TOLEDO - Toledo scored touchdowns on special teams and defense, and added five field goals by Jeremiah Detmer to defeat No. 18 Cincinnati before a jubilant crowd of 24,124 at the Glass Bowl Saturday night.
The Rocket offense never found the end zone but made numerous big plays to set up Detmer's field goals. The real story of the game, however, was Toledo's defense. The Rockets did give up 478 yards of total offense but picked off UC quarterback Muncie Legaux twice and limited the Bearcats to just 23 points. The two biggest plays served as bookends for the game. Senior safety Jermaine Robinson went 75 yards for the score off an interception return in the first quarter, and sophomore reserve cornerback Jordan Haden snuffed out the Bearcats' last-ditch rally by picking off Legaux's pass with 23 seconds left in the game.
Toledo (7-1, 4-0 MAC) also came up big on special teams. Junior Bernard Reedy returned a kickoff 91 yards for the score late in the third quarter to give the Rockets the lead for good, 26-20. It was Reedy's third special teams TD in as many weeks.
Overshadowed a bit was another stellar performance by junior running back David Fluellen. Fluellen rushed for 161 yards, his fourth straight 100-yard game, and ran the ball nine times in Toledo's final drive, setting up Detmer's fifth and final field goal.
It was another big win for Toledo, which moved to 5-1 at home against top 25 teams. In recent years the Rockets have defeated Air Force (2011), Purdue (2010), Colorado (2009) and Michigan (2008). Toledo may also be moving into position for its first top 25 ranking since 2001.
The Rockets' defense made an immediate impact in the game, forcing Cincinnati into a three-and-out on its opening drive that set up a 43-yard field goal by Jeremiah Detmer. On the Bearcats' next possession, senior safety Jermaine Robinson picked off a Legaux pass and took it 75 yards for a touchdown to give UT a 10-0 lead. Detmer extended the Rocket lead to 13-0 with a 43-yard field goal early in the second quarter.
Cincinnati (5-1) got it going in the second quarter on the strength of a 52-yard run from Ralph Abernathy that set up a two-yard score from Legaux to cut the lead to 13-7. A fumble by Cassius McDowell set the table to UC's next score, a 40-yard field goal by Tony Miliano. Detmer countered with a 47-yard field goal to extend Toledo's lead to 16-10. Miliano came right back with a 37-yarder to bring the Bearcats to within three at the half, 16-13.
Toledo had to settle for three points once more on its first possession of the second half, this time a 20-yard Detmer boot to put the Rockets up, 19-13. UT had first-and-goal from the two-yard line but failed on three tries to put it in the end zone.
Cincinnati took its first lead of the game, 20-19, when Damon Julian came back to catch a short Legaux pass for a 25-yard score with 2:08 to play in the third quarter. The lead didn't last long, however, as Reedy took the ensuing kickoff 91 yards for his second touchdown return in as many weeks, putting the Rockets back on top, 26-20.
Toledo's defense stood fast on Cincinnati's next drive, holding the Bearcats to three points. After UC's drive stalled, Miliano knocked down a 41-yard field goal with 11:30 to play to trim the lead to 26-23.
Toledo went three-and-out on its next drive, but its defense came up big again, forcing UC to punt with 7:35 to play. Then Toledo's offense went to work, putting together its most impressive drive of the night. The Rockets used 15 plays to soak up seven minutes of the clock, finishing with Detmer's fifth field goal, a 25-yarder, with 42 seconds left.
Cincinnati had one last chance, as Legaux completed a 21-yard pass to Anthony McClung to move to Toledo's 46-yard line. But his next pass was picked off by Haden, clinching the win and setting off an eruption by the Glass Bowl fans.
The Rockets will return to Mid-American Conference action at Buffalo next Saturday.
