Toledo, OH  - Terry Swanson and Kareem Hunt combined for 273 yards rushing but it wasn't enough as the No. 20 Rockets fell to West Division rival Northern Illinois, 32-27, in Mid-American Conference action at the Glass Bowl Tuesday night.

It was the first loss of the season for Toledo (7-1, 4-1 MAC). NIU (6-3, 4-1 MAC) moves into a three-way tie in the MAC West with the Rockets and Central Michigan. All three teams trail Western Michigan (4-0).

Trailing 27-19 in the fourth quarter, the Huskies scored two touchdowns in the final nine minutes. The second score, a two-yard run by Joel Bouagnon with 1:59 left, gave NIU its first lead of the game.

Toledo's attempt to rally was quickly thwarted when Phillip Ely's pass to Hunt was intercepted by Boomer Mays at the UT 21-yard line. The Huskies then ran out the clock to claim their sixth consecutive victory over the Rockets.

Hunt led Toledo with a season-high 140 yards rushing and two touchdowns. Swanson added 133 yards on 16 attempts.  Chase Murdock and Ja'Wuan Woodley led the defense with 11 tackles apiece.

Toledo drew first blood on an 11-yard touchdown pass from Ely to Russell with 8:05 remaining in the first quarter. NIU wasted no time with its counter-punch, as Hare hit Tommylee Lewis down the middle of the field for 67-yard scoring strike just two plays later.

Swanson set up the Rockets' next score with a 58-yard run to the NIU 20-yard line. Hunt took it the rest of the way, rushing three more times, the last one a six-yard smash into the end zone to make the score 14-7 with 6:04 left in the first quarter.

After Toledo' defense forced a Huskie three-and-out, the Rockets moved down to the 23-yard line before the drive stalled. Jameson Vest kicked a 39-yard field goal to extend the lead to 17-7. NIU's Christian Hagan answered with a 36-yarder to cut the margin to 17-10. The field goal was set up by a 50-yard completion from Hare to Lewis on a third-and-39 play.

The pace of the game slowed down considerably in the second quarter, as both offenses stalled. But a pair of Rocket miscues aided the Huskies' cause. A shanked punt by UT's Nick Ellis that traveled just nine yards to the UT 19-yard line set up a 20-yard NIU field goal that cut the lead to 17-13 with 3:07 left in the half. Moments later Ely tossed an interception that was picked off at the UT 36-yard line and returned to the 21. Once again, UT's defense stiffened, forcing NIU to settle for a 29-yard field goal with two seconds left that made the score 17-16 at the break.

Toledo's third drive of the third quarter paid dividends, with Hunt scoring from one yard out on fourth down to make the score 24-16. Hunt set up his TD with a 37-yard run earlier in the drive. Northern struck back with a 52-yard field goal by Hagan, the first points scored against UT in the third quarter this season.

Vest answered with a 39-yard field goal to push the lead back to eight points, 27-19, with 13:45 left. NIU then took advantage of a Toledo personal foul to cut the lead to 27-25. UT forced the Huskies to settle for a field goal, but on the attempt UT was whistled for a personal foul for illegal leverage. Northern took advantage as Graham hit Golladay for a one-handed TD grab from seven yards out with 9:27 left in the contest. NIU failed on the two-point conversion.

                Toledo countered with a 13-play drive that stalled at the NIU 30-yard line, but Vest missed a 47-yard field-goal attempt. NIU then gobbled up 3:25 from the clock on an eight-play drive that was capped by the game-winning score by Bouagnon.

The Rockets hit the road next week, traveling to Central Michigan on Tuesday, Nov. 10 for another key MAC West contest.

Post-Game Comments

 
Head Coach Matt Campbell


Senior Linebacker Chase Murdock


Sophomore Running Back Terry Swanson