Athens, OH - Toledo's defense forced four turnovers and held Ohio to just 183 yards of total offense as the Rockets knocked off the defending MAC East Division champions, 20-13, in the league opener for both teams in Athens Saturday night.
Sophomore linebacker Dan Molls picked off two passes and had a big sack on fourth down late in the game to lead the defense. Molls led the Rockets with 11 tackles. Senior linebacker Archie Donald added a pick and 10 tackles.
The Rockets, holding a 20-13 lead late in the game, held off a late Ohio rally when Molls sacked QB Boo Jackson on fourth down with 2:10 to play. Toledo's offense stalled, though, and Ryan Casano missed a 41-yard field goal attempt with 23 seconds left, giving Ohio one last chance.
But the Bobcats failed on three tries to complete a pass and the Rockets claimed their 12th straight victory over Ohio (1-1, 0-1 MAC).
Toledo's defense dominated the first half, allowing just 118 yards of offense and intercepting two passes that set up both Rocket touchdowns. Molls picked off a Jackson pass in the first quarter, returning it 28 yards to the Ohio two-yard line. Two plays later sophomore QB David Pasquale punched it in for a two-yard score that gave Toledo a 7-0 lead.
Donald intercepted Jackson at the OU 25, returning it to the five-yard line. Dantin ran it in from the two-yard-line on third down to make the score 13-10.
Ohio scored in the first quarter on a 49-yard field goal by Matt Weller following a shanked punt that gave OU the ball on UT's 29-yard line. In the second quarter, the Bobcats' hit paydirt on a 35-yard TD pass on a breakdown in the secondary to take a 10-7 lead. They tied the game at 13-13 on a Weller 23-yard field goal with no time on the clock.
There was no scoring in the third quarter but the Rockets struck early in the fourth period when Dantin scrambled right and hit junior Kenny Stafford in the end zone for a 24-yard score, capping a 14-play, 84-yard drive and giving UT a 20-13 lead.
Dantin finished the game 12-of-15 for 102 yards with one TD and two interceptions. His favlorite target was sophomore Eric Page, who caught seven passes for 54 yards. Junior Adonis Thomas led the rushing attack with 53 yards on 17 carries.
The Rockets (1-1, 1-0 MAC) will travel to Western Michigan next Saturday to face the Broncos in the Mid-American Conference action.
