BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – Toledo (4-2, 1-1 MAC) fell behind early and could never get rolling as the Rockets fell to arch-rival Bowling Green, 20-7, at Doyt Perry Stadium Saturday afternoon.
     Bowling Green (2-4, 1-1 MAC) scored the first 10 points of the game and led at halftime, 17-7. Total yardage in the game was about even, with the Falcons outgaining the Rockets, 425-392, but BG made big plays on special teams, blocking a punt and a field-goal attempt.
     Senior quarterback Mitchell Guadagni completed 17-of-20 passes for 194 yards but left the game in the third quarter with an apparent injury. Sophomore Bryant Koback led the rushing attack with 60 yards on 14 attempts.
     The loss was the first for Toledo in the series since 2009, a streak of nine straight games, and evened the overall series at 40-40-4. Bowling Green took home the Battle of I-75 trophy for the first time since its inception in 2011.
First Quarter
   The Falcons started fast, putting 10 points on the board in the first eight minutes of the game. On their first drive, Nate Needham capped a 61-yard drive with a 32-yard field. Following a Toledo fumble inside the BGSU 10-yard line, Falcon quarterback Grant Loy connected with Bryson Denley for a 66-yard touchdown to give BGSU a 10-0 lead.
Second Quarter
   Toledo got on the board with a 14-play, 75-yard drive that was capped by a 14-yard TD pass from Guadagni to Koback, with Guadagni making the toss to the edge of the end zone under severe pressure. BGSU struck back, however, as Loy scooted around the right end for a 15-yard TD to put the Falcons up 17-7 with 7:52 to play in the half. The Rockets had a chance to trim the lead, but Evan Davis' 33-yard field-goal attempt was blocked on the final play of the half.
Third Quarter
    On its second drive of the quarter, the Rockets moved the ball down to the BG 16-yard line before the drive was stopped on a third-down sack. Toledo came up empty on the drive when Davis' 41-yard field sailed wide right. On the Falcons' next drive, Needham drilled a 32-yard field goal to put BGSU up, 20-7 with 2:44 to play in the quarter.
Fourth Quarter
     The Rockets had three drives in the final quarter but were unable to score.
Up Next
     The Rockets hit the road again next Saturday for a MAC West Division game at Ball State.
Highlights from Toledo's game against Bowling Green.
Head Coach Jason Candle post-game.
Junior Tycen Anderson post-game.
Sophomore Bryant Koback post-game.
