they'll run all night with one of the best running backs in the country," Knorr said. "And a lot of people saw tonight that they have other great running backs too."

The Bobcats (0-4, 0-2 MAC) came into the game leading the nation in rushing, averaging 382 yards. But they couldn't get untracked in the first half, rushing for 67 yards on 20 carries as Toledo piled up a 31-14 lead. The passing game wasn't much better, as Ohio only had 38 yards through the air in the first half.

The second half was a different story.

After Toledo got a field goal on the opening possession of the second half, the Bobcats responded when Jamel Patterson capped a 59-yard drive with a 15-yard touchdown run.

After forcing a punt on Toledo's next possession, the Bobcats went to the air. Dontrell Jackson completed passes of 18 yards to Joe Mohler and 39 yards to Chris Knaack to move the Bobcats to the Toledo 6. Chad Brinker then powered up the middle on the next play to cut the lead to 34-31 with 3:35 to play in the third.

After another Toledo punt, Ohio's dormant running game came to life. Brinker rushed for 22 yards, Jamel Patterson ran for 11 and Ray Huston gained 12 yards to move the Bobcats to the Toledo 6. The Bobcats lost 5 yards on first down and 7 yards on second before picking up 5 on third down. Kevin Kerr kicked a 30-yard field goal to tie the score at 34 as the Bobcats reeled off 17 straight points in the third.

Joe Sherrill scored on a 2-yard run to give the Bobcats a 41-34 lead with 10:05 to play, but the Rockets finally put together a good offensive series in the second half, moving 74 yards in eight plays. McCray scored on an 11-yard run to tie it.

Toledo has a week off to rest up before traveling to Ball State on Oct. 20.