TOLEDO, Ohio. – Toledo and Bowling Green played a thrilling edition of the Battle of I-75 at the Glass Bowl on Tuesday night, but the Rockets ended up on the wrong end of a 42-35 decision.

Toledo trailed 34-21 with 9:20 remaining, but redshirt freshman quarterback Tucker Gleason rallied his team to a 35-34 lead late in the contest. Gleason, filling in for an injured Dequan Finn, began the rally by connecting with tight end Jamal Turner to make it a one-score game, 34-28, at the 5:09 mark. Then with 2:36 left in the game, Gleason marched the Rockets down the field on an 85-yard scoring drive that he capped with a one-yard rushing touchdown with 51 seconds left on the clock to give his team a 35-34 lead.

Toledo's jubilation was short-lived, however, as Bowling Green's Matt McDonald hit Ta'ron Keith for a game-winning 42-yard score with nine seconds remaining, giving the Falcons the Battle of I-75 trophy for just the second time in the last 13 meetings between the two rivals.

"It was a great football game to watch, a lot of momentum swings, a lot of back and forth there in the second half," said Toledo head coach Jason Candle. "You have to play all 60 minutes, that's what wins these types of games. To lose that one in the end and especially against those guys, that one's going to hurt."

Making his second career start, Gleason completed 22-of-40 passes for 329 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for a career-best 106 yards and two scores. Junior wide receiver Jerjuan Newton and sophomore running back Micah Kelly tied for the team lead with four receptions each, and both players caught a touchdown pass as well. Turner caught his eighth touchdown pass of the season, one of three receptions on the night.

On the defensive end, senior linebacker Dyontae Johnson led the way with nine tackles and a sack, while senior defensive tackle Desjuan Johnson collected six tackles, one sack, and the first interception of his career.

First Quarter

      Bowling Green took advantage of a short field to get on the scoreboard first. Following a short Toledo punt, the Falcons only had to travel 38 yards, most of it coming on a 25-yard, over-the-shoulder TD reception by Odieu Hilliare. Following a three-and-out by Toledo, BGSU moved its lead to 14-0 on a six-play, 68-yard drive, capped by tight end Andrew Bench's three-yard TD grab

Second Quarter

      BGSU increased the lead to 21-0 when PaSean Wimberley blocked a punt into the end zone that was recovered by Patrick Day. Toledo's helped stem the tide, as defensive lineman Desjuan Johnson snagged his first career interception at the BG 27-yard line and returned it to the 15. Six plays later quarterback Tucker Gleason run it in from five yards out to trim the lead to 21-7 with 6:20 to play in the half. Toledo's defense then forced the Falcons into a three-and-out, setting up a 64-yard drive by the Rockets to cut the lead to 21-14. Running back Micah Kelly scored from four yards out on fourth down on a flip pass by Gleason.

Third Quarter

      BGSU increased the margin to 24-14 on a 39-yard field goal that was set up by a 54-yard reception by Hilliare to the UT 21-yard line. Toledo missed a great opportunity to cut into the lead when Demeer Blankumsee fumbled on the BG two-yard line after catching a 28-yard pass. After the teams exchanged punts, the Falcons put three more points on the board on a 35-yard field goal to make it 27-14 with 5:31 left in the quarter.

Fourth Quarter

      Gleason hit tight end Jamal Turner on a two-yard touchdown pass, finishing off a 12-play drive with 10:23 left to cut the lead to 27-21. But Bowling Green answered with a 59-yard reception by Hillaire to restore the 13-point margin, 34-21. The Rockets wouldn't quit however, as Gleason rallied the Rockets with an 11-play drive that ended with a three-yard TD pass to Jerjuan Newton, once again trimming the lead to six, 34-28. The Rockets' defense forced a three-and-out on the next BGSU possession, then Gleason put together an eight-play, 85-yard scoring drive that ended with his one-yard rushing touchdown to give Toledo a 35-34 lead, its first of the night. The lead didn't last long though, as McDonald completed a 42-yard touchdown pass to Keith with nine seconds to play. The two connected again on a two-point conversion to put the score at 42-35, which would hold as the final score.

Up Next

      The Rockets travel to Western Michigan on Black Friday, Nov. 25 in the regular-season finale, a final tune-up before the MAC Championship Game on Dec. 3.

• TICKETS: 
    Tickets for the MAC Championship Game on Saturday, Dec. 3 can be purchased online at UTRockets.com/MACTix.