TOLEDO, Ohio – Sophomore quarterback Dequan Finn threw a career-best six touchdown passes to four different receivers to rally Toledo from a 21-point deficit and lead the Rockets to a 52-31 victory over Kent State at the Glass Bowl on Saturday.
 
Finn's six touchdown passes tied a school record that is shared by Bruce Gradkowski (twice, in 2003 and 2004) and Logan Woodside (2017), both of whom went on to play in the NFL. Finn also rushed for a score, which set a Toledo record for seven touchdowns accounted for in one game.

Toledo's 21-point comeback ties for the third-largest comeback in school history. The largest was a 24-point turnaround in a 32-31 win over Western Carolina in 1975.

The victory moves Toledo to 5-2, 3-0 in the Mid-American Conference, a full game ahead of second-place Ball State (4-3, 2-1 MAC) in the West Division. Kent State falls to 2-5, 1-2 in the MAC.

"Really proud of our football team," said Head Coach Jason Candle. "Obviously you never want to fall into an early hole like that, but we've talked a lot here about the response to the problem as opposed to the reaction to the problem. I thought our guys had a really good response. I'm really happy with the leadership some of our guys showed tonight."

Toledo trailed 21-0 barely five minutes into the game before Finn and the Rockets began their rally. Finn ran for a 27-yard touchdown in the first quarter, then threw for touchdown passes of 27, 36 and 39 yards in the second quarter to tie the score at 28-28.
 
In the second half, Finn threw for scores of seven, 41 and eight yards. He also ran for 87 yards on 14 attempts.
 
Toledo's defense stiffened after Kent State's early outburst, holding the Golden Flashes to just 91 offensive yards in the second half. Toledo outgained Kent State, 490-393, and held its opponent scoreless after halftime. Junior Judge Culpepper paced the defense with a career-high 10 tackles, while junior safety Nate Bauer tallied nine tackles and an interception.
 
First Quarter
      Kent State wasted no time, scoring on its first possession in six plays following a 46-yard kickoff return by Ja'Shaun Poke to open the game. After a three-and-out by Toledo, the Golden Flashes struck again with quarterback Collin Schlee taking it into the end zone from 12 yards out to cap a six-play, 76-yard drive to make it 14-0 just five minutes into the game. Moments later, a Rocket turnover led to a 19-yard touchdown run by Marquez Cooper to put KSU up, 21-0, with 9:40 to play in the quarter. Toledo then got on the board when quarterback Dequan Finn scrambled up the middle on third-and-20 for a 27-yard touchdown to trim the lead to 21-7.
 
Second Quarter
      Kent State made it 28-7 on the first play of the second quarter, a 10-yard run by Schlee. Toledo countered with a 27-yard TD pass from Finn to Devin Maddox to cut the lead to 28-14. The Rockets made it a one-touchdown game when Finn connected with Jerjuan Newton for a 36-yard score. Moments later Finn struck again from long distance, this time hitting Mikel Barkley from 39 yards out to tie the score at 28-28 with 3:52 left in the half. Kent State finished off a wild 30 minutes with a 21-yard field goal on the final play of the half.
 
Third Quarter
      Toledo tied the game at 31-31 when Thomas Cluckey nailed a 43-yard field goal with 8:43 left in the quarter. Kent State missed a chance to re-take the lead when Andrew Glass' 35-yard field-goal attempt sailed wide right. Toledo took the lead for the first time, 38-31, when Finn connected with Jamal Turner from seven yards out on a third-down play.
 
Fourth Quarter
      Toledo added seven more points when Finn hit Newton from 41 yards out to increase the lead to 45-31. Finn tacked on another score with an eight-yard completion to Barkley with 7:39 to play, putting the score at 52-31.
 
Up Next
      The Rockets travel to Buffalo (4-3, 3-0 MAC) next Saturday, Oct. 22 at 1:00 p.m. (ESPN+) in a matchup of division leaders.
 
• TICKETS: 
    Online at UTRockets.com/tix, by phone at 419-530-GOLD (4653) or at the Rocket Ticket Office in Savage Arena. Click below for tickets to Toledo's remaining home games.

Nov. 8 vs. Ball State
Nov. 15 vs. Bowling Green
 
  

Postgame press conference with Head Coach Jason Candle.