University of Toledo Associate Athletic Director for Communications Paul Helgren shares his 12 favorite Rocket Football victories since 1998, the year he began working with Toledo Football.
No. 11 on the list is a double-overtime victory against arch-rival Bowling Green in 2005. 
 
Toledo 44, Bowling Green 41 (2OT), Nov. 22, 2005
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Sometimes, it's hard to be a legend. Especially when you're only 22 years old.
 
Bruce Gradkowski was entering his senior season when the University of Toledo put up a series of "Rocket Legends" graphics around the Glass Bowl right before the start of the 2005 campaign. The Rocket quarterback was chosen to take a place among Midnight Blue & Gold luminaries like Chuck Ealey, Mel Long and Chester Taylor. His selection raised a few eyebrows. One local reporter declared that the University had fumbled, that it was premature for any current player to be labeled a "legend."
 
In truth, Gradkowski had more than earned the "legend" moniker. He was the finest Rocket quarterback since Ealey, and more importantly shared Ealey's uncanny ability to rally his team to victory. As a sophomore, Gradkowski led Toledo to one of its greatest victories ever, throwing for 461 yards and a late-game scoring strike in a 35-31 win over Larry Fitzgerald and the No. 9 Pittsburgh Panthers. A year later, he rallied the Rockets from a 27-7 halftime deficit against Bowling Green to pull out a 49-41 triumph. He topped both of those games, however, in a 35-27 comeback triumph over Miami in the 2004 MAC Championship Game in which he threw for three second-half touchdowns -- with a broken throwing hand!
 
Gradkowski's senior year, however, came with some bumps in the road. Toledo, picked to repeat as MAC Champions, crushed its first three opponents. But a concussion kept Gradkowski on the sidelines in a much-anticipated showdown vs. Fresno State on national TV; the Rockets were humbled by the Bulldogs, 44-14. Toledo clobbered three more MAC opponents before suffering a shocking 21-17 loss at Central Michigan, the Rockets' first loss to the Chippewas in a decade. Three weeks later, Toledo's MAC title hopes were dealt a blow in a 35-17 loss to Northern Illinois on Senior Night in the Glass Bowl. Gradkowski managed to complete just 14-of-34 passes and tossed three interceptions, easily the worst game of his career. "The turnovers are on me," a dejected Gradkowski told reporters after the game.
 
The Rockets entered their final regular-season game, a Tuesday night matchup with arch-rival Bowling Green, with much to prove and everything on the line. Toledo would need a win over BGSU and an NIU loss vs. Western Michigan a day later to win the MAC West Division and return to the MAC Championship Game. The Falcons had a lot to play for too, as a victory over UT would clinch a MAC East Division title and advance BGSU to the league championship game.
 
With the stage set for another classic rivalry battle, many observers felt Bowling Green had the psychological edge. The Falcons had won two in a row and were playing at home; Toledo seemed to be reeling after its loss to the Huskies. Moreover, the Falcons had a score to settle. Blowing a 27-7 halftime to the Rockets a year earlier had been a shattering experience. Falcon head coach Gregg Brandon allegedly motivated his team that season by plastering the numbers "27-7" throughout the BG locker room.
 
The thermometer checked in at (appropriately enough) 27 degrees at kickoff, and both offenses started out just as cold. Bowling Green scored on its first possession but then was forced to punt three straight times. The Rockets came up empty on their first three possessions, finally scoring with a minute left in the first half when Gradkowski hit Steve Odom for a 29-yard touchdown. Antonio Malone blocked a 47-yard Falcon field goal attempt on the final play of the first half, sending the teams into the locker room deadlocked at 7-7.
 
By contrast, the second half was nothing less than a shootout. The teams traded punches in the third quarter, with Toledo taking a 24-17 lead into the final quarter thanks to a 17-yard TD reception by tight end Josh Powell.
 
Bowling Green quarterback Omar Jacobs went to work in the fourth quarter, delivering two touchdown passes to put the Falcons up, 31-24, with eight minutes left. Toledo countered with a 14-play, 75-yard drive that ate up six minutes of the clock. The key play of the drive was a four-yard quarterback run by Gradkowski on fourth-and-one at the BG 39-yard line that kept UT's hopes alive. A few plays later on third-and-goal from the three-yard line, Gradkowski hit tight end Chris Hopkins with a flare at the one-yard line. Hopkins then turned and bowled into the corner of the end zone to tie the score at 31-31. Bowling Green had 1:43 left on the clock and moved into Toledo territory but a penalty on fourth down ended the Falcons' drive and sent the game into overtime.
 
BGSU won the coin toss and elected to give the ball to Toledo first. Senior running back Trinity Dawson gained 19 yards on a screen pass, then carried the ball twice, the second rush resulting in a two-yard score. Jacobs countered quickly with a 25-yard TD pass to Steve Sanders to tie the score at 38-38.
 
The Falcons went first in the second overtime, but this time could advance no further than the 21-yard line. They settled for a 37-yard field goal, taking a 41-38 lead. Now it was Toledo's game to win or lose.
 
Facing third-and-seven from the 22-yard line, Gradkowski went right back to Hopkins. He retreated to the 32-yard line on a play fake, then hit Hopkins at the one-yard line. The 6-5 sophomore backed into the the corner of the end zone,  right in front of a delirious Toledo cheering section. Once again, Toledo had vanquished its rival in one of the most dramatic contests in the history of the Battle of I-75.
 
Though they didn't know yet if their victory would mean a return to the MAC title game (it didn't; NIU beat WMU the next day), the Rockets celebrated after the game as if they were champions. And why not? They had pulled themselves off the turf and proved they were as good as any team in the Mid-American Conference.
 
"After last week, we had a team that was down and hurting," said Toledo Head Coach Tom Amstutz. "But as a coaching staff, we burned the (Northern Illinois game) film; we didn't watch it. We went right to preparation for Bowling Green. We did extra things to help the players mentally and emotionally. And the senior leadership of this team really came out in practice all week and in the game tonight."
 
"That shows the character of our team," added Gradkowski, who threw for 298 yards and four touchdowns on the night. "We didn't give up after what happened last week. We focused on now. Coach Amstutz said there was something bigger for us out there and he was right."
 
Even though the Rockets were denied a chance to defend their MAC Championship title, the regular-season finale was a satisfying conclusion for the seniors. A victory over UTEP at the GMAC Bowl in Mobile, Alabama awaited, but in truth, this game was the climax of the 2005 season.
 
"This a great way to end the regular season," said Gradkowski. "The BG game, a rivalry game, to go out like this is great. This game tonight showed our leadership. Guys didn't hang their heads. Last week was tough but we came back. I can't tell you how proud I am of these guys."
 
Just one more comeback for a true Rocket legend.


Chris Hopkins hauled in the game-winning touchdown in the second overtime of
Toledo's 44-41 victory over Bowling Green, much to the delight of the Rocket faithful
that were seated in that corner of the end zone.

 
Paul Helgren's All-Time Favorite Rocket Victories
11. Toledo 44, Bowling Green 41 (2OT) (Nov. 22, 2005)
12. Toledo 32, Temple 17 (Dec. 22, 2015 - Marmot Boca Raton Bowl)