Sept. 25, 2004

Final Stats |  Quotes |  Notes

Toledo, OH - Junior quarterback Bruce Gradkowski completed 22-of-27 passes to rally Toledo from a 10-0 deficit and defeat Temple, 45-17, in the Glass Bowl on Saturday.

Gradkowski misfired on his first two passes but came back to connect on 15 straight in the first half, the final one a 26-yard TD pass to senior Kenny Higgins with eight seconds left that put UT up, 24-10.

Temple cut the lead to 24-17 on a Walter Washington five-yard TD run with 9:14 to play in the third quarter, and then recovered the ensuing kickoff when Toledo misplayed a short kick. But Temple could not cash in, and Toledo responded with scores on its next two possessions. The Rockets finished the scoring when freshman Nigel Morris ran 88 yards for a score on his first collegiate interception.

Temple opened the game with scores on its first two possessions, a one-yard TD run by quarterback Walter Washington and a 22-yard field goal by placekicker Ryan Lux. Toledo scored on the final play of the second quarer, a one-yard run by Gradkowski. The second quarter belonged to the Rockets, with junior tailback Trinity Dawson scoring from seven yards out and junior placekicker Jason Robbins nailing a 37-yard field goal to put UT up, 17-10, with 1:47.

It looked like that would be the halftime score but Toledo recovered a Washington fumble on Temple's 26-yard line with 13 seconds to play in the half. Gradkowski then hit Higgins for the score to give Toledo a huge boost going into the locker room.

Gradkowski finished with 276 yards passing and two TDs. Senior Lance Moore led the way with a season-high 11 receptions.

Toledo's defense, which had given up 158 points in UT's first three games, held the Owls to just seven points in the final three quarters and to just 139 yards rushing on 40 attempts.

Toledo (2-2, 1-0 MAC) hosts Ball State next week. Temple falls to 1-3.