BUFFALO, N.Y. – Sophomore quarterback Dequan Finn ran for two touchdowns and threw for another but he was not able to rally Toledo into the end zone in its final drive as the Rockets fell to Buffalo, 34-27, in the battle of the MAC's division leaders in Buffalo on Saturday.
Buffalo (5-3, 4-0 MAC) rallied from 17 points down in the third quarter to pull out the victory. Toledo, which moves to 5-3, 3-1 in MAC play, remains in first place in the West Division, a game ahead of Ball State, Western Michigan and Eastern Michigan, all of whom have 2-2 MAC records.
Finn completed 25-of-47 passes for 240 yards, and rushed for 66 yards and one score. With time running out and the Rockets trailing by a touchdown, Finn moved the Rockets to the UB 22-yard line for one final play with three seconds left. Finn's desperation pass toward the end zone was intercepted. He was hit hard on the play and had to be helped off the field.
Finn threw for one TD and ran for another as Toledo built a 20-7 halftime lead. Buffalo's only score in the first half came on a 72-yard return on a fumble recovery. The Rockets increased the lead to 27-10 in the third quarter before the tide turned in Buffalo's favor in the final 15 minutes.
Toledo was hurt by six turnovers -- four interceptions and two fumbles.
"You're not going to win too many football games if you turn the ball over that many times," said Head Coach Jason Candle. "Momentum is a huge thing in football. We've got to do a good job of not giving up the momentum by not giving the football away. When you make a turnover and give up points off turnovers, that's a big-time swing. We had a couple of tough moments that bit us."
First Quarter
Toledo got on the scoreboard first when Dequan Finn connected with tight end Jamal Turner for a 26-yard touchdown with 2:14 left in the quarter.
Second Quarter
Thomas Cluckey's 39-yard field goal at the 11:50 mark made it 10-0. Buffalo's defense came up with a big play when safety Kewshawn Cobb forced a fumble that was recovered by safety Jahmin Muse and returned 72 yards for a touchdown. Toledo increased the lead to 17-7 when Finn scrambled 17 yards of the score with 8:17 left in the half. Cluckey made it 20-7 with a 23-yard field goal with 1:43 left in the half.
Third Quarter
Buffalo trimmed the lead to 20-10 on a 40-yard field goal on its opening drive of the second half. Toledo countered with a drive that was set up by a 36-yard punt return by Adam Beale and finished off by a three-yard TD run by Finn, extending the lead to 27-10.
Fourth Quarter
Buffalo scored early in the fourth quarter on a five-yard run by quarterback Cole Snyder to cut the lead to 27-17. After a three-and-out by Toledo, Snyder hit Jamari Gassett for a 32-yard TD to cut the lead to 27-24 with 9:35 left. The Bulls then picked off Finn and scored moments later on a 30-yard touchdown run by Ron Cook to take a 31-27 lead with 8:06 left. Moments later, Toledo's defense came through with a huge play when Jamal Hines forced a fumble and Dyontae Johnson recovered it on the UT 43-yard line with 4:04 to play. But Finn was intercepted by Marcus Fuqua, setting up a 42-yard field goal by Alex McNulty to give Buffalo a 34-27 edge with 47 seconds left. Out of timeouts, Finn completed five passes to move Toledo to the UB 22-yard line with three seconds left but was intercepted on a desperation throw on the game's final play.
Up Next
The Rockets travel to Eastern Michigan next Saturday, Oct. 29 (Noon/ESPNU).
• 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
