University of Toledo
7-0 , 4-0
UMass
1-6 , 0-3
Huge Second-Half Rally Propels No. 19 Toledo to 51-35 Win at UMass
10/24/2015 7:50:00 PM | Football
After being hampered by three interceptions in the first half, the Rockets scored on their first five possessions of the second stanza. Combined with a stifling showing by UT's defense in the final 30 minutes, it was more than enough for Toledo to maintain its unbeaten record and notch the fifth-largest comeback in school history.
The Rockets' victory extended their winning streak to 10 games dating back to last season, marking the fifth double-digit winning streak in school history.
Senior quarterback Phillip Ely, ignited the second-half explosion with four scoring tosses, finishing the day with a career-high 355 passing yards and a career-best five TDs. Â Ely's five touchdown throws are tied for third-most in school history, trailing only former Rocket Bruce Gradkowski's total of six that he accomplished on two occasions.
Ely primarily spread the ball out to a trio of receivers. Sophomore Cody Thompson hauled in six catches for 116 yards and a career-best two scores, senior Alonzo Russell caught five passes for 96 yards and a TD and junior Corey Jones matched his season-high with eight receptions for 88 yards and one TD.
Sophomore RB Terry Swanson led Toledo's ground attack with 21 carries for 118 yards and a score. Junior Kareem Hunt added 90 more yards on 20 rushes, and junior Damion Jones-Morre had 61 yards on 14 attempts.
Senior S Rolan Milligan topped the Rockets' defensive efforts with a season-high 10 tackles.
Toledo opened the second stanza with a 70-yard march down the field that culminated with Ely finding Thompson wide open in the end zone. Russell brought the Rockets within 28-24 when he was able to get his foot in just inside the end line. Junior TE Michael Roberts put the Midnight Blue and Gold ahead to stay, 31-28, on a four-yard catch with 1:56 remaining in the third quarter.
A Swanson one-yard plunge and a 31-yard toss from Ely to Thompson in the first five minutes of the fourth quarter continued UT's scoring spurt. Freshman PK Jameson Vest closed out the Rockets' scoring with 25- and 29-yard field goals give a season-high three field goals for a third time this season.
UMass took advantage of good field position in the first quarter following a pair of Ely interceptions en route to a 14-3 lead. The Minutemen went 44 yards in eight plays for their first score with Blake Frohnapfel hitting Rodney Mills for a 10-yard touchdown.Â
Toledo was driving for a go-ahead score later in the opening frame, but Ely was picked off by Randall Jette at the 16-yard line. Jette returned the ball 48 yards to give the Minutemen the ball at Rockets' 36-yard line. Two plays later, Frohnapfel connected with Shakur Nesmith for a 14-yard score to put the Rockets down 14-3.
Toledo answered quickly with a touchdown less than two minutes into the second quarter. Ely found Jones wide open with a 20-yard scoring strike into the corner of the end zone.
Unfortunately for the Rockets, Frohnapfel continued his hot play and led the Minutemen on their longest drive of the game, a six-play, 76-yard possession that resulted in a 35-yard touchdown reception by Tajae Sharpe.
Things continued to worsen for UT on its next possession. Ely was intercepted for a third time and UMass took over at the 50-yard line. On the next play from scrimmage Marquis Young scampered 50 yards for a touchdown to give the Minutemen an 18-point cushion.
Toledo will now set its sights for a showdown vs. West Division rival Northern Illinois at the Glass Bowl on Tuesday, Nov. 3. Kickoff is for the nationally televised ESPN2 telecast is set for 8:00 p.m.
Team Stats
TOLEDO 3, UMASS 0
TOLEDO - VEST, Jameson 35 yd field goal 14 plays, 60 yards, TOP 3:39
TOLEDO 3, UMASS 7
UMASS - Mills, R. 10 yd pass from Frohnapfel, B. (Laurent, L. kick) 8 plays, 44 yards, TOP 2:23
TOLEDO 3, UMASS 14
UMASS - Nesmith, S. 14 yd pass from Frohnapfel, B. (Laurent, L. kick) 2 plays, 36 yards, TOP 0:23
TOLEDO 10, UMASS 14
TOLEDO - JONES, Corey 20 yd pass from ELY, Phillip (VEST, Jameson kick) 11 plays, 78 yards, TOP 3:37
TOLEDO 10, UMASS 21
UMASS - Sharpe, T. 35 yd pass from Frohnapfel, B. (Laurent, L. kick) 6 plays, 76 yards, TOP 2:00
TOLEDO 10, UMASS 28
UMASS - Young, M. 50 yd run (Laurent, L. kick), 1 plays, 50 yards, TOP 0:08
TOLEDO 17, UMASS 28
TOLEDO - THOMPSON, Cody 4 yd pass from ELY, Phillip (VEST, Jameson kick) 10 plays, 70 yards, TOP 2:52
TOLEDO 24, UMASS 28
TOLEDO - RUSSELL, Alonzo 15 yd pass from ELY, Phillip (VEST, Jameson kick) 3 plays, 71 yards, TOP 0:39
TOLEDO 31, UMASS 28
TOLEDO - ROBERTS, M. 4 yd pass from ELY, Phillip (VEST, Jameson kick) 11 plays, 70 yards, TOP 4:49
TOLEDO 38, UMASS 28
TOLEDO - SWANSON, Terry 1 yd run (VEST, Jameson kick), 7 plays, 36 yards, TOP 1:45
TOLEDO 45, UMASS 28
TOLEDO - THOMPSON, Cody 31 yd pass from ELY, Phillip (VEST, Jameson kick) 5 plays, 62 yards, TOP 2:19
TOLEDO 48, UMASS 28
TOLEDO - VEST, Jameson 25 yd field goal 7 plays, 34 yards, TOP 3:18
TOLEDO 48, UMASS 35
UMASS - Sharpe, T. 3 yd pass from Frohnapfel, B. (Laurent, L. kick) 7 plays, 63 yards, TOP 2:20
TOLEDO 51, UMASS 35
TOLEDO - VEST, Jameson 29 yd field goal 8 plays, 25 yards, TOP 2:30
